Questions and answers
Chris Wright, of south London-based fireplace restoration specialist PJ Wright & Sons, answers some common questions about fireplaces.
QWhat should be considered when looking to buy a salvaged fireplace?
Ensure it is the right size as it must fit within the width of the chimney breast. Consider the period of your house and be as sympathetic as possible. With tiled fireplaces, think about colours as the tiles are installed before fitting and are difficult to change.
QIs it possible to repair a cracked cast-iron fire surround, and if so how?
Cast iron can be welded using specialised welding rods. Alternatively, the iron may be strapped or braced and then secured with bolts that are drilled through the strap into the iron.
QIs there a good way to strip paint off a cast-iron fireplace and the tiles set into it?
Paint can be removed using chemical strippers or poulticing systems that peel away, taking the paint with them, but this is a long and laborious task.
It is also vital to thoroughly protect all surrounding areas and to remember that the chemicals can burn skin. If possible, take the fireplace to a specialist, removing any tiles first. They will normally strip the fireplace using a caustic soda solution.
QCan tiles be replaced in a cast-iron fire surround? It is possible to replace tiles but, as they are put in from the back, it is a difficult job without removing the fireplace.
QThere are cracks in the fireback; do these need to be repaired?
It’s quite normal for cracks to appear. Minor cracks can be patched with fireproof cement, while gaps between the fireback and fire surround should be packed with fireproof rope to allow for expansion. If holes are appearing in the back and the parts are loose – or the flames are being drawn through the cracks or holes when using the fire – it might be time to replace. In Victorian fireplaces, the back is not standard so a new one will need to be cast in situ by a specialist. Some later Victorian, Edwardian and 1920s or ’30s fireplaces will accommodate a standard ‘Milner’ or clay back. When fitted, the void behind must be backfilled and ‘flaunched’ off, (sloped at the top). This is to absorb the heat, to stop cracking and to help radiate the warmth.
QHow can a cast-iron fireplace be blackened and polished back to life?
As long as it is not painted, rust can be removed from the fireplace with a wire brush and a coat of grate polish applied. Once dry, this is then buffed.
QHow should a marble fireplace be cleaned and polished?
Marble should be treated with great care and is often best left to specialists. A marble fire surround can sometimes be cleaned with a detergent and then waxed and buffed, but test on a small area first.
QWhat is the best method of removing stains from a marble or stone fireplace?
It is difficult to remove smoke stains from a marble chimneypiece and almost impossible from stone. A bleach poultice can be applied to some stains but make sure it does not have a lime inhibitor.
Oil cannot be removed, nor can rust.