what makes a lintel a lintel

[robgreendoncaster]

if I end up having to replace lintel on fireplace what are the requirements?

as in, if i'm using wood, what kind. could I just get from wood yard or is it specially treated etc

 

[Jackrae]

For a fire place I'd suggest the special wood called concrete. Wood burns and it doesn't need the flames of a fire to get it started.

 

[robgreendoncaster]

ha bloody ha! I should of said decorative fire place

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

For a fire place I'd suggest the special wood called concrete. Wood burns and it doesn't need the flames of a fire to get it started.

I wonder what they for hundreds of years before concrete lintels were common place and stone was too expensive? Hmm?

Any hardwoods would be OK, prolly shrink if you ever light the fire though.

 

[Jackrae]

And for hundreds of years the fireplaces were 6 feet tall x 6 feet wide with a fire base well away from the lintel and more air flowing up the lum than blows on the top of a mountain.

You mean a mantle rather than a lintel. Even an external "mantle-piece" will get quite warm if it's a "working" fire and dry out so something extremely well seasoned will be required. Or artificial wood such as MDF, which should neither shrink, crack nor twist.