Progress Report on Both This Weeks Projects

#1.  Removal of Chimney Breast

 A pair of lintels now support the chimney breast upstairs, and are in turn supported by a pair of "gallows brackets" bolted to the wall.  A new blockwork wall is being built up from the bottom to close the fireplace opening :

This closer view shows more detail of the gallows brackets which are basically a welded triangular box section.  You can see that the construction of the flue is very rough stone and brickwork with no great integrity.  As a consequence the gallows brackets had to be bolted to the good part of the wall, and are much further apart than originally intended.  We only hope that this does not hinder the planned kitchen :

 At the base we now have a hole which will need to be filled.  This picture also shows the gas pipe, now floating in space :

#2.  Installation of Bookcase.

The base units are now in their final position, and leveled.  The three top sections have been mounted, and the filing drawers fitted :

The white marks on the wall are scrape marks where the "table top" had to be eased i.  This was made all in one piece, so was quite tricky to manoeuvre. Once all is done, the paint pot will be coming out.

These two closeups show show the 'L' section timber inserts that carry the LED strips.  Once installed down the hinge lines of the doors, the 'L' section will shield the LEDS so they cannot be seen :