Victorian Fireplace Reproductions
Fitting a Cast Iron Fireplace from the 18th Century, 19th Century and 20th Century
How to fit a cast iron fireplace
Fixing Instructions
Please ensure an experienced installer fits your fireplace securely using metal fixings.
Adhesive alone is not sufficient!
If you must install one of our fireplace then this guide is based on Tim's experience of fitting our fireplaces. It is his opinion and should not be taken as gospel!
If these fireplace fitting instructions seem long winded it is because making a mistake when installing a fireplace can have disastrous results.
If you have any doubts about the installation of your fireplace or about local building regulations then competent builders, chimney sweeps or chimney lining specialists can generally be taken as a good source of information and advice.
The Flue or Chimney
First ensure that your flue is safe.
Constructional hearths
You must have a fireproof area in front of your fireplace. This is the constructional
rather than the decorative hearth.
A good start when fitting any fireplace is to check whether the chimney breast is plumb and if the floor in front of it is level using a spirit level. In many older houses this may not be the case. Fitting a fireplace level and plumb on a chimney breast that is not looks dreadful. It is easy to notice a difference in level of only 1/4 a bubble on a spirit level, so I would suggest that you fit the fireplace exactly as crookedly as the existing chimney breast.
Ground floor fireplaces are almost always fitted central to the chimney breast. Bedroom fireplaces may be fitted off centre as several different flues may rise up inside the same chimney breast. Ensuring that every fireplace could be fitted centrally was not always a priority for house builders.
Mark the centre of the chimney breast on the wall.
To fit a Cast Iron Fireplace
Insert and a Wooden Mantel.
Wooden mantels must be fitted on dry plaster.
To fit a Cast
Iron Fireplace Insert and a Cast Iron Mantel.
Cast Iron mantels must be fitted against the bare brickwork.
To fit a Cast Iron Fireplace
Insert and a Marble or Slate Mantel.
Marble and slate mantels tend to come in several separate pieces.
