I am in the process of replacing my fireplace on a brick built chimney, but after removing the existing surround have found that the fireback protrudes past the plaster of the wall. This makes fitting the new granite back panel pretty difficult. The chimney has only ever had a gas fire in (house only 15 years old) and I am having an inset gas fire installed (by a corgi fitter). I have been told that I can remove the fireback with this type of fire, can anyone confirm this is correct before i get the hammer and chisel out? 
