How best to remove fireplace trim/surround?

[DIYmonkey83]

Hi
I am planning on getting a high efficiency gas fire and need some advice on making my existing fireplace ready for the installation. Here are some photos of the current state: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/dpuxnjfhuvjrf4c/-10Q7Kfuge

As I understand it because I will be getting a gas fire in it's own metal firebox I do not need to keep the existing fireback. Therefore I need to remove that, but before I can go about that I will need to take off the iron trim/canopy. This is where I'm a bit stuck. It looks to me like this will not be possible without more or less destroying everything around it - i.e. the tiles and mantle. Can somebody give me some advice on the best way to go about this with the minimum of damage?

Thanks!

 

[Nige F]

Start by removing the plaster about an inch wide to the sides of the wood surround - you`ll probably find the fixings lugs the mantel will maybe need same treatment to allow the wood to come away - then the iron bit will probably just be sitting there

 

[DIYmonkey83]

Oh, so it's not going to be possible to remove the iron bit without removing the entire mantelpiece? I was hoping to leave that untouched. The iron part goes under the mantelpiece at the top but I was presuming it doesn't go that far under and might be removable with minimal damage to the mantle which could be repaired fairly easily. Is this approach likely to be possible?

 

[Nige F]

Not really AFAIK