Do you think that i have a fireplace behind here?

[mumofoneAloneandwell]

Could do with some advice without paying a call out fee for a builder

Do you think that there would be a fireplace behind here?

I'm on the 2nd floor of a victorian house conversion. Havent been here long and would love to restore the fireplace appearance (dont need it working)

Could I just knock through the bottom? It doesn't sound particularly hollow, is the problem

Please excuse my sofa, dd has left food all over it 🙃 x

Edit, photo in the comments

Photo

Go outside and see if the chimney comes out of the roof there

The only way to know is to knock the plaster off. You will probably find a brick arch about 1.2m up and then a hole filled in with breeze blocks further down. As long as you find the arch or a lintel then you are OK to remove the blocks/bricks filling up the hole.

There's a vent (I think!), which means there's some kind of void from a previous fireplace. But I would think that it's likely been bricked up, and only the space for the vent left open. So you'd need to remove the bricked up section in order to restore the fireplace properly.

Agree with PP, there will likely be an opening where a fireplace once was - especially as there is a vent on the wall. Be aware that fireplaces can be cold and draughty so if you open it up, you may want to block off the chimney.

Can you take the vent off and have a nosey with a torch?

What's it like in the room on the other side of the chimney breast?

This is a very achievable idea, will try tomorrow

I'm not sure, thats my neighbours flat

Mines only a small 2 bed

Sorry for being dense - would this be the chimney breast?

The “chimney breast” is the bit that sticks out into your room and usually has a fireplace, and alcoves each side. If a chimney sticks out of the roof in between your window and next doors window then it presumably comes down that internal wall. It will have been blocked up before it was plastered but is probably still there. You can buy a mantlepiece and surround at reclamation yards.

The picture you have is of your chimney breast. Im sure there would have been a fireplace in there at some point. No way of telling if theres just a void there now, or fireplace, or surround, brick, whatever.

I'd also say if you own the property by leasehold or share of freehold you need permission before you start knocking into the structure of the building.

Okay thanks everyone. I think i might have a fireplace so will take a look behind the vent tomorrow, cant wait 🤭🤭

I also think thay there might be a fireplace in my dd's bedroom, which is in the rear projection. I'm sure ive seen a chimney out there

Will bring photos tomorrow xx

We dismantled ours. Terraced house built 1830. It was obvious that there had been a range in the space rather than a fireplace. There was a stone lintle which we removed and used elsewhere (it was a house and we took the entire chimney stack out).

That's a chimney breast so there used to be a fireplace there. Now there will just be a void, which sounds like it's been bricked up from your description of it not sounding hollow. As another poster said, you might need permission before opening it up given you're in a flat.

Forgot the photo! Reposting!

I fitted this one with a lot of help from FIL. Excuse the toddler detritus.
It had been filled in with breeze blocks but came out pretty easily with the right tools. We bought the Edwardian cast iron fireplace on either Facebook Marketplace or eBay - can't remember now - it matches the original one in our master bedroom. The hearth (slab of stone underneath) was from a local supplier but FIL cut it to fit.
I used a chimney balloon to block draughts; its not functional, purely decorative.

Hey everyone

So I got a screwdriver and took off the vent, and it looks like I do have a fireplace (happy dance)

Please tell me what you think from these photos that I managed to take. I will add them one by one so i can explain

Photo one - of the bottom of the fireplace

Photo 2 - to the right

Photo 3 - to the left

And up

On one of them, you can see the bit of wood that the vent is attached to

If you know what I should do next, please tell me! I need to figure out the correct dimensions of the fireplace as well really

Thanks @Amonthinthecountry for your helpful and simple idea xx

I love this

It would work well for the one in my dd's room which wouldnt be functional either