Fireplace Lintel Removal?!?

[JamieCro]

Hi
I wonder if someone can help?

I am looking to renew my gas fire with a gas log burner and have discovered this steel angled lintel? Above the steel inside the fireplace is a concrete block up to the existing arched bricks. Can I take this out as it doesn’t seem to be supporting the brick work above I think it’s just been installed to reduce the opening size of the fireplace?!?

Any advice about the removal of this would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Jim

 

[mrrusty]

Gas log burner with remote control - brilliant - we have one. I would say yes you can, but it's not possible to tell just from photos how solid the existing arch is. Provided it looks solid I'd say you can take it out without worrying - I agree it looks like it is just there to support the block in-fill.