Hello,
I recently bought a 1902 house and one of the fireplaces was bricked up. I had a builder open it up and what we found can be seen in the pictures attached.
My current research leads me to think that this fireplace had firebrick panels that went into the metal frame. Could that be right?
It's been suggested to me by a fireplace supplier that I could use mouldable firebrick and "pummel" it into the frame. Would that work? What about expansion joints?
There is a loose bolt in the middle of the frame. What is that for?
How thick should the firebrick be and how long does it take to dry out? There is a review on Amazon that said three months.
I can't find pictures anywhere of what the firebrick panels and sides would have looked like. Does anyone have any hints or pointers?
At the top of the metal frame there is a gap before the curved soot-covered flue starts. Is there something missing from here? Perhaps more brickwork? Should I take care of that or can the firebrick stop where the metal frame stops?
What should the top of the firebrick look like? Should it be curved like the frame?
Does the firebrick sit on the small ledge in the metal frame at the bottom?
I can find plenty of places on the internet that sell fireplace supplies but there seems to be a lack of detailed information. If anyone has any pointers that would be great!
Thanks, Andy
I recently bought a 1902 house and one of the fireplaces was bricked up. I had a builder open it up and what we found can be seen in the pictures attached.
My current research leads me to think that this fireplace had firebrick panels that went into the metal frame. Could that be right?
It's been suggested to me by a fireplace supplier that I could use mouldable firebrick and "pummel" it into the frame. Would that work? What about expansion joints?
There is a loose bolt in the middle of the frame. What is that for?
How thick should the firebrick be and how long does it take to dry out? There is a review on Amazon that said three months.
I can't find pictures anywhere of what the firebrick panels and sides would have looked like. Does anyone have any hints or pointers?
At the top of the metal frame there is a gap before the curved soot-covered flue starts. Is there something missing from here? Perhaps more brickwork? Should I take care of that or can the firebrick stop where the metal frame stops?
What should the top of the firebrick look like? Should it be curved like the frame?
Does the firebrick sit on the small ledge in the metal frame at the bottom?
I can find plenty of places on the internet that sell fireplace supplies but there seems to be a lack of detailed information. If anyone has any pointers that would be great!
Thanks, Andy
