Taking out fireplace to put in wood stove

[u/Temporary_You3845]

Impossible to get a good photo. House is from late 1800s or early 1900s. Trying to figure out lentil issues. I can't really see anything that looks like one when I look inside. There's the black long bit right under the plaster but it doesn't go all the way across so it's either not the lentil or damaged and needs replaced asap. Trying to figure out if I need to add some supports before pulling more of the mess of filler bricks out.

[u/PouncerX42]

With what you are showing in the picture, you for sure need to have the chimney inspected, it might crumble when you take out the fireplace

[u/Temporary_You3845 → u/PouncerX42]

Yeah I've stopped. Basically there was a tile fireplace put in at some point which I've pulled out but they filled all around it with bits of stone and brick and mortar. It was such a messy job i can't tell where the original brick starts and ends

[u/mrseantron]

I would stop where you are and have a professional check it out. If the fireplace is as old as you say you could be opening a real can of worms.

The black piece certainly looks like a lintel based on these photos. When you say it doesn't go all the way across do you mean it stops behind the brick on the left? Lintels don't typically go across the entire chimney structure, they are just a bit wider than the fireplace opening.

[u/Temporary_You3845 → u/mrseantron]

That's whats confusing me because it doesn't even go across the opening. I've not touched it anymore, too uncertain!

[u/Alive_Pomegranate858 → u/Temporary_You3845]

It could be part of the old damper frame.

But I concur, stop now before it's too late. Good luck!