how do i go about removing a marble tiled effect fireplace (the 70s/80s ones!!!) and repalce it with a cast iron one with wooden surround and new hearth?..The fireplace still works i just want to change the look of it keeping the destruction to a minimum...

andy, June 2007

ok you have removed the old fire suround and hearth, now you need to fix a cast iron suround, the ones I have come across may have or may not have fixing on them ,if the suround does not have fixings on it you may need to drill fixing holes top and bottom each side, this is important as the cast iron suround is very heavy and needs a solid fix, if your fire place is active you will need to seal this suround to stop the effects of heat and smoke on your chimney breast, you can use fire retardent cord of fire cement around the surounds perimeter before securely fixing to the breast, then it's just a cast of fixing the wooden mantle with fixing lugs that should already be on the mantle istelf, hope this helps.

john, January 2008

I've taken out a few, and it's a wear eye protection job, in fact all jobs that can give off flying splinters is an eye protection job so remember that and you wont suffer injury. Oh! gloves as well and hard hat for work above head height [does it show I was in charge of my works safety].

On most there are four metal tabs [two each side] down the side edges of the surrounds approx 6ins from top and 8-9 from bottom, they are the fixing points. chase out a channel down each side to locate these tabs and prise them away, there maybe two at the top. It also helps to use wood wedges as you pull away the surround put a wedge in the gap so your crowbar can get better purchase behind the surround.

Alternative is to grind through the tabs with an angle grinder using of course a metal cutting disc. Again WEAR eyeshields.

Mask the edges of the wood surround before making good the plaster its a bugger trying to get plaster stains off the timber.

Rob, July 2007