Firebrick in Fireplace

Tawny Owl

Hope I am in the right section I have a fire that has burned out slightly there are cracks starting to appear,does the fire front have to be removed to replace the inside firebrick or can it be fitted with the hearth and fire in place

Thanks in advance.

rickmoister

Normally the fireback can be replaced without having to disturb the actual fireplace.

aujopimur

You can get a 2 piece fire back as a replacement, it makes thejob much easier.

aujopimur

You can get a 2 piece fire back as a replacement, it makes the job much easier.

Tawny Owl

Thanks very much to both your posts,there was a good few looking at my post but no comments The fire place was a few grand it's kind of stone if anything was to happen to it then world war 3 I suspect.

genuine leather

Hey Tawny
A few pics would be cool to see where you are at.
Im not clear if you are going to replace firebrick or a precast fireback?
GL

Tawny Owl

genuine leather wrote: »

Hey Tawny
A few pics would be cool to see where you are at.
Im not clear if you are going to replace firebrick or a precast fireback?
GL

Hope these photo's help you may not see the crackes in the brick.

Thanks.

aujopimur

When you replace the fireback, make sure you backfill with varmeculite or a similar product.

Norwesterner

Don't forget to use heat-resistant (refractory) mortar otherwise you'll be wasting your time.
If it's just cracks at this stage you could try simply filling the cracks with refractory mortar, then render the whole back piece with the same mortar.

One shot on kill

Try repair it first if not the try replace it but I wouldn't worry if the fire place has to come out it shouldn't really but sometimes they do pending what room you have in your opening.

Very important to back fill the new precast fire back and seal if up to the back of the fire place and to your flue gather well.

genuine leather

Hey tawny
Advice guys have given is spot on.
ideally if the two curved metal grates can come off the front it would make the job of changing so much easier
Zooming in on the photo, you ll have to unscrew the top grate.
although imo there is a bit if life left in the fireback yet, prob get another winter before having to change it.
GL

One shot on kill

genuine leather wrote: »

although imo there is a bit if life left in the fireback yet, prob get another winter before having to change it.
GL[/QUOTE

Exactly what I was thinking I'd definitely be getting the last out of it.

rickmoister

I agree with Genuine Leather there is life in the fireback you will easily get another winter out of it.

youngblood

Well this is a little weird, the fireplace posted looks exactly like mine. Same grate, similar cracks,

There is still some wear on the back of the firebrick, so I have 2 options, either replace the whole thing (not a clue how) or fill in the cracks with something?

Any ideas how to go about any of these?

aujopimur

youngblood wrote: »

Well this is a little weird, the fireplace posted looks exactly like mine. Same grate, similar cracks,

There is still some wear on the back of the firebrick, so I have 2 options, either replace the whole thing (not a clue how) or fill in the cracks with something?

Any ideas how to go about any of these?

If you chose to replace it you can get repair fireback, this comes in 2 sections.
It is halved horizontly for ease of installation, back fill vermiculite, be prepared for plenty of dust.

youngblood

Thanks for that, will have a Google on how to do it

stesaurus

Resurrecting rather than starting a new thread.

I need to replace a fireback and I have the basics understood. Cardboard layer, vermiculite etc. but what I'm wondering is how to seal to the flue and to the sides of the fireplace.
What kind of mortar or cement can I use.
I will have a large gap (2"-3") from edge of the fireback to the backplate of the fireplace surround. So is it fine to completely seal that off with the same mortar mix?