Can anyone offer any advice on this for me?
I have removed a gas fire in our sitting room, to reveal a bricked and plastered over fireplace. It does have a small (18"x10"x10") opening but I'm not sure what that was there for. Maybe the gas fire?
After pulling off the plaster and investigating insisde the fireplace, it looks like the original fireplace (48"x36") was bricked up and the gap behind it filled with loose rubble of some description.
All good so far.
So my plan was to remove the bricks and open it completely out before we decide on a new fireplace. My main concern and question is the lintle (?) that supports the chimney breast. It is old concrete and I worried that when I remove the bricks it won't hold.
This worry is basically because the one exposed surface looks a little flakey. I'm probably being over cautious but thought there would ne no harm in asking the experts.
Is there a way I can test the strength of this piece of concrete before I remove the bricks from underneath it?
FWIW, the house is a mid thirties build and the above measurements are pretty rough. Excuse incorrect terminology ;)
Any opinions welcome.
Thanks, Dan.