A fireplace can often make a great focal point in any room, whether your property is modern or of period construction. Fireplace lintels do not require any special treatment whether the fireplace is used, or merely for decoration.
Older properties have sometimes had their fireplaces closed up in an attempt to modernise. Today they’re being opened back up and restored to their former glory.
If you’re building a new feature, or renovating an existing fireplace, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to design. At Wade, we can help whatever your requirements.
Building Regulations for Fireplace Lintels
The lintel over any opening has to be able to support the weight of the structure directly overhead, and any imposed loads also have to be taken into consideration. A chimney represents quite a direct loading of masonry and may also be paired with a neighbour’s stack if your property is terraced or semi-detached.
Depending upon the level, and extent of renovations, it may be wise to seek professional advice from a structural engineer before you begin.
If the renovation is light, requiring only a little rebuilding to the brickwork above a small fireplace opening, timber props, or a short acrow support may be all that’s required.
Top Tip:
When renovating an existing fireplace, it’s a good idea to call in a chimney sweep first. Chimneys can harbour a huge amount of soot, not to mention spider’s webs and even bird’s nests!
Using Timber Lintels in a Fireplace
I live in a period property, built more than two-hundred years ago, and the fireplace lintel is a massive piece of oak that is supported by two more cantilevered timbers through the back of the wall.
Replacing this lintel would be a huge project and only necessary in the event of a rebuild. In later, Georgian and Victorian construction, oak lintels were used in larger, or inglenook fireplaces, where the lintel was not in danger of burning.
With a cooking range fitted, the fire’s function was contained safely. If you need to replace a wooden lintel today, it’s a better idea to replace it with a concrete version. By all means use a fancy piece of timber for the mantelpiece, to decorate the fireplace, but reinforced concrete lintels are a better bet when it comes to supporting performance.
Renovating a Brickwork Fireplace
The problem that you’ll find with older brickwork fireplaces is the steel lintel bar may corrode over time. It’s the number one reason why that lovely brick arch, or soldier course over the opening has sagged.
Very often there’s a more robust lintel overhead, behind the facing brickwork, providing the main support, but always check before you begin dismantling anything!
A steel lintel bar sits discreetly behind the brickwork and extends at each end into the mortar joint on either side.
Swapping out a failed steel lintel is a dirty job. There will be a build-up of soot as well as the rust and old mortar to deal with, but it shouldn’t take long before your fireplace is returned to its original condition.
Top Tip:
Chimneys, when not in use, still require ventilation to prevent damp, so never block one up entirely. Fit a hit-and-miss vent to ensure airflow in a fireplace that has been closed up.
Using Stone Lintels in a Fireplace
Stone lintels look amazing, and older buildings are often a showcase for the mason’s craft. These skills are still practised today but can be expensive to employ on a renovation. Stone lintels that have failed can be repaired but should be backed up with another supporting lintel to ensure future fireplace integrity.
Some stone fireplaces have lasted for centuries, but modern style stone is often a cast material, and only really recommended for decorative purposes. If stone is what you want in your fireplace focal point, then I would recommend a reinforced concrete lintel to take the strain behind the scenes.
Concrete Lintels for Your Fireplace
For new builds, or renovations of larger fireplaces, a steel reinforced concrete lintel is the perfect choice. Concrete lintels are easy to install in masonry and can cope with heat in the same way as bricks, mortar and concrete blocks.
-
If you use a concrete lintel in your fireplace construction, or renovation you can be confident that:
-
The steel reinforcement, protected by the concrete, will not fail due to rust
-
The compressive strength of concrete means that the weight of the chimney stack overhead will not be a problem
-
The tensile capabilities of reinforcing steel, and the fact that it moves at the same rate as concrete, make it a great performer in proximity to a heat source
Can I Use a Steel Lintel in my Fireplace?
If you have a small fireplace opening, then a steel lintel bar, to back up your brickwork detailing over the opening is a good idea. These L shaped steel bars have been used for centuries to support small areas of brickwork.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend steel box lintels as they have high heat transfer properties that could cause problems. Steel expands and contracts more rapidly than masonry, and this could lead to cracking, or distortion.
Steel reinforced concrete doesn’t suffer from rapid heat transference in the same way, so is a better bet when renovating an active, larger fireplace.
Local Regulations for Fireplace Use
Some locations are designated smoke-free, and there are regulations and by-laws that may prohibit the use of wood, or multi-fuel burners in urban areas. Using an alternative, electric heater, is the cleaner alternative, which can still give the ambience of a real fire.
Central heating systems, twinned with effective insulation make a working fireplace a luxury rather than a necessity, but a fireplace can be a superb focal point regardless.
At Wade, we have a comprehensive stock of lintels required for every size of project, from reinforced concrete to steel bars. Call our friendly, professional team today to discuss what you need, and how soon we can get it to your site.
