Blog>Questions>Which trade do I need to take out a fireplace to uncover the original?
Last updated: 3 June 2021
Which trade do I need to take out a fireplace to uncover the original?
Hello, I have an awful brick chimney breast in my lounge which I'm 95% certain is false. 1920s house, remodelled 1979-80 ish. It seems to stop at the ceiling, doesn't key into the wall behind and there is nothing upstairs in the bedroom other than a hearthstone. I haven't lifted the boards upstairs to look at the joists though. The flues appear to be in the wall behind it - the stack is the same width as this wall (as far as I can tell, I've not climbed on the roof with a tape measure!) We chipped out a brick at the top and there is a gap and then old brickwork inside, so it looks like it's been "skinned" with bricks and enlarged. I'd like to get this nasty modern stuff down and restore the original, eventually to have a log burner (probably) but not straight away. What sort of tradesperson do I need to get this sorted? I'm struggling to find anyone. South Cheshire / North Shropshire borders. There's a nasty old LPG gas fire in there too which needs to go in the bin.
Question: Hello, I have an awful brick chimney breast in my lounge which I'm 95% certain is false. 1920s house, remodelled 1979-80 ish. It seems to stop at the ceiling, doesn't key into the wall behind and there is nothing upstairs in the bedroom other than a hearthstone. I haven't lifted the boards upstairs to look at the joists though. The flues appear to be in the wall behind it - the stack is the same width as this wall (as far as I can tell, I've not climbed on the roof with a tape measure!) We chipped out a brick at the top and there is a gap and then old brickwork inside, so it looks like it's been "skinned" with bricks and enlarged. I'd like to get this nasty modern stuff down and restore the original, eventually to have a log burner (probably) but not straight away. What sort of tradesperson do I need to get this sorted? I'm struggling to find anyone. South Cheshire / North Shropshire borders. There's a nasty old LPG gas fire in there too which needs to go in the bin.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
Answer(s):
Gareth Styles, GJS Roofing & Building Ltd, Salisbury
A roofer can take down your chimney and tell you if it’s a false chimney. In my opinion, a 1920s chimney would have been used for something. It could be rebuilt but would need a liner if you're installing a wood burner and that needs to be a HETAS engineer installer.
Brent Palmer, BRP Innovations, Woking
If you do decide to go ahead your first hurdle will be to find similar age and type of brick. As your bricky will tell you, soft bricks with soft brick not mixed with modern. You will need a little knowledge of how a lime mortar works to enable soft brick to breathe (lime allows that). Secondly, you could go ahead and remove the breast if there's nothing on the second floor. That's only if your joists are running in the correct direction. If they're not, you may have a carpentry issue but good luck sounds like a 3/4k job.
Got a question and need an expert's advice? Ask a trade today!
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job