Wood Burner Fitment, Tiles Etc

[the_big_1]

Hi Guys,

In the middle of haveing a wood burner fitted in my livingroom.
What can I use to decorate the inside of the fire place?
The air gap will be about 150mm each side, 100mm to the rear and about 500mm above.
I am thinking something like:

Fireboard, then paint? Would this look like chipboard painted though?
Pleaster then paint? Will this crack or do I need speacial plaster?
Tile? But what tiles would be ok???
Or are there other options?


Cheers!

 

[Corgigrouch]

Tiles would be fine... The board that I use paints up very well when emulsion is used...If you are having it plastered, then use heat proof plaster as ordinary gypsum will degrade and fall off with the heat...Problem is heat proof plaster is a swine to use and to get a good finish with

 

[the_big_1]

Hi,

Thanks for that!
Do I need a specific type of tile? I don't went them to crack etc.

Cheers!!

 

[Burnerman]

There's also vermiculite boards available.....could be worth a look.
John

 

[the_big_1]

Hi,

I see it's like fire board but would I be able to just paint it???

 

[Burnerman]

To my surprise, ordinary emulsion worked fine for me......there was one spot around the back of the burner that was a little scorched, but it was difficult to see anyway.
I vermiculite around the sides and back of mine, and then tiled the front.....Mrs B liked it, so job done
John

 

[Corgigrouch]

I find that cheap contract paint works bests it seems to have less binder in it but the base pigment of light coloured or white paint is Titanium Dioxide which oddly enough is a fire retardant

 

[the_big_1]

What sort of distance from the stove are your boards?

 

[Burnerman]

I'm not in that house just now, sorry - but I'd guess at 100mm......this was just to the rear though - loads of space to the sides and top so almost anything would do there.
John

 

[the_big_1]

I will have 200mm on each side, 150mm to the rear and 300mm above.
Would tiles survive that close?

 

[Burnerman]

I think there a good chance....I did ask the supplier to recommend a suitable flexible adhesive though, which was mixed from powder.
John

 

[the_big_1]

the two sides and the back are all engineering blocks (Breeze blocks) could I just tile straight to these?
Will the tiles crack with the heat?

 

[Burnerman]

I'd doubt it, but no one can be certain......do use a recommended adhesive / grout though.
John

 

[snes]

Going from memory here, but if I recall, I used a lime rich mortar to plaster the fire opening. Then painted with standard emulsion. The lime, of course, allows movement of the mortar.

Apart from a few hairline cracks, it still looks like new, some 2-3 years down the line.

 

[Burnerman]

Yep, if you want it plain, that's the way to do it.....mine did start to crack at the back, but the latest stove (Morso Squirrel) has more internal fire insulation.
John