I have removed an old backboiler from our lounge fireplace and
surrounding filler bricks so now all I have is the original builders
opening. The arch has a supporting steel bar underneath it.

I need to reduce the original openings height and width and estimate I
will need two rows of bricks to reduce the height to the required size.

What is the best way of supporting these bricks? Should I buy a
standard concrete lintel and cut it to size (could be difficult ?) or a
steel one (again difficult?). This must be a fairly common scenario so
how is it normally done?

I need to reduce the original openings height and width and estimate I
will need two rows of bricks to reduce the height to the required size.

With a stud partition instead, if you don't intend to install a fire.

If you are installing some sort of fire, then I'd use a concrete lintel.

Christian.

Andy,
as said above, if you are putting a fire back in then use a
lintel. These even have the correct angle for the draughting made into
them.

When I moved into my first house, the EXPERTS, had manufactured
their own lintel as it was a through the wall type fire place serving
two rooms. They made the angle so shallow that 49% of the smoke went
into one room, 49% went into the other and only 2% went up the chimney.
Luckily the seller was able to with-hold a final payment to said
EXPERTS and gave it to me to get the job done correctly.

The internal angle for correct draughting is about 43 degrees.
I was able to find it in a book in the library. Probably on the Net
now.

Chris.

wrote:
Andy,

.........have a look here...
http://www.c20fires.co.uk/fireplace_fitting.htm

Chris.

On 1 Feb 2006 05:50:32 -0800, wrote:

I have removed an old backboiler from our lounge fireplace and
surrounding filler bricks so now all I have is the original builders
opening. The arch has a supporting steel bar underneath it.

I need to reduce the original openings height and width and estimate I
will need two rows of bricks to reduce the height to the required size.

What is the best way of supporting these bricks? Should I buy a
standard concrete lintel and cut it to size (could be difficult ?) or a
steel one (again difficult?). This must be a fairly common scenario so
how is it normally done?


Here's one I did earlier:

www.karman.demon.co.uk

fireplace04 and fireplace11


Mark S.

Andy,
have you looked here for general chimney building............

http://www.chimneysweeps.co.uk/difficulties.htm

.....see the lintel angle in Fig-5.

Chris.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looking at my original post I failed
to mention that the replacement we are looking at is an inset gas fire.

With this in mind I am not sure whether I need to use a throat forming
lintel or standard concrete one.

I will check the position of the vent from the fire. If it doesn't
clear the depth of a standard lintel I will fit a throat forming one.

Andy.