The chimney breast in number 10 was artexed. I didn’t know why until I removed the artex – there was big crack running through the stone mantel from front to back.
The only real option was to replace it. Luckily the builders managed to locate a similar stone mantel. Holes were knocked into the chimney stack above the stone. The chimney stack was then propped up while the stone was removed and replaced with the salvaged one. It was quite quick and a good job to do while the weather was poor.
Once the sand and cement was set, the props were removed and the holes in the chimney stack were bricked up.
The fireplace mantel in number 10 was cracked and had to be replaced. There is a prop placed remporarily underneath the fireplace to ensure that it doesn’t go anywhere.
The stone mantel came from the Sycamore pub when it was refurbished.