Fire Back

[alistair]

Hi last night we opened the flap ( if thats what you call it) on our cast iron fireplace .Its the bit that seals off the chimney when not in use. It fell down the back of the fire and dissapeared, I dont think the fire is original to the house but I would have expected the void behind the fire to be filled with something. Should it , can I do it know and if so what with?
Hope someone can help.
Thanks Alistair

 

[Nemesis]

Yes it should - is there nothing at all there, and have you a reasonable amount of access?

 

[Lime]

Yes it should - is there nothing at all there, and have you a reasonable amount of access?

Agreed.

Behind most fires that I have removed the backs have been filled with assorted bits of loose rubble, topped with mortar level with and at a slope towards the flap.
With some fires there may be some arched openings under the fire basket.
Tiles, bricks or anything flat can be used to block them.

 

[alistair]

There is nothing at all behind the fire back in fact I discovered that what I thought was (or maybe is) a firebrick at the back of the fire can be lifted out to get access behind. So at least I have the flap back. The space behind the fire is about 6 inches by 3 feet. Should I fill It in?

 

[Nemesis]

Yes - otherwise you are losing heat and it's probable that any fireback will burn through prematurely too. Soot will collect, all manner of problems can happen.

Originally the void would have been filled by the builders with any old rubble and lime mortar they had available. The problem is when fireplaces are removed this is removed also, and it sounds as though your fireplace isn't original and when installed the void was simply left.

What you fill it with now depends really - but I'd avoid cementy stuff and go for lime (fresh bagged hydrate will be fine made into mortar if you don't want the expense of ready made in tubs). You can use broken brick or any rubble you can find to pad it all out, some people like vermiculite, it's rather personal taste.

We have had many posts on this is the past, see if you can find anything in the archive, if not ask more more info and I'm sure you will get a variety of experiences and opinions.

Here's some useful info:

http://www.bricksandbrass.co.uk/diyelem/fireplace/fpfitting.htm

also:

http://www.c20fires.co.uk/fireplace_fitting.htm

http://www.victorianfires.co.uk/fitting_a_fireplace/index.html

and some regs:

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/newfire.htm



The Victorian Society also has a little booklet available about fireplaces which I think contains advice about fitting.

http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/carevichouse.html

 

[alistair]

Thanks for the great advice where can I buy lime from and whats hydrate?
Alistair

 

[Nemesis]

The stuff you buy in bags from any builder's merchants - mixed with an aggregate (sand) it makes lime mortar.

Now that's a whole new topic...

 

[Penners]

The stuff you buy in bags from any builder's merchants - mixed with an aggregate (sand) it makes lime mortar.

Now that's a whole new topic...

New?? I think if you do an archive search on the word "lime" you might rethink that statement!

 

[Nemesis]

Rephrase - can of worms.

 

[Lime]

I wouldn't make the filling behind the fire too compact or strong.
I would use plenty of loose rubble to ensure it wasn't a solid, hard mass.
As long as the top is finished off with lime mortar to form a seal is all that is required.
The cast iron flap (that fell down the back) might have some lugs on it's bottom edge and you need to allow for these to fit in the mortar both when open and closed.
Anyway, you need to fit the flap in place when the mortar is still wet to check the clearances.