Fireplace questions

Leif

I had the old fireplace removed as it was tatty, and I want to put in a marble/granite fireplace, as a cosmetic item. I can get them for ~£400 which is not outrageous.

I had the wall replastered up to the edge of the fireplace opening, with beading at the edge. The floor is screed and where the hearth was it is rough, yellowish, possibly cement, with a transparent plastic membrane (DMP) emerging along three edges of the hearth area.

I assume there is no problem with me cementing in a new hearth, and then using a silicone cement to attach the backpanel and surround to the wall? I will chip away the plaster at the edge of the fire opening so as to expose the fire brick, and open it out to 16.5" which is the standard width of the opening in a back panel. The fire palce consists of fire brack which from above has a half hexagon shape i.e. a standard solid fuel fireplace.

This will be a cosmetic fireplace, not for a real fire, and the idea is that if I do want an electric fire for example, it is easy to remove the back panel and surround, and have a professional install the fire unit properly. But I am concerned that although this is cosmetic for my use, I might fall foul of some regulations if some numpty moves in after me, lights a real fire, and the surround falls on their child or whatever.

ormus

seal the flue off with a metal plate or bricks. and label it so.
that way a real fire cannot even be lit.

muckybutt

Dont seal off the flue completely, by all means fit a register plate but leave a breather hole in there to allow the chimney to ventilate, otherwise you could end up with stains coming throught the plasterwork on the chimney breast.

Leif

Thanks, I don't want to seal the chimney for the reasons muckybutt mentions, and I like some airflow which helps reduce condensation in the house. Guess I will just leave a note as and when I move!