I have a small Victorian open fireplace. It has been used recently and just been swept. I see that the rear 'firebrick?' is loose and behind it there is no insulation between it and the brick wall. There is some (looks like shiny gravel) to the sides and I was told this is a particular heat insulator put there for when the fire is lit. Does anyone know what this material is called and am I right in thinking this should be in the cavity behind the firebrick and the side firebricks?
Open Fireplaces
- Thread starter dorsetboy
- Start date
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Possibly this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiculite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiculite
Foxhole is correct - this is almost certainly Vermiculite or Micafill.
Firstly the chairbrick needs to be reset solid and level on sand /cement bringing it up flush with the back of the cast iron surround.
Next you need to get more Vermiculite and fill it up to level with the top of the chairbrick - then flaunch up with cement from the top of the chairbrick creating an upward slope to the back and side walls of the chimney - the purpose of this is that if you should have a 'lit' piece of fuel falling back down the chimney, it will fall back into the fire rather than creating a second fire behind the chairbrick.
Finally make sure there is a good seal between the cast insert and the chairbrick using firerope and firecement - not too much fire cement as it will possibly crack and fall out
Firstly the chairbrick needs to be reset solid and level on sand /cement bringing it up flush with the back of the cast iron surround.
Next you need to get more Vermiculite and fill it up to level with the top of the chairbrick - then flaunch up with cement from the top of the chairbrick creating an upward slope to the back and side walls of the chimney - the purpose of this is that if you should have a 'lit' piece of fuel falling back down the chimney, it will fall back into the fire rather than creating a second fire behind the chairbrick.
Finally make sure there is a good seal between the cast insert and the chairbrick using firerope and firecement - not too much fire cement as it will possibly crack and fall out
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