evanthorncliffe

I've been told by a builder and the installer that there is a chance it could have damaged so to put a new one in? Something about expansion? It is 13 years old. I was thinking it should have been fixed at the top somehow. The liner is a 5 or 6 inch one. It is a big fireplace so it probably looks smaller. There was a small amount of soot that came down and the chin pot is quite black

Hi, I'm in the process of some renovation in my house. It's a bit of disaster ATM. Anyway, in the process of taking my old log burner out and lowering the hearth (it was raised over old piping and an electric damproof system. The liner slid down the chimney (i took out the steel plate mistakenly and it was the only thing holding it up). So I need a new one installing. The guy who fitted the old one has said he will install hearth as well but asked me to knock off the brickwork at the bottom with protrudes half a brick out and there is also a lump of concrete. Is this ok to do? I am nervy of any kind of brick/structural work as I know nothing about it. Any advice welcome. Winter is coming and I'm living up stairs at the moment wishing I had got not started!!

Thanks, you have put my mind at ease. The horizontal crack has been there years and it seems to have been built up at a separate time to block up gap. Sticking sounds a good idea

Hi, the cracks in the wall beneath the purlin have been there a while. I forgotten about them tbh as I've had other stresses in life. But having started some works down stairs (damproofing and skim). I went to check and knowing next to nothing about construction and a habitual catastrophiser I'm now worried. It's a party wall in a small 1860 mid terrace built in Cheshire brick with 9 inch solid walls and there the neighbors chimney on the other side. They had removed the chimney in the first floor and had to have it supported over twenty years ago. The cracks are slightly bigger since then, there are hairline cracks in the render in my first floor directly beneath. I've been told it could be settlement and not to worry from a builder, just maybe put some straps in. But should I get a structural engineer in too have a look? Any advice gratefully taken. I've included the opposite end of the beam in my house to replicate what is on the other side of the party wall

Thanks for everyone's replies. It's put my mind at rest. I'll treat as described and deal with the condensation issue. It's a 19th century midterrace with double glazing and painted exterior brickwork. It also had bitumen coated on the inside of the roof slates when I first moved in so the was very humid. I've replaced the roof and have felt under slates now so it can breathe now.

Yes it's condensation, I'm going to improve ventilation and put a dehumidifier extractor in the kitchen as well (I forget the name for it). Thanks I'll do as you say. I'm a bit of a worrier!!

Hi, I know very little about construction so any advice would be appreciated. My plasterers have uncovered an rsj supporting the first floor internal wall and the rsj is showing surface rust with a couple of patches of deeper rust caused by condensation. I have given it a brush with a wire brush and will use a drill with a wire attachment .It's not flaking ect . Can I treat with with rust converter x2 and red oxide x2 or is it a bigger problem and need replacing? They plan to stick the plasterboard on with moisture resistant foam. I will address the condensation problem. Any advice appreciated.

Hi I have just exposed this beam in my house. It was clad in wood and condensation has got to it .Should I give it the same treatment? Rust converter and red oxide or replace? I catastrophe most things so any advice appreciated.