I'm replacing a Gas fire with an electric one.
A Gas Safe engineer has disconnected the gas fire, and I have gleefully smashed out the hideous 1970s fireplace.
I'm left with a large area of wall that needs plastering, and a small sooty back plate with flue heading up at the back.
There's no chimney breast - the whole lot is flush, with the flue going inside the party wall.
Neighbour tells me it's a 5" flue, going to an (asbestos covered) chimney pipe sticking out through the roof tiles on top. Top is covered, vents at the side.
I don't need or want the flue. I've read that blocked-up flues should be ventilated, but if this is just a pipe (rather than brick, or structual), can I just block it off at the bottom? If so, how?
If I need to vent it, it'll sit behind a fire, pretty much enclosed - will this be a problem? I don't want soot (or whatever) falling down behind the fire, never mind blowing around the edge of the new mantle piece and leaving stains on the wall.
TIA.
Cheers, David.