Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?

"Robert Irwin" catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message ...
Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?


How about a nice cast iron fireplace?
Alternatively, you can buy something called "scones" which are like
thin bricks (3-4 cm) which can be laid on edge - making a slightly
thinner wall than traditional fire bricks. Still stuck with the buff
colours though.

Fireplace building is a black art and I would recommend googling in
uk.d-i-y for information about it to ensure your fire works
efficiently and safely.

Alan.

(Alan Campbell) wrote in message . com...
"Robert Irwin" catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message ...
Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?


How about a nice cast iron fireplace?
Alternatively, you can buy something called "scones" which are like
thin bricks (3-4 cm) which can be laid on edge - making a slightly
thinner wall than traditional fire bricks. Still stuck with the buff
colours though.

Fireplace building is a black art and I would recommend googling in
uk.d-i-y for information about it to ensure your fire works
efficiently and safely.

Alan.


Nother option is sheet metal, eg copper. Sheet metal should have a gap
from the bricks, and a gap at base to allow air in and up. Copper
conducts well so you dont want it stuck on the bricks.

Re colour, you can make buff bricks black, and it looks entirely in
keeping with a fireplace. Or get used black firebricks.

Regards, NT

"N. Thornton" wrote in message
om...
(Alan Campbell) wrote in message
. com...
"Robert Irwin" catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message
...
Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with
a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room
which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and
sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal
bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about
possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most
seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole
chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if
there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick
unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know
how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant
plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?


How about a nice cast iron fireplace?
Alternatively, you can buy something called "scones" which are like
thin bricks (3-4 cm) which can be laid on edge - making a slightly
thinner wall than traditional fire bricks. Still stuck with the buff
colours though.

Fireplace building is a black art and I would recommend googling in
uk.d-i-y for information about it to ensure your fire works
efficiently and safely.

Alan.


Nother option is sheet metal, eg copper. Sheet metal should have a gap
from the bricks, and a gap at base to allow air in and up. Copper
conducts well so you dont want it stuck on the bricks.

Re colour, you can make buff bricks black, and it looks entirely in
keeping with a fireplace. Or get used black firebricks.

Regards, NT


Thanks for ideas - hadn't really considered metal up till now as was a bit
worried about conductive properties firing shedloads of heat straight onto
the bits where it connects to wall - I'm sure its overcomable with a bit of
clever insulation though. Will add metalworkers to list of possibles though.
thanks.

Which leads to followup question - how do I go about blacking whatever I put
up to make it look like smokestains? Or do I just get a load of old soot and
rub it on?


Robert

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 21:31:01 +0100, "Robert Irwin"
catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote:

Thanks for ideas - hadn't really considered metal up till now as was a bit
worried about conductive properties firing shedloads of heat straight onto
the bits where it connects to wall - I'm sure its overcomable with a bit of
clever insulation though. Will add metalworkers to list of possibles though.
thanks.

Hi,

Try a fireplace specialist (not necessarily a 'showroom') and ask them
about it. You can get 'firebacks' which are precast out of the right
material eg:

http://www.lionheartheating.co.uk/site_01/html/o_fireback.shtml.

If you want something special it might be possible to cast it out of
fire cement or refractory cement or make it out of fireblicks. Metal
might not hold up under the heat of a coal fire plus it may radiate
too much heat to the wall behind it. Another option might be a solid
fuel stove.

Which leads to followup question - how do I go about blacking whatever I put
up to make it look like smokestains? Or do I just get a load of old soot and
rub it on?

AFIAK you can get stove polish for this, again it should be available
from a fireplace specialist eg:

http://www.hotline-chimneys.co.uk/ancillaries_stove_grate_polish_info.htm

cheers,
Pete.

"Robert Irwin" catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote in message ...
"N. Thornton" wrote in message
om...


Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with
a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room
which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and
sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal
bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about
possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most
seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole
chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if
there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick
unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know
how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant
plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?


How about a nice cast iron fireplace?
Alternatively, you can buy something called "scones" which are like
thin bricks (3-4 cm) which can be laid on edge - making a slightly
thinner wall than traditional fire bricks. Still stuck with the buff
colours though.

Fireplace building is a black art and I would recommend googling in
uk.d-i-y for information about it to ensure your fire works
efficiently and safely.

Alan.


Nother option is sheet metal, eg copper. Sheet metal should have a gap
from the bricks, and a gap at base to allow air in and up. Copper
conducts well so you dont want it stuck on the bricks.

Re colour, you can make buff bricks black, and it looks entirely in
keeping with a fireplace. Or get used black firebricks.

Regards, NT


Thanks for ideas - hadn't really considered metal up till now as was a bit
worried about conductive properties firing shedloads of heat straight onto
the bits where it connects to wall - I'm sure its overcomable with a bit of
clever insulation though. Will add metalworkers to list of possibles though.
thanks.

no you need airflow behind to cool it, insulations no use.

Which leads to followup question - how do I go about blacking whatever I put
up to make it look like smokestains? Or do I just get a load of old soot and
rub it on?

If it wont get hot, black stain probably (not tried it tho), or just
get used sooted black ones.


Regards, NT

On Thu, 3 Jun 2004 19:44:34 +0100, "Robert Irwin"
catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote:

Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?



There is a borad you can get for this type of thing, its about 4-6 mm
thick, and made of concrete, its slightly flexable. Cut with an
old/cheep saw as it blunts them reel fast, and seal in place with fire
cement - the type you get in a mastic gun. This stuff is grey, not
over apraling to look at.

The fireboard (what I think you mean by heat resistant plasterboard)
is still carboard on the outside, it just has more "plaster" in the
middle.

Personally I would go down the fireplace shop, make out I want to buy
from them, and ask what they would fit in ........

Rick

On Thu, 3 Jun 2004 19:44:34 +0100, "Robert Irwin"
catfishpcAThotmailDOTcom wrote:

Situation is - we had an old back boiler ripped out and replaced with a
combi in another room (please do not treat statement as a troll....)

There is now a reasonable sized hole in the corner of our front room which I
would like to put a basket gas fire in (plumber is ok with flue, room
dimensions etc so thats not a worry)

Basically I need something slightly decorative to put in back and sides of
fireplace to tidy it all up and protect what I believe to be normal bricks
towards the back of the fireplace.

Given the dimensions of it all, putting in firebricks is just about possbile
but undesirable to to relative thickness and the 'buff' colour most seem to
be. I dont' want to start taking too much of the old brickwork out and
fiddling as I'm not an experienced builder and don't fancy the whole chimney
stack on my head.

I'm guessing most glazed tiles would get damaged by heat, even if there is a
couple of inches clearance between fire and tiles. Quarry tiles might
survive it but its not very appealing visually.

Os what I'm now looking at doing is possible going for 1cm thick unglazed
slate tiles on top of a good thick layer of limed mortar - anyone know how
good these are in repeated exposure to heat? Failing that I might try
trawling round a few stonemerchants for basalt based thin tile-shaped
stonework.

The plumber also said you can get some sort of heat resistant plasterboard,
but I've yet to find any in the sheds.

Anyone had experience of this sort of thing?

Try 'fired earth'
www.firedearth.co.uk
or any of the specialist tile companies. There are plenty of
attractive italian imports these days. I did my fireplace with some of
the terracotta ones from them under similar circumstances ten or more
years ago and although we regularly have wood fires during winter
there has been no cracking etc. I didn't use cement, just ordinary
tile 'glue' as sold in tubs at B&Q etc. Grout with ordinary portland
cement.
These people:-
www.kingsworthyfoundry.co.uk
do firebaskets, firebacks etc. and our local ironmongers still sell
blacklead (though it comes in tubes nowadays)