I didn't put this in Home Energy as it's not really about the stove, but feel free to move it!
We're looking at installing a boiler stove in our existing fireplace. We had a lengthy chat this morning with our plumber and we're happy enough about that end of things, so now I need to look at the fireplace end of things.
We have a standard enough fireplace with a slate hearth, wooden surround and arched black insert.
We want to remove the surround and insert and just leave a plastered hole for the stove to stand in, a shelf across the top and the existing hearth, if possible.
Who do we get to do something like that, and how much work is involved? What's behind the insert and surround? Is there a lot of wall that needs to come out, or what? And would we be able to keep the existing hearth and resurface the opened up space, or would we have to get a new one?