Fireplace removal

[housewinnie]

So going on from the flu liner mess and the stove people not being able to fit the stove as the brickwork of this one and a previous reduction in size of the original hole behind. They suggested that I remove this and go back to the original builders hole, the wife was pleased as she hates this I was less pleased as more work and more horrors to probably find. All the plaster is live above the mantle and only contained by the wallpaper.

Any tips on removal and what I may expect to find behind. The chimney breast in the loft is rough stone does that mean that it may well be rough stone all the way down and into the lounge or is there just no way of knowing.

A friend has suggested I take some plaster off above the wooden mantle to check for a lintel and the condition of the brickwork/stonework.

 

[Cubist]

That fireplace looks like a 70s-80s facade fire surround to me. If it is then its simply been planted against the chimney breast and perhaps held in place with just a couple of long screws.

Check the corner where the fireplace meets the wall and scrape out some of the plaster to see if you can get a thin profile putty knife or paint scraper behind it.

 

[Stevers]

That has no place in a period property! Looks like it's been sealed as well to leave it looking permanently wet. No sign of a chimney breast so that's a good solid wall - thicker than ours! If you're very lucky the original slate may be underneath that 'interesting' reconstituted stone hearth. In our living room our slate had survived under a truly hideous 1940s tiled fireplace.

 

[housewinnie]

Cheers guys. I know we have a blue lias flag under. But that’s as far as I’ve got.

 

[housewinnie]

That has no place in a period property! Looks like it's been sealed as well to leave it looking permanently wet. No sign of a chimney breast so that's a good solid wall - thicker than ours! If you're very lucky the original slate may be underneath that 'interesting' reconstituted stone hearth. In our living room our slate had survived under a truly hideous 1940s tiled fireplace.

It does have a chimney breast. But the walls are half a meter thick

 

[housewinnie]

Do you think it was built in situe, stupid question I know, as my plan is to start removing it stone by stone.

 

[Stevers]

Yes, built in situ without a doubt. We had something like that, but in a very 'random rustic' style in a smart 1913 'Edwardian' house. The previous owner had removed the original fireplace to build it not long before. We used the stone to make a rockery at the back of our pond there.

 

[LadyArowana]

Is it a real fire or one of the fake gas ones? The coals look real, but if it's got a gas supply someone would need to disconnect it for you. We had one which was quite sympathetic so we left it but it was all severed from the collective

 

[housewinnie]

Is it a real fire or one of the fake gas ones? The coals look real, but if it's got a gas supply someone would need to disconnect it for you. We had one which was quite sympathetic so we left it but it was all severed from the collective

It's gas and is already disconnected and removed, just put it back as it's a mess behind.