Fitting an electric fire

[stewc]

Hi,

I have a marble fireplace that fixes against the wall, with a back plate which has a hole for the electric fire. However, the electric fire projects behind the fireplace by about 2 inches which means I have to cut a 2 inch recess into the wall to alow the fire to fit flush against back plate.

Cutting in 1 inch will take me through the plasterboard so I will need to channel out 1 inch into the breezeblock.

If I do this, the wall will then be 'open' as the breeze block is exposed.

What are the implications of doing this? Will moisture be able to get in? Will the fire be ok as there is a fan at the top of it which will esentially be in the small gap between the plaster board and breeze block? Do I need to seal up around the hole?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to attach a pic which I hope makes it a bit clearer

Untitled

• stewc
• 2 Sep 2009
• 1

Stewart

 

[IJWS15]

Inner skin of wall should not be damp - if it is you have a bigger problem. Just be careful do do not breach the damp proof membrane which will probably be under the bottom row of blocks - you may not be permitted to stand the fire directly on this as it is combustible.

As long as you are meeting the ventilation requirements for the fire this should not be an issue - if in doubt call the fire manufaturers help line.

These fires usually come with a spacer to allow them to be fitted to a flat wall, I presume you do not want to fit the spacer.

 

[stewc]

Yes, the inner wall is not damp so thats good!! Unfortunately there was no spacer otherwise everything would have been much easier. I was just worried about the hole created and the effect on ventilation. I will call the manufacturer just to be on the safe side.

Forgot to mention the fire will be sitting on a hearth so will be about 1 inch off the floor. So I preseume the damp proof membrane will be ok?

Thanks for the help.

 

[IJWS15]

The space between the plasterboard and the blocks should not be ventilated but frequently is (shoddy builders).

If it is your house will be cold when the wind blows - it shortcircuits the insulation value of the cavity wall..

If it is ventilated making this hole will not make the problem any worse.