Fireplace fitting queries

message from Lobster on 24 May 2004

Hi

Further to my recent post about installing a gas fire in a blocked-off
chimney breast, I'm afraid I've gone for one of those electric flame-effect
fires with built-in fan heater - much easier and cheaper to fit!

The kit I've bought includes a timber mantelpiece, laminate back panel,
electric fire to be recessed into the chimney breast. (It's a Wickes
own-brand but looks similar to this one: http://tinyurl.com/2h42a (or
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/product/product.jsp?CATID=175668&entryFlag=false&PRODID=162863&paintCatId=&maxBullets=999

1. The instructions say that if fitted into a chimney breast, the chimney is
best blocked off. Mine has been removed in the past at roof level; ie there
are now roof tiles over where the chimney stack was, although all chimney
breasts are still intact. There's still debris and soot coming down the
chimney though, which needs to be stopped. Is there a preferable method to
shoving loads of newspaper up the throat of the chimney? Although the
heated part of the new electric fire is just a fan heater on the front (and
it can be installed flat against a normal wall, I just feel a bit uneasy
about all that loose newspaper stuffed behind the fire.

2. Should this chimney breast routinely have an air vent fitted given that
it's blocked off at the top (there wasn't one before, and I can't see any
sign of damp now...)

3. Am I best to roughly make good the chimney breast and fit the mantelpiece
before the plasterers come (they are doing the whole room anyway, before I
emulsion the lot), or do I let them prepare a nice flat chimney breast for
me to install the mantelpiece against? I think I prefer the first, because
otherwise I'll mess up the plaster finish with the recessed brackets.
However, from experience when I did this before, I remember protecting the
mantelpiece from damage by the plasterers by using polythene sheeting and
masking tape; when they'd finished I had a devil of a job picking out bits
of masking tape and polythene from the crack at the interface between the
mantelpiece and dry plaster! Is there a better, tried-and tested way to
protect the mantelpiece from plaster?

Thanks

David

BigWallop replied to Lobster on 22 May 2004

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/product/product.jsp?CATID=175668&entryFlag=false&PRODID=162863&paintCatId=&maxBullets=999

A bit of plasterboard stuck across the chimney shoulder, or shelf, should be
enough to stop debris falling on to the fire casing. Or is the drawer flap
still in the chimney ? The drawer is just a piece of cast plate that slides
across the shelf near the top of the fire opening.

To protect the mantel shelf you could use newspaper and masking tape instead of
polythene sheet. The paper is easier scored with a knife and peeled off than
polythene. Overlap a couple of layers to give a bit more protection, but put
the second layer just out from the wall a bit so it it's easier to peel away
after the plaster is done.

Archived message: Fireplace fitting queries (UK DIY House Repairs)