Chimney breast lintel

[voteforpedro]

I want to install a log burner in this opening.

It has a brick arch lintel that sits fairly low (84cm if you include the bricks at the base).

I want to install a lintel and box it off but I'm struggling to work out how I can do this in the least invasive way possible. I think at the very least it would need to sit at around 90cm which would put it at above the arch base. There's not enough overhang on those bricks to support the lintel and I don't want to compromise the arch if possible.

But I'm thinking the only real option is to support above the arch, remove it, install lintel and in fill above?

For reference the opening is 97cm and it's an external flue so the face of the chimney is bonded through the whole wall.

 

[^woody^]

It may self support above the arch if the mortar is solid, so may not need propping.

You won't know until you come to do it, so may as well plan to prop it.

Two lintels if it's 9", and the bricks in the flue may need supporting.