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Here we go: 1. The most rotten joist is running along the left side of the hole as we look at it, to the right also rotten. These joists are probably only three floorboard widths long , judging by the nailing. There's also a joist running perpendicular to the other joists, along the front edge...

The adventure continues. Having dug out the infill of soil and broken brick, I've discovered the joists around the hearth are rotten, probably because the soil level was too high and transferring moisture, as well as blocking any possible ventilation from the air bricks. 1 foot down and I still...

Oh - and is a SLC capable of withstanding the heat of a fireplace, especially in the back hearth, underneath the grate?

Mr Chibs, that's a really useful post, thank you. As it happens, 15 mins before I read this I gave the construction hearth a tug and managed to pull it up. So I'm down to bare earth there, too, and ready to fill it with a good layer of concrete. Good tip, too, to stop short of the top to leave...

Hi there, I'm trying to fit an old cast iron fireplace in my Victorian house. So far, I have replaced the builder's arch with a concrete lintel (the floor level is apparently a few inches higher now than when the house was built, so I needed a few extra inches for the insert. I've also removed...

Hello Doggit, The firebrick needs to be reseated because we're putting in a tile insert that sits further into the fireplace. Agree that woodburners are much better for heating, and we'll probably get one for that purpose in another room, but there's also something nice about an open fire once...

Thanks very much for the excellent advice. I'll go with a new lintel. I was lucky and managed to unseat the fireback by rocking it back and forth, so got it out intact.

Hi there, I'm currently opening up the fireplace in our 1890s terrace to put in a reclaimed old cast iron fireplace. All well and good, but the cast iron insert is too tall to fit in the builders opening as it stands. Even if I were to remove the 3" hearth, it'd still be a shade too tall. The...