Fireplace removal (and an unkown mound)

[diynot4732]

Hi all,

Hope you are all well - amateur DIYer here looking for some advice for my first fireplace removal and anything I should be wary of doing. Also some questions about my fireplace in particular. It's on the first floor of a one storey Victorian (1910 ish) house. The plan is to seal it up as it takes up valuable space in the room.

We moved in about 2 years ago and had it swept in the first year and a pot added as there was nothing covering it at all (right side).


I asked the chimney guys about removal and they noted there is a large dump of something within the fireplace itself. It looks like mortar or something.

My question is what is this mound?
Do I need to remove it?
Should I have it tested (kids room) for asbestos?
Any idea why it was added, I thought could there be a smoke leak, but the chimney is the right side of the breast so this wouldn't make sense I think.

As for removing the fireplace itself is there anything I should be cautious of doing here? My plan was to basically unscrew the mantle, try and work out how to remove the firebox and board it up with plasterboard and maybe some insulation, then put an air brick on the outside. Was going to leave the floor tiles remaining too.

Anything else or advice would be most welcome. Is there any other dangers or asbestos tests I should consider before starting work?
As I said it's my kids room and I want to be super careful not to expose anything hazardous.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Wayners]

That moulding is cast iron?
Might be asbestos moulded plaster used on anything that isn't metal. Watch for that.
Can't see any mould.
Fire soot and burn marks maybe?

 

[noseall]

Hi all,

Hope you are all well - amateur DIYer here looking for some advice for my first fireplace removal and anything I should be wary of doing. Also some questions about my fireplace in particular. It's on the first floor of a one storey Victorian (1910 ish) house. The plan is to seal it up as it takes up valuable space in the room.

We moved in about 2 years ago and had it swept in the first year and a pot added as there was nothing covering it at all (right side).
View attachment 370509

I asked the chimney guys about removal and they noted there is a large dump of something within the fireplace itself. It looks like mortar or something.
View attachment 370506View attachment 370507View attachment 370508
My question is what is this mound?
Do I need to remove it?
Should I have it tested (kids room) for asbestos?
Any idea why it was added, I thought could there be a smoke leak, but the chimney is the right side of the breast so this wouldn't make sense I think.

As for removing the fireplace itself is there anything I should be cautious of doing here? My plan was to basically unscrew the mantle, try and work out how to remove the firebox and board it up with plasterboard and maybe some insulation, then put an air brick on the outside. Was going to leave the floor tiles remaining too.

Anything else or advice would be most welcome. Is there any other dangers or asbestos tests I should consider before starting work?
As I said it's my kids room and I want to be super careful not to expose anything hazardous.

Many thanks in advance!

The only place asbestos was used (asbestos rope) was in the joint between the fire surround and the fire brick (moulded fire-back). However, yours is a one-piece fully moulded fella. All the stuff built up behind will be brick and (lime) mortar.

 

[Heversham]

That's the back of the chimney, no? It looks like fly ash or lime. It's very unlikely to contain asbestos. Can you see up the chimney?

If it was my house (and I know it isn't) I'd keep that fire surround. It's a nice part of the original house, and it adds instant character. Once it's gone, it's gone for ever.

 

[ree]

OP,
As above - keep the fire surround - such surrounds are in demand for installing where the old, similar surrounds were taken out. You also have the, more or less, complete fireplace bits & pieces.
Fire surrounds, chimney breasts & chimney pots give a house lots of character.

FWIW: the "mound" is merely some kind of mortar filler - no asbestos, none at all.