Help with Kitchen renovation.

[tobycgraham]

Hello,

this is my current kitchen:

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• tobycgraham
• 28 Apr 2011
• 1

Its small, 2 x 2.8 metres and has a chimney breast protruding from the wall (about 500mm on the 2.8m wall). The current kitchen was installed before we bought the property and the floor space is very limited. I had planned on putting a small range cooker into the chimney, thus giving greater floor space and making use of the chimney feature. To this end, I pulled out the cooker and made a hole in the plaster board behind it:

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• tobycgraham
• 28 Apr 2011
• 1

I was hoping there would just be a hole that a cooker could just slot in to.. why would there be brickwork where the hearth should be ? Would appreciate any help, thanks.

 

[Diyisfun]

Isnt that the back of the where the fire would be.
I would expect to find that behind a fire place

 

[tobycgraham]

Isnt that the back of the where the fire would be.
I would expect to find that behind a fire place

There is another property the other side of that fireplace - have i coped a raw deal and get the back end in my property ?

 

[Diyisfun]

If there is another property, then thats your half of the joining wall between the properties.
They probably have a fire place there, then you share a chimney.
Look at any house back to back chimneys

 

[tobycgraham]

If there is another property, then thats your half of the joining wall between the properties.
They probably have a fire place there, then you share a chimney.
Look at any house back to back chimneys

thanks for the reply. I've been in my neighbours house - he has a plasterboard wall his side and had no idea there is a chimney there. Do you think it would be possible to make a hearth this side - or would that leave the chimney completely unstable?! thanks

 

[mfarrow]

The fireplace has probably been bricked in when it was taken out of use prior to plasterboarding.

Without further investigation it's difficult to say - could be your neighbour has had his chimney removed at some point?

 

[tobycgraham]

The fireplace has probably been bricked in when it was taken out of use prior to plasterboarding.

Without further investigation it's difficult to say - could be your neighbour has had his chimney removed at some point?

He doesn't know anything about it - it was all done before he moved in unfortunately. the chimney goes up through three floors in my house. There is an opening in a bedroom on The side I want to make a hole. I've looked inside but there is just a load of rubbish at the bottom and I can't see anything. Is the only way to see if there used to be a hearth on my side by finding the lintel? Thanks

 

[tobycgraham]

Hi, have an update that I would really appreciate some advice on.

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• tobycgraham
• 4 May 2011
• 1

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• tobycgraham
• 4 May 2011
• 1

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• tobycgraham
• 4 May 2011
• 1

I've exposed more of the chimney breast. There is a brick wall built in front of where the hearth would be. I've removed 3/4 of one brick to try to get to the back of where the wall stops, but before I continue I wanted to ask a couple of questions that hopefully you guys will know the answers too. Why would there be a brick wall in front of the hearth? Would it be for some type of support? I also don't see any type of lintel - if I continue removing brick will the chimney collapse ? What would be the best way to go about removing these bricks if it doesnt affect the integrity? thanks

 

[simonjay]

Hi, have an update that I would really appreciate some advice on.
I've exposed more of the chimney breast. There is a brick wall built in front of where the hearth would be. I've removed 3/4 of one brick to try to get to the back of where the wall stops, but before I continue I wanted to ask a couple of questions that hopefully you guys will know the answers too. Why would there be a brick wall in front of the hearth? Would it be for some type of support? I also don't see any type of lintel - if I continue removing brick will the chimney collapse ? What would be the best way to go about removing these bricks if it doesnt affect the integrity? thanks

Well I would remove one or two bricks near the middle about half way down, where it would not cause any structural problems, then have a look around in there with at torch. How I would proceed from there would depend entirely on what I saw inside !
It could be for support, such as a couple of RSJs running from this wall to the back of the fireplace and holding up the sides.
I'd say, have a look inside and report back.
Simon.