Opened up bricked up fireplace - is this dangerous?

[willsewell]

We were stripping some cement/gypsum plaster from our first floor bedroom chimney breast (1920s semi); got carried away and decided to open up the bricked up fireplace.

Now that the excitement has died away, I'm having second thoughts about doing this based on the conditions of the original brickwork.

There's a half-size brick missing from the left hand side and a few smaller bricks missing from the angled part on the right. Towards the bottom the hole goes right through to the flue from downstairs.

I'm also finding it hard to reason about whether the bricks in the arch are in good enough condition. Looks like there's some bits missing.

It all feels solid.

For the time being I've just wedged some bricks into the holes, but the arch is unsupported.

What do you think? I'm starting to panic and think it might need a lintel urgently. Any thoughts appreciated

 

[Stevers]

Looks a little fragile with a couple of slightly ominious looking vertical cracks above the soldier arch. What I find interesting is that the footprint of the old insert and the tiled hearth are not centred on the builders opening necessitating the splay to be cut on the right hand side. The minimum would be to repair the arch (or fit a concrete lintel) and put the missing bricks back at the sides. I had to do this for a much bigger opening this year, but the principle would be the same.
https://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/threads/basement-chimney-breast.17787/post-239609
In my book, builders openings in general and I reckon that one in particular are not supposed to be seen and I would fit a cast iron bedroom fireplace insert, preferably with damper to reduce draughts up the chimney/grot down the chimney. It will be a chance to pick some nice tube lined tiles for the splays it would have had.

 

[paulc]

Certainly put bricks back in the holes on the right hand side. It looks dark & sooty in there, so the flue from the fireplace in the room below ?
If you ever use the fireplace down stairs, the last thing you want is fumes leaking in to the bedroom.

As for the arch - I had something very similar that also looked a little ropy. Gave the bricks a little poke, and the whole lot collapsed. Fortunately, only a couple or three courses of bricks above came loose. After propping it up with a strongboy & short acro, I put a concrete lintel in a little higher up. Now that the wall is plastered, you'd never know.

 

[CliffordPope]

Apart from the hole at the bottom right, I'd say the arch itself is fine, merely unsightly. 3/4 of the brick lengths are intact and the mortar looks basically sound.
The principle of an arch is that the bricks or stones are self-wedging. I once demonstrated this by building a dry-stone arch out of roughly shaped rocks resting on a temporary support. I then removed the support and walked over the arch without it collapsing.
It was surprisingly difficult to pull it down after the demonstration as whichever rock I tried to pull out was wedged firmly by the others. Even partly removing a rock, it still clung on as the arch just subsided a bit and then locked again.

Brunel is famously supposed to have risked his reputation and confidence in his Maidenhead bridge by flouting his order to leave the temporary support in place until after the opening ceremony by knocking out the wooden wedges.

 

[RBailey]

I’m in the process of repairing on of ours. The two side columns had a big section missing. The main stone lintel doesn’t line up, the lower “lintel” was just an old strap hinge bogged in with lime and the remaining and best middle lintel is just a small metal bar.

I have now made a decent steel lintel and rebuilding up wards.

 

[malcolm]

I wouldn't be too bothered about the arch. Someone has chopped the bottom of the bricks out but there is a very nicely angled seat at both sides. If the bricks aren't loose it'll probably be OK structurally. An arch only supports the bricks immediately above (45 degree angle from the ends of the arch). Above that corbelling does the job.

What to do will depend on that the final decorative plan is. Worth putting a brick in the hole on the right whatever the plan.

 

[88v8]

I agree it looks OK. Not going to collapse.
Put some bricks back... lime, not cement!... and find a nice fire surround/insert to go in there. It can look good, even if you never use it.

Our previous house, 1920

 

[willsewell]

Thanks for all the replied every - very much appreciated. Sorry it took a while to catch up, been away with the kiddos in a campervan!

Overall I'm not as concerned now about the arch. Like I said it feels solid, and looking back: when we removed the bricks beneath it I don't remember it feeling like they were holding significant weight anyway.

I'll at least get the brickwork fixed on the columns - yes that is a hole going right through to the flue downstairs.

We are looking to buy an antique fireplace to put in at the moment. I'm still trying to work out fit because it's a bit tricky with the off-centered half and the bricks cut away at an angle on the right hand side. I think we're just going to have to buy one that look ok and hope for the best. Any tips on sourcing and installing one much appreciated because it's the first time we've done this!

 

[88v8]

Any tips on sourcing and installing one much appreciated because it's the first time we've done this!

Mine came from an antique fireplace shop. That was in the 80s.
Salvage yard would be an option, or eBay.

If fetching heavy stuff bought on eBay, Shiply is your friend.

 

[oldhousenoob99]

New to the forum so apologies if not in the right place but we have an Edardian property where a previous owner removedca fireplace and replaced with electric fan heater (why is anyones guess). I am looking to install a log burner but this side of the chimney does not seem to be supported but it has not fallen down so probably ok? No apparent lintel and no apparent tie bar in the chimney either. Any thoughts?