The 1980's was a bad time for fireplace style and this red brick example is one of the finest. Vision is needed to see through this to what is lurking behind. The red bricks appear to fully cloak an original yellow Fletton brick fireplace but until we start to dismantle it we won't see how good the brickwork is.

The fireplace alterations are underway and the brickwork is looking good. Once we have exposed all of the original brickwork our client can decide whether to repoint the old bricks or plaster the chimney breast. The original steel support bar is still in situ and the fireplace aperture is a large one with an unusual flat top rather than curved.

This old chimney is too large for the new efficient Charnwood stove, it has lots of changes in shape and size and all the parging has gone making cleaning difficult. It will be thoroughly swept by our ICS Registered chimney sweep and a new flexible stainless steel lining the correct size for the new Charnwood stove will be installed.

The fireplace alteration is now finished and the old bricks have been cleaned and repointed. The new hearth in natural sandstone slabs has been laid and is ready for the new stove to be fitted.

The top of the chimney shows again why we install new linings in old chimneys. The original parged lining has gone through a combination of use, chimney sweeping and weathering and left a rough surface with plenty of ledges for soot to build up. Continued use of this chimney as it is and brushing to clean will gradually remove the remaining mortar from the joints making the chimney unstable and potentially leaky.

The new stainless steel flue liner is now installed and the chimney top has been reflaunched to give good protection from the weather. The disused flue has been capped over with a vent to allow it to breathe.

The new Charnwood stove has now been installed and is being commissioned and tested by our HETAS engineer ready to be handed over to our client.