The purpose of a fireplace lintel is to spread the load from above the opening of a fireplace across down to the sides of the fireplace firebox. A fireplace lintel can be made from a number of different materials and the type and materials of lintel will differ between each fireplace.

There should always be a lintel or arch above your fireplace/builder’s opening (to support the building material above your wood burning stove). Sometimes you discover that an errant builder forgot.

The lintel is a horizontal (or occasionally curved) beam that sits across the top opening of the fireplace. This is holding the wall up, so do not remove the lintel without additional structural support! You could affect the integrity of the chimney breast and even bring the ceiling down!

Also we will show you how to open up a blocked off fireplace. Find out how to locate the edges of the existing opening, repair any damage caused and then how to install lintels if needed and fit a new fireback and hearth.