First time stove insert owner - but the install looks really wonky!

Good luck! That's great effort to make what you have work safely. Did you shine up the pretty brass parts?

*UPDATE*
Some bad news, unfortunately. I had a sweep come by and do an inspection, since I knew that some things were wonky, and I knew that the crown needed repair. Found out, that in addition to my B26 being too big for the hearth, that the previous owners of the house removed the lintel to accommodate the unit..........really bad move from what I'm told.

No lintel means no support, which makes the cracks in the fireplace make sense, in the pattern that they are in I suppose. They recommended that I go with a mason instead of their company, since it would probably save me some money.

And of course, since the damper was removed/rusted out - the cheaper route would be a lock-tight dampner....which means no stove......which means I have a few hundred pounds of steel I can't do much with.


Also waterproofing, ash-dump door....etc.....I'm pretty bummed.......

I'm hoping for good news; contacted a mason and is calling me back Monday (only due to my schedule). I may have to put off getting a newer insert until next year - so I may just go open-hearth. If it's way too bad, and beyond my budget....ugh....I don't want to think about it.,.

What really surprises me is that there was an inspection before I bought the house by a chimney sweep......and he said everything was fine and functional....and the cracks were just from "settling"

I think I'm over the inital shock of finding so much wrong: I'm thinking positive, and I'm sure that the lintel reinstall shouldn't be as bad as initially made out to be. I'm pretty sure that my old B26 should work out just fine.....just my lofty goals of refurb will be slower than anticipated. I'll just have to keep it "slammed" for now, slowly save, and see how things go.

Thanks

One thing I thought about:
Without the (presumed steel plate) lintel....how did the whole thing fair in this year's earthquake?
If no new cracks appeared, I would feel much better about the structure/strength of the brick.
I don't know exactly where you are in VA, but I bet you felt that earthquake pretty good.

I like the idea of the free-standing stove. Reasonably good chimney strength; replace lintel; good steel liner; check clearance to combustibles.....Install a nice Englander 30 and don't look back.
(That last line is just my opinion, and maybe a little pep talk.)

....(weird....I responded last night, but the post is missing.....???)

The quake wasn't bad her in VABCH. It doesn't look like any new cracks formed, or if the existing have gotten any worse. I'm hoping that I can just have the lintel put in, and keep the old Country Flame. If not - not sure what I'll do. I should find out some news today.....