Opening up a fireplace

[Anonymous]

Hi there I have a 1920's house where the two main bedroom fireplaces have been boarded and plastered up - I would like to open the fireplaces just for decorative purposes. When I look through the vent there seems to be blocks around sides and corner . Is it safe just to start removing the wall under the vent to start with and then gradually elsewhere ? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

The first thing to do is to knock off the plaster and see what you find underneath - hopefully a lintel of sorts holding up the chimney breast.... then come back and describe what's there.

 

[Anonymous]

We have a 1903 property and have just knocked out the bricks in the kitchen fireplace. Turns out there is no lintel - oops - but thankfully the chimney has remained intact and we now will put one in. Can we take the plaster off the chimney breast and leave the bricks exposed? Do they need treating? We are intending to install a multi-fuel stove with a flue to line the chimney.

 

[Anonymous]

On the same chimney, it looks like it goes up and then bend before the top, but also that there's another exit that is blocked. The stove installer recommends we remove the blockage so he can install the flue straight up, rather than having to take it round the corner. Any experience or advice?