Opening up Fireplace

[Adam Sutton]

I after some general advise about what might be achievable in terms of opening up our fire place to fit a wood burner.

I'm not planning to do the work myself (house would likely collapse given my track record!) and we have already had one guy around for a quote. Unfortunately he gave us some bad news about not being able to open it up much and thus won't achieve what my wife is really looking for.

She wants something like:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ho7x2ysyph3ht7g/1c187b92-9341-441e-8f3d-87eb9e8b3320.jpeg?dl=0

He suggested due to limited space:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tvo55baor2yz5nl/f2265ec8-279e-4668-9791-aefc7f39cb61.jpeg?dl=0

I have some pictures of the house when it was originally built:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/us62936vqbg41in/Lounge Fireplace.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a5hw1pm6vrmgs5z/Lounge to Patio Doors.JPG?dl=0

To my completely unknowledgeable eye (and based on what little I've googled) it feels like it should be possible to replace the lintel with something higher up and achieve what is required (obviously at added cost, no idea how much!).

What do people think? Is it worth double checking / getting a second opinion? or are we simply going to have to settle for something less grandiose? (which probably means ditching the wood
burner entirely).

Thanks in advance

Adam

 

[TicTac]

Always worth getting a second opinion. Next block might be more creative, and more capable. Looking at the last picture, it might require some external changes, but should be possible.