Builders Opening

Keith99

Kiran wrote: »

Have you got a photo above the Intel? The left hand red arrow is just infill of the builders opening, can't see the right hand red arrow

The bricks carry on going up above the lintel on the inside of the opening - I will go and get one.

This is what it looks like





I think this is the sort of thing i need to do

Kiran

Are you trying to raise the Intel up to give you a taller opening?

vansboy

Have you got the supplier of the stove you want, lined up as yet?

It'd be worth asking them what you NEED as clearance around it, when it's in place. Seems some are a little more easy to fit in, than others.

The people I went to charge £20 for a survey and will refund it off any order placed.

Might be worth doing.

VB

Keith99

Kiran wrote: »

Are you trying to raise the Intel up to give you a taller opening?

No - I'm keeping it the same height but take out the first bricks to the left and right.

The two columns have bricks above them for 6-7 rows above the lintel height.

Keith99

vansboy wrote: »

Have you got the supplier of the stove you want, lined up as yet?

It'd be worth asking them what you NEED as clearance around it, when it's in place. Seems some are a little more easy to fit in, than others.

The people I went to charge £20 for a survey and will refund it off any order placed.

Might be worth doing.

VB

No not yet got that sorted - I'm looking at doing the work and then in a year or so get the wood burner

minibbb

Hi Keith

Strangely enough I've just had this exact conundrum myself! I was opening up the fireplace in my 1930s semi for a wood burner and like yourself had the two columns of bricks which went up inside the chimney.

They are not structural (at least with mine)- they are simply there to form a funnel to the flue if that makes sense? They were being supported by the infill bricks.


When I removed the infill to expose the original builders opening these two columns were effectively floating. As I didn't have a lintel we needed to remove a couple more courses of bricks at the top of the opening allowing the removal of the two columns.

I did the majority of the knocking out myself and my builder finished off and added the lintel before plastering the chimney breast he managed to tidy up the bricks and re-point them and it's looking pretty good so far!

My stove guy told me that ideally the bottom of the lintel should be 30cm above the height of your chosen stove (taking into account hearth thickness). Maybe you could remove your lintel and therefore easily remove the extra bricks before replacing the lintel?

Here are a few pics which I hope help illustrate what I mean!
https://ibb.co/kOz4pk
https://ibb.co/kNZ125
https://ibb.co/mjeth5
https://ibb.co/eDyCjv