Opening up Fireplace

[Matblack]

Hi, I need a little advice please

I am prepping a fireplace for a HETAS engineer to line the flue and install a wood burner, this is a 1960s house.

Looking inside the chimney I could see a lintel so I expected to be able to open the chimney to this point, however after removing a couple of what I thought were retro fitted arches for smaller fireplaces I didn't find what I was expecting, the bricks just seem to continue upwards, no lintel.

Untitled

• Matblack
• 17 Feb 2014
• 1

Untitled

• Matblack
• 17 Feb 2014
• 1

Untitled

• Matblack
• 17 Feb 2014
• 1

Untitled

• Matblack
• 17 Feb 2014
• 1

Further investigation seems to show the lintel sits behind the outer skin of bricks and presumably supports the chimney but not the skin of the chimney breast.

Now I'm a bit stuck, I'm as high as I need to be (inline with the lintel behind) but a little concerned that unless I inset a new lintel It'll be dangerous. Can anyone advise please?

Thanks

Matt[/img]

 

[stuart45]

Doesn't look dangerous, but it's really easy to put a lintel in.

 

[ree]

Your pics wont expand so i dont know what i'm looking at.

But, as above, simply get your correct length lintel (opening plus eight inches) ready, and carefully knock out the bricks required to bed the lintel in.
When the lintel is set in then you can cut back any protruding bricks below.
What kind of lintel can you see on the inside?

The major concern for a DIY'er is that you are opening up to the correct dimensions of the appliance manufacturer.

If you are still unsure or there's any movement above the opening then you can hire a "strongboy" for insurance.