opening fireplace

[mjl117]

Hi
I'm planning to 'open up' a small upstairs fireplace. Just to add a little feature and a bit of storage.

Having never done this before I wanted to see if I'm going along the right lines...

I think I've exposed the original brick work, at some point the opening was bricked up.

I'm planning to put a lintel in along the red line - does this look right? From what I've exposed I haven't found an old lintel or arch. The plaster above the 'opening' is the original plaster so I doubt I'll find anything if I take it off - or would I?

Some of the chimney breast is covered by the airing cupboard to the left

Thanks

 

[Doggit]

The lintel or the arch may be higher up, so it could be worth going a little higher first. But if you're happy with the red line height, then take a line of bricks out, insert the lintel, and then take the bricks out underneath it.

 

[mjl117]

Thanks. It's now opened with lintel, but I'm unsure if the bricks at the back (where they sort of slope to the brick work at the back) and the bricks to the side can be removed?

The flue bends to the left if that makes a difference.

 

[Doggit]

okay, good first stage, now start removing the bricks at the back, and any other loose bricks you find. What's the width of the opening, and the depth.

 

[mjl117]

Here's some pictures of it now (I didn't plaster it!)

 

[pilsbury]

There you go, job done!