Hello,
I have a Victorian terrace that has had the rear chimney breast removed at some point in the past. The stack has also been removed so no issues with support etc.
I'm in the process of re-doing the kitchen (ground floor) and have discovered the void where the old breast was had been covered with plasterboard rather than bricked up which will not be ideal for fixing kitchen cabinets to.
I've pulled off the plasterboard and it was attached to a sketchy looking wooden frame which at the top seems to be supporting one course of the wall above.
The void is the width of a brick so I figured the easiest option would be to brick it up and render/plaster over.
I've also just broken out the concrete hearth underneath. Under the concrete just appears to be compacted soil/rubble surrounded by a brick wall down to ground leve which the joists rest onl.
My question is what is the best thing to support the new brickwork on?
Should I dig down and pour some concrete to lay the bricks on - also tying them into the wall behind? If so, how deep should I go down with the concrete?
The other option I thought of is to build a somewhat better wooden frame and in-fill with bricks much like other partition walls in the house. I guess
I could knock out a couple of bricks either side of the void at the bottom and set in the bottom part of the frame to provide support. I could pack the soil back up underneath so it's sitting on something.
I've never done anything like this before so it's all a bit new so any advice/ideas/suggestions would be gratefully received!
Many thanks,
Justyn
I have a Victorian terrace that has had the rear chimney breast removed at some point in the past. The stack has also been removed so no issues with support etc.
I'm in the process of re-doing the kitchen (ground floor) and have discovered the void where the old breast was had been covered with plasterboard rather than bricked up which will not be ideal for fixing kitchen cabinets to.
I've pulled off the plasterboard and it was attached to a sketchy looking wooden frame which at the top seems to be supporting one course of the wall above.
The void is the width of a brick so I figured the easiest option would be to brick it up and render/plaster over.
I've also just broken out the concrete hearth underneath. Under the concrete just appears to be compacted soil/rubble surrounded by a brick wall down to ground leve which the joists rest onl.
My question is what is the best thing to support the new brickwork on?
Should I dig down and pour some concrete to lay the bricks on - also tying them into the wall behind? If so, how deep should I go down with the concrete?
The other option I thought of is to build a somewhat better wooden frame and in-fill with bricks much like other partition walls in the house. I guess
I could knock out a couple of bricks either side of the void at the bottom and set in the bottom part of the frame to provide support. I could pack the soil back up underneath so it's sitting on something.
I've never done anything like this before so it's all a bit new so any advice/ideas/suggestions would be gratefully received!
Many thanks,
Justyn