Closed Fireplace - Closed and Hearth Removed All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[matt2710]

Hello all,

Have used this excellent site for research, but this is my first post.

I have a room with one outside wall, and on this wall is a chimney breast which has been closed in the past, but no air brick. I removed the hearth entirely as the builders laid the toes of the floorboards onto the brick surround which didn't have a DPC. Well it did if you consider the floorboards were nailed down onto roofing felt!!

I have removed the hearth and there is now a void from underfloor, up the chimney breast, to an air brick whichis roughly between the my property and the upstairs flat. Also the chimney stack is removed and is capped, but I can't see form ground level if there is a vent.

My question is, should I fit a vent and grill in the room above the skirting to allow airflow as condensation gathers on the face of the chimney breast?

Regards,
mattd.

[Perry525]

The reason there is condensation on the brick wall is, that it is the coldest point in the room and all the water vapour in the room is condensing there.
I asume that you intend to join up the walls on either side to make a straight wall? When you do this you will have in effect a normal cavity wall and the inner wall will then be the same as elsewhere?

You do not mention if you have cavity walls?

[matt2710]

Apologies, not cavity walls. Lath and plaster onto solid brick.

The left hand side of the chimney breast has a window in the wall, the other side is plastered.

The radiator is under the window, yet the right hand side gets considerably damp.

Would the blocked in fire place benefit from an air vent??

Regards,
Matt2710.

[TheDoctor5]

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