I am getting a balanced flue, hole in the wall, gas fire fitted soon. It will be installed on four legs against a flat wall. To save some money I will build the chimney breast around it myself.
I know to use metal studwork, and I think fire resistant (pink) plasterboard will suffice. The issues I have are to do with finishing the boarding. Can it just be skimmed or should it be fully plastered and is it likely to suffer cracking with the heat. If it is likely to crack can I finish it in some other way (especially the external corners) so that there is no plaster to crack. This is the fire and kind of how It will end up.
http://barbasbellfires.com/assets/fireplaces/91/91_13601644630.jpg
I know to use metal studwork, and I think fire resistant (pink) plasterboard will suffice. The issues I have are to do with finishing the boarding. Can it just be skimmed or should it be fully plastered and is it likely to suffer cracking with the heat. If it is likely to crack can I finish it in some other way (especially the external corners) so that there is no plaster to crack. This is the fire and kind of how It will end up.
http://barbasbellfires.com/assets/fireplaces/91/91_13601644630.jpg
