Removing Fireplace

[sxturbo]

Hi All,

my parents have just moved into a bungalow built in the 40's which needs a lot work doing to it, part of this work is they wish to remove the fireplace that is there and replace with a nicer looking unit.

i have attached pictures of the fireplace.

We have already removed the surround, and the piece of hardboard that was covering the gap. The cast iron grate has been removed many years ok rendering what is there useless.

My question is how do we remove the fire?

it is not cast iron and is a type of cement cast item.

The bricks either side of the fire place need to be removed (highlighted in red), the fireplace is obvious and highlighted in yellow.

To remove the above, the bricks highlighted in orange also require removing.

However it all looks like they are all supporting features for the lintel highlighted in green.

if any one can offer some advice before we start hacking away it would be helpful.

also it doesn't seem to have a metal lintel under the slightly arched vertical bricks highlighted in green.

 

[gidrae]

Interesting. I am doing something VERY similar myself. I am widening our fireplace that looks very similar to your parents. We are having a new lintel put in and then some bricks under removed to widen our fireplace (much like your parents are doing), however, I am paying a builder to do this which is going to cost me £500

Our lintel is a stone/concrete type lintel too, no metal lintel and our builder is going to replace it with a stone lintel too.

Look forward to hearing others comments on this. Good luck to your folks.

 

[sxturbo]

They are not intentionally making the fire place wider, but these bricks need to be removed in order to remove the fire place.

 

[Doggit]

If the arch is sound, it very likely doesn't need a lintel; but looking at it, I'd be inclined to remove it, and increase the arch. You may also find you've got to once you remove the orange box sections.

You just need to have enough confidence to attack the bricks with a hammer and bolster, and that'll save you £500. Start at the top, and work your way downwards, and be careful in case any bricks drop. But you should be fine.

 

[sxturbo]

Thanks doggit.

Will be back over there in a couple of weeks and will let people know how we get on.