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Stonemasonry

lintel type for stone fireplace

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.43 PM

Hi Folks I have an old stone rubble cottage which is having a Rayburn fitted in the kitchen fireplace. Sadly the oak beam that holds up the chimney breast will be just too close to the flue and there is no way around it, its got to go. The common way it seems to support brick fireplaces is to fit a 65 or 100mm concrete lintel. But brick supports itself much better than random stone. Can anybody suggest if a concrete lintel is good enough for a stone chimney, and what size I might need. It's only a 3ft open span. I'm wondering if I could double up the concrete lintels and mortar 1 straight on top of another for double strength. Many thanks for any replies Mike

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1 Answer

Anonymous user

If it is only 3 foot opening the load is almost nothing even with random stone 1 concrete 4 inch lintel is plenty as long as it is not going to get roasting hot... The way I would do it is with a mild steel bar slightly curved upward, this I would cut in to the underside of the lower stones, so there is no sign of it facing the fireplace. This however is quite a high skilled job. But rest assured 1 concrete 4 inch lintel is plenty as long as I said its not going to heat up, as this may get the re- bars inside expanding and contracting and you do not want that. But you could even just get a 100mm X 32mm flat mild steel bar.. This is a very cheap way to do it and much quicker and more easy to fit.. You in turn can then paint this with any colour intumescent paint you like..

Answered24 October 2018