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Home Repair Renovating Fireplaces

Fireplace removal - is this safe for a few days?

last year

Hi

I have just removed a fireplace in a victorian terrace I'm renovating, the bricks behind appear to be 'stacked up' so I'm planning on getting a bricklayer to replace these so we can plaster to get everything flush - given this is a chimney breast wall just wondering if this structurally ok for a few days?

Thank you

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Comments (2)

Jonathan
last year
Yes it’s fine- you haven’t removed anything structural- only the decorative front of the fireplace
Cal thanked Jonathan
Cal
Original Author
last year
Thank you, I have spoke to a builder who has said it will be safe too, will thankfully sleep tonight :)
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Ok thanks! I think you have a few options other than leave as is. You could build the brick out as it is but deeper or create a larger back piece or create an inglenook. Or you could plasterboard to create an inglenook leaving the back brick as is (assuming that's all safe!) I think the cheaper option is the plasterboard which will also look good with a mantle (we recently had a fireplace built for £1500 incl bricks as a guide). The brick does go with the woodburner but to me if I'm being honest it doesn't look quite right as the hearth is too deep and the back not deep enough. I think by creating the inglenook, the hearth will not stand out so much, it doesn't look awful as it is though!
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Hello Questn, A good room you have there and good floorboards! Don't rip it all out and start again! I would say take all that part out that you mention. The rest is absolutely fine!! With the hearth (the floor bit) take it out carefully as you may find a piece underneath that you can paint- I'd suggest a black or have a piece of slate made to sit there... The room is a good size so I would definitely open it out more.. I have attached an image of mine with a focus on the opening.. Unfortunately in the 30's they bashed up the marble surround threw it in the recess and put a little 30's fire in front.. I couldn't afford to replace it. So I just created a mantle with what little budget I had.. Ie None! Point of the photo is to show you the opening with just a basket. I put in a new lintel to be safe buy you should be able to check as you start removing the front. No need to remove the mantlepiece while you do this. I would have a think about the chimney breast colour before you decide on a colour for the mantlepiece. Little Greene do a lovely colour for the space above the picture rail and also the ceiling.. Whitening- it's a lovely chalky and bright creamy colour.. perfect for those two areas. Decide on a nice colour for the chimney breast and then paint the alcoves and rest of the room with a nice light colour to compliment... So for an example.. Grey moss (Little Greene) for chimney breast, Whitening (LG) for above space between picture rain and cornice and also ceiling. Then for alcoves and other walls..Ceviche is quite nice complimentary colour... For the skirting, picture rail and cornice, make sure you paint these all the same colour.. An eggshell in slaked lime (LG) could be good... All depends if you want it to really contrast or compliment.. I have not mentioned the window frame but if you want to paint that then use the same colour as well for that too and the architrave round the door. You could also do the mantlepiece in the same colour... You'll see I have only suggested 2 or 3 colours and that is as much as you really need... Of course my choices here are suggestions to give you an idea.. Get some sample pots and paint them on paper and stick them to the walls... So you can take a look through the day and see how the light changes the colour. With flooring... I painted my floorboards white as I hate carpet but again it's just a suggestion.. What I would say is get the chimney looked at and see if it can be a working fire.. They will sweep it and give you a certificate... Get them to do all the fires at once as it's easier...Then all you need to do is buy a good cast iron basket. If you intend to use it like I do then you need it swept every year and a certificate which they will give you. Have some logs delivered and away you go... Store them in a log store to dry.. As damp logs smoke!.. Or even if you don't want to use it - you can create the look as if it works... Just lay a few logs in... It's a good room - it's going to look very stylish.. Enjoy working on it.. : ))
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