Getting conflicting advice

Jim wrote: || I recently posted here asking if I could break into the wall of my || house to allow for a firelplace to be put in, and got a fairly || emphatic NO. However my local firplace dealers say that they do this || as standard practice and that there isn't a problem, so can I ask || again for clarification, as I may not have made myself entirely || clear the first time. || || Basically I want to put a fireplace on the exterior wall but I do || not have a chimney breast. The wall is plastered breeze block with a || gap then the outside brick wall. To allow for the actual electric || fire to be fully recessed I wanted to break out a hole about 15" || wide by 21" high through the block inner wall. So am I safe to do || this, do I need to use a lintel or RSJ || || I think previously it may have been interpreted that I wanted to || knock out a hole for the whole fireplace not just the small fire || section. || || Thanks || || Jim

RSJ. cant see there being a problem.

-- Grouch

There's no real structural problem if the hole is only 15" wide and is only in the inner leaf of the wall. You will need to support the blocks immediately above the hole, but this only needs a small lintel made out of sheet metal - an RSJ is a bit of an overkill. Also, since it's an electric fire, there are no exhaust gases to be ducted away.

One possible concern is that you are locally reducing a cavity wall to a single brick wall, and opening the cavity to the room (unless the fire seals against the wall). This could increase the heat loss from the room when the fire isn't on - and may possibly also result in a significant part of the fire's heat output going out through the wall rather than into the room.

In any event, it would be a good idea to have a word with a Building Inspector at your local council to find out whether there are any building regs issues to be considered.

If you aren't sure because of the conflicting advice this could be one of those DIY jobs that you get a pro in for - that way he is taking the risk and can be sued, not you losing big time because your insurers won't cough up.

You can limit what the guy needs to do, for example you could tell him his job is simply to put a lintel in and knock out the hole you need - you will finish off the job.

PoP

You may need building control approval as well. Best to check first.

snipped-for-privacy@spamcop.net

It occurs to me that you have chosen what is quite likely an expensive way of providing heat. On peak electricity?

Also by cutting a hole in the inner wall and filling it with a metal (?) applicance you would be proving a good route for any heat that you have bought to escape.

IMHO :-)

Michael Chare

Thanks for the input guys.

The fireplace is more decorative than a heat source, we will only switch it on to get a short sharp burst of heat but this should be pretty rare.

Something tells me this top poster is heading for a problem. Someone tell him how to make a frame up with 2x2s and plasterboard or mufduf.

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 13:30:07 -0000, a particular chimpanzee named "Jim" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

Still not clear. Am I to understand that you want to remove a ~500mm x 400mm section of the inner leaf to install your fire into? Will this then leave only the outer leaf remaining? If so, then this is a bad idea, for (at least) two reasons:

1. You could get damp penetrating through the outer leaf to the back of the appliance and into the room.
2. You would be increasing quite dramatically the heat loss through this bit of wall, which would have an insulation value significantly less than a modern double-glazed window.