Just removed the old fireplace as the first step of trying to install a log burner. Pleasantly surprised that the builder's opening is ample size. The arched bricks, which I'm sure are now self supporting, have a curved steel bar beneath them which I'm wondering if it offers extra support. Anyhow, it looks to me like there is a fireplace built within this opening. My initial thoughts are to just knock it out, but looking up the chimney it seems that an internal chimney extends up about 3'-4' which sits on the fireplace bricks. Is it simply this and can I remove the lot?
Top photo shows fireplace within the builder's opening, bottom photo has the front of the chimney at the top and the back of the chimney at the bottom with the sides curved up within the builders opening. You can see the start of this curve from the first picture
Top photo shows fireplace within the builder's opening, bottom photo has the front of the chimney at the top and the back of the chimney at the bottom with the sides curved up within the builders opening. You can see the start of this curve from the first picture