Extending fireplace opening with clay liner

gareth6789

Ok so I'm trying to extend my fireplace to fit a log burning stove. It's a fairly recent chimney so it's made from solid concrete blocks, with a lintel extending to the back of the chimney, and supporting the 9" clay liner. I know that to extend it I will need to remove the lintel and I am afraid that the clay liner will drop through. I'm just looking for advice on whether you think extending the opening will be possible, or if I will have to just use it as it is. Would I need to remove the clay lining? I would much prefer to have a larger opening.

rustyboy21

If you are having the stove installed by a HETAS registered installer, why not ask him for a price to do it for you?

They will be doing this on a daily basis, so know what needs doing and the best and easiest/cleanest way to do it.

Sometimes doing stuff like this, when you think you are helping, can open a HUGE can of worms and you feel sorry you started. It could cost you more in the long run. Believe me, I Have people thinking they are helping out on a daily basis and the job ends up taking 2 days to fit, instead of 4 hours, and then complain that I charge them more to rectify what they have done. I normally say, leave everything as it is and let us sort it out, just give the lads enough space to work in.

Give you an example. A few years ago, a customer wanted a Balanced flue gas fire fitting in their home. He wouldnt pay for the lads to knock out the chamber to fit it, just wanted it gassed up and fireplace fitted.

He waited until the lads got there and then started knocking out the internal brickwork to fit the fire, the lads stood on waiting. He took a block out and was met with a mountain of polystyrene balls falling out of the cavity. He was like the little boy with his finger in the Dyke, holding the flood back. 6 bins were full of balls, which then were taken back into the loft to refill the cavity wall again. The lads knew what was going to happen, but the guy was a Royal PITA to them, so they kept quiet. I use the pics/video from the fit, to show customers to leave it to us to sort, it mostly works.