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.