Rebuilding open fireplace

[fatgeezer]

I've demolished the old brick fireplace,and I'm left with what you can see in the picture. I am planning on using a surround made from reclaimed timber. I would like to tile the area between the surround and the opening. Should I use about fifteen tons of sand/cement mix to bring it flush with the fireplace?. Should I use lime in the mix?. The fire is to be used in the winter,using either logs or coal. Thanks.

Untitled

• fatgeezer
• 21 Jul 2012
• 1

 

[fatgeezer]

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[fatgeezer]

Anybody?. Getting desperate now!!.

 

[fatgeezer]

What would I be left with if I took out the fireplace completely (the bit you actually have the fire in) and all the rubbish around it and took it back to the 'original' size which can be seen by the line of the bricks. This would make it a lot bigger of course. Could I put in a fire 'basket' instead?. Would the fire still 'work'?. It's this bit that's giving me all the grief.