Opening out original fireplace

[David_wf]

Hi,

Just after some advice. I have begun removing an old boarded up coal fireplace and would like to open it up to the original builder's opening. Would I be able to remove all of the brick infill to the area drawn on the photo?

Cheers

Dave

 

[bobasd]

your photos are useless - unfocussed and only showing a bit of the chimney breast?

 

[David_wf]

Sorry, hopefully a bit clearer now

 

[David_wf]

Another one showing the entire thing

 

[bobasd]

you will have to mark on the chimney breast the exact width and heigth dimensions you want the opening to be.
then hack off the plaster to those lines - stay away from the corners.
then post new pics.
why are you opening the fireplace to new dimensions?

there's a metal bar acting as a lintel under the brick arch.
you will need a new lintel or a brick arch when you have opened up and raised the heigth of the opening.
there is also what looks like an old metal back boiler - that can come out if you want.
do you have a copper cylinder?

the flue needs sweeping and the soot covered bricks in the opening will need wire brushing.
whats the state of the chimney stack flue terminal?

 

[David_wf]

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to keep the existing opening as the stove i want to fit seems to fit okay. From what I understand there is no restriction on the distance at the sides of a stove from a non combustible wall?

I'm going to order a new slate hearth and get some quotes for a hetas fitter to install a liner and sign it off

 

[David_wf]

Picture of the cleared opening

 

[bobasd]

you must work the opening and clearance dimensions to stove Mfr's instructions.

 

[cwhaley]

From what I understand there is no restriction on the distance at the sides of a stove from a non combustible wall?

That stove (as seen in your picture below) is far too close to the walls -- have you really cleared all the infil? You will get very poor heat output to the room as most of the heat energy will be absorbed by those bricks. The manufacturer of the stove will state the minimum gap required around the stove. You need a large gap at the back and sides for air to be warmed (rather than brick) and circulated into the room.

I'm going to order a new slate hearth and get some quotes for a hetas fitter to install a liner and sign it off

A HETAS installer will not sign off the stove as it currently sits, nor will your local authority. You either need a much smaller stove or you need to widen that opening.