I intend removing an open fire and installing a wood burning stove in the near future. The fireplace opening (recess) will need to be increased in size in order to accomodate a stove so a longer lintel will need to be installed higher up than the existing one and then the lower one removed. This will facilitate increasing the height and width of the opening.
The chimney consists of an 8" clay pipe flue with a flue gather at the bottom. The flue gather would need to be removed in the enlargement process but I've been told that it is load-bearing and cannot be removed. Likewise, I've also been told that it can be removed as it is very
unlikely that the clay flue pipes would collapse and should be self
supporting. Worst case scenario, a couple of pipes might dislodge but this
would not matter as the flue would be rendered obselete when the flue liner is installed.
The lintel is separate to the flue gather and it doesn't seem to be in direct contact with the front of the flue gather so I don't know what purpose it's serving.
I need to make a decision very soon and am concerned for obvious reasons. Both pieces of advice have been given on good authority so I'd be grateful for any opinions on this.
The chimney consists of an 8" clay pipe flue with a flue gather at the bottom. The flue gather would need to be removed in the enlargement process but I've been told that it is load-bearing and cannot be removed. Likewise, I've also been told that it can be removed as it is very
unlikely that the clay flue pipes would collapse and should be self
supporting. Worst case scenario, a couple of pipes might dislodge but this
would not matter as the flue would be rendered obselete when the flue liner is installed.
The lintel is separate to the flue gather and it doesn't seem to be in direct contact with the front of the flue gather so I don't know what purpose it's serving.
I need to make a decision very soon and am concerned for obvious reasons. Both pieces of advice have been given on good authority so I'd be grateful for any opinions on this.