What to do with fireplace

[illmonkey]

When I renovated my place I decided to prep for a log burner, but decided to just have an open fire for now. It was lined with fire board and then skimmed, as advised by my plasterer.

last season I used it a few times a week and as you can see the plaster is breaking up. The back was so bad I just ripped it out.

My question is, what would be a cheap way to ‘protect’ the sides (and rear?), whilst maintaining the plaster over the angle beads? I thought about going and getting some slate cut so it’s level with the corners, but that’s pricey! Any thoughts?

[greygoose]

See if you can get a cheap Victorian fireplace in there?

[alfabeat]

I'm sure fireboard isn't suitable for an open fire....as you have found out.....

[fat80b]

Isn't the only real answer for an open fire to get a proper fireback (metal or clay) and use that - you can then stick a fireplace in front of it or not (as you choose).

They can sometimes be picked up on FB for cheap and you chuck a load of sand behind it

[illmonkey]

So, I need to get something like this that'll sort of float in the fireplace (I paid a not insignificant sum to have widened!).





Or like this.



problem is neither are likely to just fit the opening I have. Feels like I may as well just get a burner installed! Even then, how does one deal with the plaster to the sides? I see many burners installed into openings smaller than mine with painted plaster inside the fireplace, surely it'd still crack?

[biggiles]

alfabeat said:

I'm sure fireboard isn't suitable for an open fire....as you have found out.....

Agreed. I'm pretty surprised any builder did that.

Your household (and insurance company) might sleep more soundly if there was a (cheap or s/h) wood-burner installed. You /can/ do it DIY, there are plenty of resources online, but there are plenty of regs as well. You'll need to check what flue/chimney you have, which can be a surprising cost if it's not right.

Otherwise fit an electric lookalike fire / wood-burner? Some are surprisingly realistic.

[illmonkey]

Fires been in use a few times, so bumping this to see if there are any other ideas!

Even if it's to stop the side cracking too badly, to preserve the corners/face.

[dhutch]

For an open fire, you would typically have a clay fire back set into the wall (front face flush with the wall) and throat lintel.
Then you have a hearth and surround, typically tiles backed with vermiculite filled concrete.

https://www.castfireplaces.co.uk/clay-back/



Its not expensive to put together

This cost me under a grand about 8 years ago.


Having started by cutting a hole through to the poorly boarded up original hole.