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Chimney & Fireplace

How do we repair our crumbling brick hearthback?

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.44 PM

We have ripped out the modern fireplace in our victorian red-brick cottage to reveal the original opening. The intention is to install a log burner. Unfortuantly the back wall of the hearth has crumbling bricks and the mortar has fallen out. The party wall in one stretcher brick deep, and currently I estimate that half the brick depth has crumbled away. Where the mortar has fallen out we can see into the neighbours living room. It has been suggested to us (plasterer, stove installer etc.) that we just 'hide it with cement board'. We feel that this isn't a long term solution, but are having trouble finding anyone that thinks otherwise. In an ideal world we would like the hearth back to be brick, however there isn't room to build a new wall inside, as this would seriously decrease the recess of the fireplace. Please can someone advise what we could/should do to make our fireplace sound again? Do we need a bricklayer or a fireplace expert?

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5 Answers

Anonymous user

Repoint any loose gaps in the brickwork, install a cement board to the back then tile using brick tiles that are brick size and 15mm thick. You then point the tiles in with mortar and will all look like brick but will only reduce in size by 30mm. Job done
Answered2 July 2019
2

G D Property maintenance

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Wirral
Plaster with fire plaster then you need a coped flu down from chimmy to fire place
Answered2 July 2019
0

Anonymous user

If you plan to install a Solid fuel appliance into the chimney recess which backs on to the neighbours property then there should be a double skin of brick or block to create a fire break. See document J of the building regulations. All the information for your fireplace and the requirements are there for your information to ensure the install complies with building regulations. You will also need the installation signing of by building control or you could employ a HETAS registered installer to carry out the work they can then self certify the work and building control will be informed through the HETAS competent persons scheme.
Answered2 July 2019
0

Toasty Stoves

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Bristol
S b r. Back cement board .which cam be a finish. Or us brick slips. A matching brick copmany can get very close to color and texture of original bricks..a lot pepple just have a cement board back which can be painted. With any water base paint.
Answered4 July 2019
0

Westwoood and Cooper Builders

Rating: 5 out of 5
Stourbridge
Repoint and fill holes with fire cement and fire backer board over brickwork, then tile with firebrick tiles and fire cement
Answered10 July 2019
0