Chimney / Fireplace

[ineedhelpfast]

Hi. I have *large* blocked off fireplaces bottom and 1st floor,*actually 7 fireplaces total*, 3 blocked off, that i want to open up and use. *photos comming soon*

I think they have been blocked up for 5-30 yrs.
Ive done some excavating in one case.
On the ground floor, the dirt beneath the concrete slab is moist, the fireplace walls are dry.
The fireplace is blocked up with breezeblock. The breezeblock is
not supporting anything as I have
dug up the cement bit on the floor and the dirt/sand below it to see what was going on.
Right now, I just hope to open the fireplace up, stick some wood inside it and get started.
Is there anything I should know first? Are there regulations concerning this?
There are chimney pots outside, could these be merely decorative with the chimney actually closed off?
From what I can see, the fireplace is not lined with anything, it is bare brick, building
est.1886.

I phoned a chimney sweep for advice but he only advised me to sweep the chimney.

Thanks for your reply.

- Cindy

 

[Nemesis]

What concrete slab?

 

[Moo]

Getting the chimney swept seems a sensible thing to do before you start burning things.

 

[middi]

Just remove the cement blocks and have the chimneys swept first.

Have a good look with a torch and try to reassure yourself as best as you can that nothing else is crambling away.

Make sure there is a solid hearth, then light a small fire and check that the smoke is all going out of the chimney,

If they work OK just set about restoring the original front.

 

[Sal]

a sweep should be able to do a smoke test for you. if they wont... find another sweep.