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Stone fireplace in 1720 farmhouse


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I saw the first fireplace at a structural inspection yesterday. The day before I inspected a house built in 1967 that was supposed to be a modern interpretation of a historic Chester County stone farmhouse. The other photos are the modern version of the first fireplace.

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...More than once I have seen modern faux fireplace work that creates such a looming sensation of massive masonry overhead that I want to cringe in the behemoth's presence.

If you look at the right side of the modern fireplace you will see a steel column. The right side of the fireplace is lower than the left side. Apparently the column was added later. At the left side a stone wall projects about 6 feet past the exterior wall. At the right side the stone only projects about 3 feet. I believe that there was not enough weight at the right side to counterbalance the cantilevered stone.

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That's a lot of weight on that cantilevered beam.

If my eyes aren't deceiving me, the upper beam is spalled at a critical point.

Marc

Its a timber lintel. It just uneven and the plaster was filled in around the edges.

Not talking about the lintel.

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Marc

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That's a lot of weight on that cantilevered beam.

If my eyes aren't deceiving me, the upper beam is spalled at a critical point.

Marc

Its a timber lintel. It just uneven and the plaster was filled in around the edges.

A beam and a lintel are the same thing. A horizontal load bearing member.

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That's a lot of weight on that cantilevered beam.

If my eyes aren't deceiving me, the upper beam is spalled at a critical point.

Marc

Its a timber lintel. It just uneven and the plaster was filled in around the edges.

A beam and a lintel are the same thing. A horizontal load bearing member.

Going off course here a little, if I may, but...I agree a lintel is a beam but is a beam a lintel...or is it a beam?

Marc

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Depends on whether we're talking about boats, buildings, lighting, or music.

I use the term lintel exclusively regarding masonry structures. I use beam interchangeably with many different types of structures and openings.

I have no idea if that's right, but I'm sticking with it.

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That's a lot of weight on that cantilevered beam.

If my eyes aren't deceiving me, the upper beam is spalled at a critical point.

Marc

Its a timber lintel. It just uneven and the plaster was filled in around the edges.

Not talking about the lintel.

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tn_20154100532_20154821122_P4062025%20(512x341).jpg

31.19 KB

Marc

Corbelzilla.

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That's a lot of weight on that cantilevered beam.

If my eyes aren't deceiving me, the upper beam is spalled at a critical point.

Marc

Its a timber lintel. It just uneven and the plaster was filled in around the edges.

Not talking about the lintel.

Click to Enlarge
tn_20154100532_20154821122_P4062025%20(512x341).jpg

31.19 KB

Marc

There was some honeycombing in the lintel?/cantilevered beam? I don't recall it looking that dark. I looked at a higher resolution photo. It is not spalling and I don't think it is a concern.

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