Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 16, 2008 5:27 pm I'm trying to renovate my loungeroom and I'm partway through pulling out the old wooden fireplace surround / mantlepiece. (I'm going to replaster, replace the mantlepiece, and replace the old wood burning unit with a new one).
The only part holding it onto the wall is about halfway down. I can peer behind the unit and see that the middle wooden beam is attached to the wall somehow, but I can't figure out how. Looking from the front there are no screws, dowls, recessed depressions or filled areas which might allow access to whatever it is. And there's certainly no room to squeeze a saw or any sort of tools behind. The only clue I have are two little wooden brackets attached to the middle beam. But the only way to look behind these would be to smash them off with a hammer. But I'd rather not destroy the wooden surround... Does anyone know how these are usually held onto the wall, or have any suggestions on how to proceed, I'm totally stuck ! thanks Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 2Feb 17, 2008 12:11 pm Can you get a pad saw in there?
I have a good pad saw that takes a hacksaw blade and I have cut out some windows that were secret nailed as they built the timber window into the house. So I slipped the saw blade in between the timber and the wall - and sawed the 3 nails off. Took a bit of time but the windows came out intack. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Post a pic and we might have other ideas. Steve Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 3Feb 18, 2008 11:00 am With a strong light and careful examination I've discovered a screw and a nail buried deep in the middle board at the front.
New problem: How to pull out a bullethead nail that's been punched deep into woodwork ? Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 6Feb 18, 2008 1:13 pm Brilliant ! I never would have thought of that supremely logical idea.
Thanks Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 7Feb 19, 2008 5:01 pm gat a hole saw drill it around the nail
get a chisel and take out the round bit get a claw hammer and take out nail Da Vinci Outdoor Living Architectural landscaping http://www.davincioutdoor.com Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 9Feb 19, 2008 6:27 pm Well, I punched the nails through, but there's still some huge connector thingy that must be in the middle, hidden under the wooden brackets. I can now see there's a big piece of wood built into the fireplace itself which is what the extra middle bolts/screws/nails must be connected to.
So, do I knock offf the brackets and see if the bolt is under there ? I think I should post some pics... Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 10Feb 19, 2008 6:36 pm lol now now Al landscapers are multi skilled (apparently) Da Vinci Outdoor Living Architectural landscaping http://www.davincioutdoor.com Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 11Feb 19, 2008 10:56 pm Pics would help Cabin.
But perhaps there is a steel running up the brickwork that they then screwed and nailed the timber to. What age is the house, that will help re what might be there. And did I mention a pic Steve Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 12Feb 23, 2008 8:53 am It's a 1930s house. But I've since discovered that there's a huge bolt that connects to a metal plate inside the the chimney. The only way to undo the bolt is to reach up into the fireplace.
But I can't do that until I've removed the old wood heater. So, no amount of hammering or thumping will have any effect (unless I start dislodging bricks !) Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 13Feb 24, 2008 7:55 pm Sounds like time to write to Santa and ask him to take the bolts out next time he's in the area
And if he doesnt reply soon enough, then it might be time to get that pad saw out and cut those bolts off. Gte the right pitch in the hacksaw blade, around 32 teeth per inch should be right, (too few teeth and it will stick too much) Then start that sawing - take your time and with a bit of patience it will be cut and your fireplace mantlepiece will be free. Steve Re: Help ! Pulling out fireplace 14Feb 29, 2008 8:29 pm cabinfever,
The bolt is nearly 80 years only. Even if you could reach it, I don't think that you'll be able to undo the rusty bolt. Only way to get it out is with an angle grinder, I think. ChrisL I would probably render it and then paint it as per your other advice, or gyrpock over the top. 1 3303 Hi all, My first post, we are building a house and can’t decide the layout of the lounge room. We have a large N/W facing window and are wanting to have a wood slow… 0 13694 No the fireplace doesn’t work. It’s been enclosed. I’m not sure what was removed, as it was done quite some time ago - well before what I can see with photos online… 2 11530 |