Chimney breast help please

[martin1018]

Greetings to all,

Found you from the MoneySavingExpert site, and having had a look arround UHM seems just as friendly.

I need to tap your collective knowledge please.

I have a chimney-breast which has not been used as a fire place for some years. I am hoping to change its use to a recepticle (hope words like that are allowed!) for a LCD tv, with dvd and video sitting on a toughened glass shelf in the current opening below the screen. I was thinking to route the electrics and scart leads etc through the chimney and to an opening cut in the wall behind the tv. This would then look as smart as the displays seen in the flash shows etc, with, I hope, minimum outlay.

Thats the idea - now the queries.

Can I get away with removing a brick to make the hole behind the screen without any form of RSJ/lintel above it?

How can I block the chimney above the works to avoid debris/dust/birds falling into the room/onto the equipment on the shelf below?

Is this something that a reasonably competant diy-er could/should attempt?

Very many thanks, I look forward to any advice you may be able to offer.

Martin

[ultimatehandyman]

Hi Martin,

welcome to the forum.

What you propose to do seems ok and you should not have any problems by removing one brick, as long as it is not forming an arch or anything. You can safely remove 1 brick from most walls without worrying about supporting it.

As for blocking off the chimney above- it can be done but you will probably need a vent to allow the chimney breast to breath. Completely sealing the chimney breast can lead to damp problems and so a vent is normally a good idea.


Blocking the chimney can be done by making a timber frame and then cutting a piece of plasterboard, you could incorporate ventilation into the design or you could put a vent on the front of the chimney breast- higher up, it's difficult to give specific advice without seing it.

[martin1018]

Thank you for your prompt reply

Martin