Hi experts - I have a house that was built in the 1950s and I would
like remove the hearth off of the floor so that my couch can go in
it's place.

I took the top slab of concrete off of the hearth with no problem :
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009106.jpg

However underneath the top slab is a layer of mortar, and then another
layer of brick :
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009107.jpg
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009108.jpg

I do not care about the condition of the floor since the couch will be
there anyway.
So my questions is :
If I remove the top layer of mortar from the top of the bricks, will
the bricks simply be able to be picked right up and removed off of the
floor ?
OR, will each individual brick be mortared to the floor as well ?

Any adivce, etc is welcome - this is not my area, and the wife is
worried! lol

Thanks.

"One" wrote in message

I do not care about the condition of the floor since the couch will be
there anyway.
So my questions is :
If I remove the top layer of mortar from the top of the bricks, will
the bricks simply be able to be picked right up and removed off of the
floor ?
OR, will each individual brick be mortared to the floor as well ?

Any adivce, etc is welcome - this is not my area, and the wife is
worried! lol

Thanks.


I cannot tell from the photos, but are you sure there are bricks under that
mortar? It may be a poured slab of concrete with a brick trim on the edge.
It may be jackhammer time.

It this a slab house? If so, I'd lean more towards the concrete pad. If it
is over a basement, it may be brick.

I'd move the sofa.

"One" wrote in message
...
Hi experts - I have a house that was built in the 1950s and I would
like remove the hearth off of the floor so that my couch can go in
it's place.

I took the top slab of concrete off of the hearth with no problem :
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009106.jpg

However underneath the top slab is a layer of mortar, and then another
layer of brick :
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009107.jpg
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009108.jpg

I do not care about the condition of the floor since the couch will be
there anyway.
So my questions is :
If I remove the top layer of mortar from the top of the bricks, will
the bricks simply be able to be picked right up and removed off of the
floor ?
OR, will each individual brick be mortared to the floor as well ?

Any adivce, etc is welcome - this is not my area, and the wife is
worried! lol


*I doubt in a 1950's house that the bricks are just lying there waiting to
be plucked up. Rent a chipping hammer and do a little light demolition.

Is this on a slab or can you see from underneath what is supporting the
hearth?

I cannot tell from the photos, but are you sure there are bricks under that mortar? *

No ..... not positive.
I made an assumption since there are "holes" the same size that bricks
have.
You can see two of them in this picture :
http://checkeredshirt.com/fireplace/Feb08-2009107.jpg

It may be a poured slab of concrete with a brick trim on the edge.
It may be jackhammer time.

Yikes.


It this a slab house? *If so, I'd lean more towards the concrete pad. *If it
is over a basement, it may be brick.

It is not a slab house.

I'd move the sofa.

You sound like my wife! ;-)
lol

Is this on a slab or can you see from underneath what is supporting the hearth?

It's not a slab house.
In the basement, there is a huge peice of concrete "attached from the
wall to the basement ceiling at a minor angle"
It's hard to explain .....................

KIND OF like this angled red beam here - except in concrete :
http://www.bifold.com/assets/2.06.I2.gif

"One" wrote in message
...
Is this on a slab or can you see from underneath what is supporting the
hearth?

It's not a slab house.
In the basement, there is a huge peice of concrete "attached from the
wall to the basement ceiling at a minor angle"
It's hard to explain .....................

KIND OF like this angled red beam here - except in concrete :
http://www.bifold.com/assets/2.06.I2.gif



*The bricks will be mortared to that concrete base. Use the chipping hammer
from the side instead of downward so that you don't damage the base unless
of course you want that out as well.

"One" wrote

Hi experts - I have a house that was built in the 1950s and I would
like remove the hearth off of the floor so that my couch can go in
it's place.

Congrats. Your house is no longer codespec and your changes will make it
worse. Very expensive repair if you ever decide to sell.

Next time, just put the sofa someplace else.

Van Chocstraw wrote:
One wrote:
Hi experts - I have a house that was built in the 1950s and I would
like remove the hearth off of the floor so that my couch can go in
it's place.

I took the top slab of concrete off of the hearth with no problem :
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009106.jpg

However underneath the top slab is a layer of mortar, and then another
layer of brick :
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009107.jpg
http://www.checkeredshirt.com/firepl...08-2009108.jpg

I do not care about the condition of the floor since the couch will be
there anyway.
So my questions is :
If I remove the top layer of mortar from the top of the bricks, will
the bricks simply be able to be picked right up and removed off of the
floor ?
OR, will each individual brick be mortared to the floor as well ?

Any adivce, etc is welcome - this is not my area, and the wife is
worried! lol

Thanks.

Another nice fireplace destroyed.


My thought exactly. Put the hearth back, and get a different couch, more
suited to a 1950s-sized living room. I do understand where OP is coming
from- it took me several months to find one suited for my 1960 living
room- all most stores had were monsters designed for the huge living
rooms in McMansions.

--
aem sends...