Widening an opening to fit an electric insert fire

[Sting38]

Hi all,
I'm replacing our electric fire with a wider one.
It is on an external wall and i need to open out the inner leaf blockwork so that i can recess it into the wall.
The current opening is approx 900mm wide and i need to widen it to 1500mm.
When i removed the existing fire i noticed that there isn't a lintel installed but because i need to go wider i presume that i will need to put a lintel in?
The flue (which won't be getting used) runs up the middle of recess.
See photos below:

 

[23vc]

Yeah put an 1800 concrete lintel in. Looks like those blocks will make cutting it in nice and easy

 

[Sting38]

Cheers, yeah the blocks cut really easy.
I was thinking an angle steel lintel but you think concrete would be better?

 

[23vc]

Yeah either, whatever you can get hold of cheaper/easier. Personally always use the brick size concrete jobbies for that kinda thing

 

[Sting38]

Brilliant, thanks for your help.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Check the airflow requirements. The inset fire I bought pulls air from behind which, despite the manufacturer claiming it's suitable for inset mounting, means it definitely isn't.

I'll be looking for one that draws air from the underside of the front. Mine's been designed by an idiot.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

You will need to prop the opening while you widen it.

 

[Sting38]

Check the airflow requirements. The inset fire I bought pulls air from behind which, despite the manufacturer claiming it's suitable for inset mounting, means it definitely isn't.

I'll be looking for one that draws air from the underside of the front. Mine's been designed by an idiot.

Yeah, it needs 100mm clearance above it for airflow.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I guess that means within the room, not the opening, to allow the heat to rise. Fair enough, i.e. don't put a shelf right above it.

Check to see that it doesn't pull from the back. The one I got definitely does, it's utter rubbish!