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Putting shelves in a flue?

Hello All,

We have just bought our first house and the first project is the lounge. We currently have an old gas fire in the flue, which we want to take out. Rather than have the amp/consoles...etc stacked up next to the flue (TV shall be mounted not too high up the flue), we were thinking of opening up the bottom and putting shelves 'in' it.

Sounds simple in principle, but I appreciate there may be structural implications. Would we need to take real care in knocking out part of the flue and should get in a builder in, or is it safe to to ourselves?

Thanks very much in advance! :)

Comments

  • Kiran
    Kiran Posts: 1,549 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Do you mean chimney breast not flue? If so be careful as you are supporting a lot of weight above it! Depending on how much you intend on removing you will need build regs approval.
    Some people don't exaggerate........... They just remember big!
  • kford224
    kford224 Posts: 214 Forumite
    Kiran wrote: »
    Do you mean chimney breast not flue? If so be careful as you are supporting a lot of weight above it! Depending on how much you intend on removing you will need build regs approval.

    Yes sorry, the chimney breast! It has stud walls on the sides and a supporting wall at the front. Actually, thinking about it, if they are stud walls then all the weight will be in the supporting wall at the front....perhaps it's not such a good idea!! :o
  • muckybutt
    muckybutt Posts: 3,761 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    kford224 wrote: »
    Yes sorry, the chimney breast! It has stud walls on the sides and a supporting wall at the front

    Stud walls at the sides :eek::eek:

    That doesnt sound right, they should be solid brick !

    If you were knocking the front through all you would need to do is knock though a hole big enough to fit a lintle in across the breast, once bedded in and the cement has gone off you just knock the bottom out.

    Building regs approval not needed you would only need building regs if you were fitting a new fire.
    You may click thanks if you found my advice useful
  • Catbells
    Catbells Posts: 863 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Am also doing this. Am assuming there is a chimney breast above too?

    In our case there isn't so the chimney breast in the living room is not supporting anything ....I hope!

    Muckybutt - would you need a lintel half way up the breast wall?
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