Cracks in back of fireplace

wildrover444

Hi. Been noticing for the last good while cracks at back of fireplace. Had a look on YouTube but there fireplaces are kinda firebrick while mine is kinda mortar if That's the word. I put my hand in behind it and the sides feel hollow and the back part has something behind it but I think that could be just soot. My question is should I just use fire cement and seal up the cracks or do u need to put some filler behind it first. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsxf0eomh8pauac/2015-01-27%2012.22.18.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hjw6cp5pybo3tds/2015-01-27%2012.22.11.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/atcyl3ml09mvjm9/2015-01-27%2012.22.48.jpg?dl=0

Robbie.G

wildrover444 wrote: »

Hi. Been noticing for the last good while cracks at back of fireplace. Had a look on YouTube but there fireplaces are kinda firebrick while mine is kinda mortar if That's the word. I put my hand in behind it and the sides feel hollow and the back part has something behind it but I think that could be just soot. My question is should I just use fire cement and seal up the cracks or do u need to put some filler behind it first. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsxf0eomh8pauac/2015-01-27%2012.22.18.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hjw6cp5pybo3tds/2015-01-27%2012.22.11.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/atcyl3ml09mvjm9/2015-01-27%2012.22.48.jpg?dl=0

That's called a cement fireback.
You could just putty it up with fire cement it will last a while. It will need to be replaced at some stage the cost would be in the region of €175-€225

lgk

The stuff in the back is vermiculite. Important that you top that up so as not to have a void behind the fire back.

Cracked firebacks can pose a carbon monoxide risk.

wildrover444

Thanks for the advice guys. So if I was topping it up should I just fill the side parts since there feels like there is some filler behind the back part.