I have removed carpets, underlay and plywood lining to an upper floor in my late 18th century property, to find the slate hearth cracked into 3 peices and all sunken into the floor.
After carefully removing the slate peices, I have found it was supported on a brick arch that had collapsed onto the ceiling below (how the ceiling and cornice below didn't collapse or at least crack is a miracle!).
After reading about this method of hearth support, I think it is called a trimmer-arch.
Can this be repaired without disruptive access from the room below? I do not want to damage the ceiling below, but would like to reinstate the slate hearth.
Could this be supported on timber somehow instead? Any recommendations?
After carefully removing the slate peices, I have found it was supported on a brick arch that had collapsed onto the ceiling below (how the ceiling and cornice below didn't collapse or at least crack is a miracle!).
After reading about this method of hearth support, I think it is called a trimmer-arch.
Can this be repaired without disruptive access from the room below? I do not want to damage the ceiling below, but would like to reinstate the slate hearth.
Could this be supported on timber somehow instead? Any recommendations?