Wood burner- cracked chimney breast

[Deleted User]

I have an inset stove, with 6 inch granite slips around it installed in the autumn 2013. It's a modern house built in 1986 with a chimney. No liner as the flue is concrete, I have a certificate etc from the hetas approved fitter.

A fine horizontal crack appeared along the line where the old fire surround had been (removed and skimmed by the previous owner) which I filled several times with heat resistant filler but it came back each time. The chimney breast gets very hot directly above the fire and gradually cooler further up the wall.

In the last couple of weeks 2 very fine vertical cracks have appeared starting from the slips. The fitter is coming to see it this week and as I'm a female alone I want to be armed with as much advice as possible please

[Deleted User]

Can anyone advise me please?

asharon

I uncovered my fireplace and the breast was cracked right in the middle. I had it checked out and was told its quite common and safe as the weight means it wont move.

If in doubt get a structural engineer to have a look?

[Deleted User]

Thanks Asharon I'm more concerned that the excess heat in the wall is causing the cracks. I'm worried that the stove may not be fitted per building regs. The instructions say the fireplace recess walls should be 200mm thick and I don't know if they are