Demolish existing fireplace and build new with insert

[stefancrs]

Hello!

We are planning to renovate (and expand) the entrance floor, which includes replacing our poor fireplace with something that looks more reasonable and also has a heating function.

Currently, we have a fireplace that was built in 1977 (the house is from the '30s) with accompanying mexibrick bonanza. We don't know how large the chimney is on this floor but are curious about what we can expect when we demolish it and how much space will be needed to build the new one? Possibly the new insert won't be in the same "position" as the existing fireplace.

We've never dealt with chimneys etc., so we really have no idea what to expect, but it would be good from a kitchen planning perspective to have some awareness...

Attached are pictures of how it looks today, amidst all the mess







We are considering placing the insert at countertop height; here is the current sketch of the upcoming kitchen where the kitchen counter will "wind" around the chimney:

 

[saiter]

Do you want an insert in (more or less) the same place?
Or in another location?
Or a standalone stove?

What do you have on the floor above?
Can you get any clues from there?

//AA

 

[stefancrs]

Do you want an insert in (more or less) the same place?
Or in a different place?
Or a standalone stove?

What's above on the floor above?
Any hints you can gather there?

//AA

We were thinking of something along these lines possibly:

https://www.instagram.com/elinsommestad/p/BMZqgZ-gujr/

So possibly not in the same place but on the kitchen side, if possible. Insert, not standalone.

Above is a bedroom on one side of the chimney and a living room on the other.

Note that the mexibrick "mess" is much larger than the chimney one floor up, so it's unclear how much space will be freed when we tear it down.

 

[saiter]

Is the chimney of the same size on the next floor?
Otherwise, you need to look into your fireplace and try to see where/how your flue goes.
When you install an insert, you need to tear down a small section upwards in the channel, and then you will see how it is.
Do you have anything on the floor below that could be connected to the chimney?
Old boiler or exhaust from the bathroom?

//AA

 

[stefancrs]

Is the chimney shaft the same size on the next floor? Otherwise, you need to check inside your fireplace and try to see where/how your flue channel goes. When you are going to install an insert, a small section of the channel should be removed, so you will see how it is. Do you have something on the floor below that could be connected to the chimney? Old boiler or exhaust from the WC?

//AA

I may have edited while you were writing, but no, it is much smaller one floor up.

In the basement, there's exhaust in the shower (old boiler room) and WC and an open fireplace.

There used to be a wood stove on the current floor and a stove on the upper floor.

 

[saiter]

Are you going to install the insert yourself?
(Otherwise, get someone from the fireplace store to ask for a quote. You can do that anyway)
Or the chimney sweep. He should know how your pipes run.

//AA

 

[stefancrs]

Are you going to install the insert yourself?
(Otherwise, get someone from the stove shop to ask for a quote. You can do that anyway)
Or the chimney sweep. He should know how your flues run.

//AA

Not going to install it myself, just want to get an idea of what to expect when we tear it down and how much we need to build up again around the insert.

But yes, getting a mason here is probably a good idea.