Wooden Fire Place Lintel

[Littlenic]

Hi all,
I've seen a number of helful posts/advise on here so thought i'd give it a whirl with questions i have about a project i'm doing at the moment.
I've just ripped out our fireplace back to the orginal open fire the had in our 1930's house. Hopefully picture attached.
There is an enormous stone lintel which is a bit battered which i am not going to be taking out as its beyond my DIY confidence!
I would like to put in a wooden lintel just below the stone lintel and then fill in between the two then render the whole wall and stick in a multi burning stove.

My questions are:
If i just use normal bricks and cement to fill in would it stick to the wood?
I'm also a little worried about the proximity of the stove to the wood lintel, what could i cover the wood lintel with as insulation?

(//www.diynot.com/network/Littlenic/albums/)
With regards to the hearth is it necessary to put in any expanding joint? If so what product should i use to fill it with?
Any help gladly recieved.

Just to be sure through using this forum, i've already established the class of flue, the need for a liner or not, and just recently had it swept! I've even gone as far as reading the Bulding reg J's for what help it was!

 

[expertgasman]

Just to be sure through using this forum, i've already established the class of flue, the need for a liner or not, and just recently had it swept! I've even gone as far as reading the Bulding reg J's for what help it was![/quote]

But have you informed BC of your intended works?

 

[Littlenic]

Yep, used there dodgy email portal but to fair I havent heard anything back other than a response that they have received it and will be in touch if required or words to that effect. I've been to our neighbours though and they've done exactly the same as me via BC and had no problem, although was 8 years ago...hmmm maybe I should have waited! Eek!

 

[foxhole]

You will need a dense timber preferably hardwood , it will shrink with the heat once installed .