Changing electric fire without rebuilding stud wall - help!

caoimhe_kelly

The below electric fire was already fitted in the house when I moved in....

Don't like it at all so thinking about replacing it with a longer one. A Gazco e studio 105R

However the current depth of my stud wall in the picture above is 160mm but the depth of the fire i am considering seems to be either 173mm or 194mm...

Would it possible to fit this fire without increasing the overall depth of the stud from ceiling to floor. Don't want to make it a big job if at all possible.

All suggestions welcome! Thanks

awec

You could build a faux fireplace surround to make only the lower part of the wall deeper to fit the new fire, but IMO it would look a bit naff.

caoimhe_kelly

Yeah i was thinking that alright but i agree with you there that it wouldn't look great

Any other ideas anyone?

reniwren

First off make sure it is a stud wall and not a converted fireplace supporting a full chimney above.

caoimhe_kelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118056745#Comment_118056745

It's definitely a stud wall. There is no chimney

SlitDrip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118056745#Comment_118056745

Yea it might be a load bearing electric fire 😂

reniwren

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057844#Comment_118057844

Most correctly installed fireplaces have some sort lintel in them especially if it was a brickwork with dry lining , existing fireplace is a small square which would have fit in the existing opening, widening the opening (as the op wants to do) would have reduced the structural stability. Plus there's no need to be a dick about it.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118056699#Comment_118056699

Increasing the depth of the entire wall to fit the fireplace is not actually a big job. It'd be doable for a competent DIYer.

At a complete guess it'd be a days work for a professional.

10-10-20

Is that a solid wall behind or stud? If it's stud... you might be able to gain some cm's by cutting and re-supporting the existing vertical structure.

Can you pull the fire out to see?

Muas Tenek

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118058387#Comment_118058387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118058387#Comment_118058387

Nail on the head there. Pull the fire out - you will probably find that the depth of the recess is bigger than the alcove depth.

caoimhe_kelly

Ok so I pulled out the fire, screwed off its mount and this is what's behind it...

The section between the two pieces of timber is the block wall. The rest is the stud wall

I measured the depth and it's 165mm

SlitDrip

you might get another 20mm if you chip off the plaster. Small kango would do it .

Buddy Bubs

I did something like this, I got a 3 glass sided electric fire. I could have made the front flush with the front of stud wall but I'd lose 2 sides of the electric fire visually. So I stepped it out and made a shelf out of the top of the fire, small shelf but shelf nonetheless. Added the stone afterwards. Can make it look OK with a bit of imagination. I'd prefer it flush but the 3 sided is nice too so I went with it

caoimhe_kelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118074486#Comment_118074486

Thank you. That could give me just the amount I need!

10-10-20

20mm on a skimmed wall? I'd be surprised. More like 8mm, I'd guess.

I'd start looking at using a tile as a surround. Something like a 20mm marble, cut into thin strips and neatly bevelled, would make up a nice surround.

Even though these are "outdoor" tiles, they may suit if presented properly.

https://www.maxmarble.ie/outdoor-tiles

caoimhe_kelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118077281#Comment_118077281

Sounds like another decent option. Any sample pics of how that would look? I can't visualise it

10-10-20

I can't find any - it only exists in my mind. ;)

Let me explain it this way: if you had four long tiles:

• two ~7cm wide, the exact length of the sides of the insert stove, to be mounted vertically for the left & right of the stove.
• one ~9cm wide, the length of the top of the stove plus the width of the two vertically mounted tiles, to be mounted over the insert-stove.
• one ~7cm wide, the length of the bottom of the stove plus the width of the two vertically mounted tiles, to be mounted below the stove.

Another option would be to install a wooden fireplace surround and build out the required depth with tiles. See the "before" image here:

https://www.settingforfour.com/how-to-paint-tile-easy-fireplace-paint-makeover/