Opening up a Chimney Breast

[Ivor Windybottom]

No it's stone.

View attachment 422412

Wow. Are you sure that's 1990s? If so it's doing a very good impression of a 200 year old house.

 

[stuart45]

I did realise when we spoke previously, because it does look like the back wall passes behind the jambs, but my son noticing the horizontal mortar not lining up between the back wall and the jambs was something I hadn't picked up on, but just confirms that earlier conversation I think.

That 600mm stove pipe can be staggered with 45 degree bends though can't it?

The flue has to be vertical for 600mm before a bend. The stove pipe can actually be shorter than 600mm provided it's a straight flue above and the liner is vertical.

 

[Craig-H]

The chimney jambs should in theory be built with the party wall, but in practice, especially with subbies, it's quicker to run the party wall up first, and leave out indents every other course to tie the jambs in. Then drop back and build the jambs later. You often found the indents hadn't been plumbed up properly, or the odd one forgotten, so the jambs were not tied in to the book.
However, on your chimney it's obvious there's no tie as it's a butt joint against the back wall.

Interesting and thanks for your observations.

 

[Craig-H]

Wow. Are you sure that's 1990s? If so it's doing a very good impression of a 200 year old house.

Converted in the 1990s... It was obviously an old farm that's been converted into about 10 houses

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Actually, couldn't the courses at the edges continue beyond the back of the fireplace? It may be that the sides are the structure, and the back is infill.

Quoting myself, it's hard to judge from the other end of the internet, but it looks like your back wall may be the later infill - the quarter length bricks appear to have been cut to butt up to the sides.

That doesn't mean that the back isn't structural, but it does mean that the sides are.

 

[Koolpc]

Well, converted. It's much older than what you led us all to believe!!

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

The chimney is all 1990s, as is obvious from the bricks. Right up to the top by the look of it.

 

[stuart45]

The chimney is all 1990s, as is obvious from the bricks. Right up to the top by the look of it.

It does look more modern including the stack. I'd guess that they put in a 9 inch party wall with a chimney each side and put stone on the stack to turn the house into semis.

 

[Craig-H]

Actually, couldn't the courses at the edges continue beyond the back of the fireplace? It may be that the sides are the structure, and the back is infill.

Yes it's certainly possible... but based on the picture I posted earlier where they'd removed the lower portion of a party wall chimney and supported the higher section with steel gallows and a concrete lintel, isn't it more likely that structure continues all the way down to the foundation and then anything around it as it meets the foundation is non-structural? or... at least less likely to be...

 

[Craig-H]

The flue has to be vertical for 600mm before a bend. The stove pipe can actually be shorter than 600mm provided it's a straight flue above and the liner is vertical.

I didn't respond to your earlier point about this, because it confused me somewhat. I have seen burner installations that bend 45 degrees out of the top of the stove < 600mm and these can be found on several (seemingly professional) stove installer's websites. This one comes from cosy-stoves, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. If this is true for my house and assuming the back 200mm is structural, I'd likely have to abandon the idea of installing a stove I guess. Is it likely guided by the stove manufacturer?

 

[Craig-H]

Well, converted. It's much older than what you led us all to believe!!

Sorry not trying to mislead... just didn't think it was relevant.

 

[stuart45]

You'd need to talk to the manufacturer about a bend coming straight from the top. You can also get stoves with rear exit flues.

 

[Craig-H]

You'd need to talk to the manufacturer about a bend coming straight from the top. You can also get stoves with rear exit flues.

Of course... I want to get everything right. If there's a way to make this happen, I'll be certain to find it...

 

[stuart45]

There will be a way to set up a stove in there. It's just a question of the amount of money and work you want to do. I've worked in the building trade since leaving school, and it's quite rare when a job can't be done.

 

[Craig-H]

There will be a way to set up a stove in there. It's just a question of the amount of money and work you want to do. I've worked in the building trade since leaving school, and it's quite rare when a job can't be done.

For sure... It's a cold house in the winter, so there's no lack of enthusiasm!