fitted 2" hearth, now fireplace hole too small. what to

[pmcx9]

I am refurbing an 1920's house. I intend to fit an inset gas flame fire into a fireplace where an older style gloworm fire was.

I have fitted a new hearth but now the opening is only 51cm high so i have angle grinded 5cm off the granite back board to enlarge the opening but there appears a large brick (chair brick?) which angles the flue above the opening. This is inside the chimney and not part of the original load bearing construction.

Can I hack another 5cm off this as well or do i need to reconstruct

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[pmcx9]

after further research i am guessing chairbricks are just for coal fires to aid drawing the air and are unneccessary when fitting an inset fire. would that be correct?

 

[Nige F]

really needs to be done by gasfitter as you`ll find out if you re-post in Plumbing...those live flame gas are dodgy in my non-Corgi opinion

 

[Ryanjl87]

well has long as it does not effect the structual integrity, and as far as im awear a gas fire would require a flue so woudnt see the need to keep it for that puprous either so i would say yes..