The appature is stone it's just the wall to the front that is battened and boarded. I plan to strip the board and batten back and then step it in giving a good margin around the fireplace. I am hoping to clean up the stone work underneath the plaster board, otherwise I will have to tidy it up...
I will look into the cement boards as I haven't seen them before. I've have also looked at stoves that can be put closer to combustable materials. Thinking I can strip the wall back around the opening then step it in from the plater board wall using possibly the cement board.
I want to install a log burner in my living room. There is an old fire place opening but it's behind a plaster board wall which is also battened with wood. I am confident where to find the opening but I don't think the wood and plaster board around the opening will be acceptable to any hetas...