Crack in the base of my gas fire

vanilla8

Hi all,

i have a gas fireplace which the previous owner of my house had installed.
However after gradual winter use a crack has slowly appeared in the base, and appears to get worse everytime we use the fire. The crack also gets very hot

I have attached a picture.


Can we fill it with something to stop it getting worse?
Can we replace the base? or would be just as cost effective to get a whole new fireplace?

Mr_Warren_2

I would save myself the cost of a new piece of marble and do the following....... with a new drill bit for masonary, drill a hole @6mm into the path of the crack (15mm ahead of it). when the crack reaches the hole, it will stop advancing. fill the hole with a mixture of glue and dust from your drilling exercise at that stage. Do not use the hammer action, you mght waste your drill bit but this is relatively cheaper than replacing the whole slab. The crack moves as your stone expands with heat and cooling action.

vanilla8

Many thanks! Will give it a go, which glue do you recommend for filling?

Mr_Warren_2

I would go for a tile grouting medium (white) and remember to save the dust from the hole. You should not need much to plug the hole (only when crack has reached the area. Go easy on the pressure whilst drilling.

gasbag1602

vanilla8 wrote: »

Hi all,

i have a gas fireplace which the previous owner of my house had installed.
However after gradual winter use a crack has slowly appeared in the base, and appears to get worse everytime we use the fire. The crack also gets very hot

I have attached a picture.


Can we fill it with something to stop it getting worse?
Can we replace the base? or would be just as cost effective to get a whole new fireplace?

I am a corgi registered engineer, i have had similar problems before your fire is not working correctly you need to make sur that the gas pipe is sealed correctly where it enters the firebox from behind the fire and also put some silver foil tape on the base of your fire where the fire box meets the marble.

vanilla8

gasbag1602 wrote: »

I am a corgi registered engineer, i have had similar problems before your fire is not working correctly you need to make sur that the gas pipe is sealed correctly where it enters the firebox from behind the fire and also put some silver foil tape on the base of your fire where the fire box meets the marble.

shall i get someone out to do this?