stone fire surround coming away from wall

CWells

Hi - new poster looking for advice
We had a real fire fitted just over two years ago with a limestone surround by a HETAS registered fitter.
The stone surround is coming away from the wall at one side and we're not sure if this is a common problem that occurs over time or if it down to poor fitting. The way in which we approach the fitter sort of depends on this.
Any advice welcome.

rustyboy21

Limestone surrounds are inherently difficult to install, due to the porosity of the stone.

Normal fireplaces are installed by using the standard sand/cement mixture that you would use generally in building.

Limestone cannot be fitted this way, as the stone will 'eek out' the moisture from the mix and cause it to stain. Normal mix to use is plaster, some people also use silicon to fit them.

It is knon in the industry that limestone is not very good for solid fuel use. It has so many veins in it, which seem to open up when they get hot. These look like fine cracks. It is also a nightmare to keep clean at the best of times. If you are not a thorough cleaner, it marks like no ones business.

I would suggest that you speak to the guy you had it fitted by. Or the shop if you had it fitted by them. It is purely the installation which is at fault, not the products

CWells

Many thanks for the advice - much appreciated

olias

I would have thought that any adhesive type fixing would be backed up by a mechanical fixing.

Olias

rustyboy21

olias wrote: »

I would have thought that any adhesive type fixing would be backed up by a mechanical fixing.

Olias

That, unfotunately is not the case in most of the fireplaces.

They are classed as the budget end of the market. The limestone is quarried in Portugal or Turkey, shipped to China for working and the Fireplaces come from China in crates into this country. None I have fitted have any brackets to them at all.

Once it is together, it is fairly safe, the weight keeps it together. Drilling holes in it is a nightmare as it is so fragile.

One of my installers uses car body cement to fit them, doesn't leech through and works quite well.

Call the fitter back, he should be able to sort it out for you.