Marble fire surround back plate and hearth replacement

GDJTAM

I have a plaster fire surround, a beige marble backplate with a coal fire inset. I also have a beige marble hearth. After decorating my living room the beige marble looks awful against my new colour scheme. I therefore want to change the marble colour to white and thought I could just buy a replacement marble (or marble effect) backplate and hearth. None of the DIY shops sell them and other than buying a new or used Marble backplate and hearth, I'm struggling. I don't want to replace my fire surround now I've decorated and in my simple mind I thought I could just buy a marble effect heat resistant replacement that I could just glue to the existing marble.

Am I walking up a blind alley to look for such a replacement? is my only option to take out the old Marble? 

Many thanks

ic

Could you tile over it, with a suitable tile?  I expect new marble would be very expensive as you'd need thin pieces cutting to size to cover it (with a risk of breakage whilst installing if too thin).  FYI I took out a fireplace with a marble hearth and backplate, and it was so heavy I wound up taking a sledge hammer to it all in situ - they are not designed to be removed, except in little pieces!  I'd had the idea I could sell it on...

EssexExile

Have you tried any fireplace people?

GDJTAM

ic said:

Could you tile over it, with a suitable tile?  I expect new marble would be very expensive as you'd need thin pieces cutting to size to cover it (with a risk of breakage whilst installing if too thin).  FYI I took out a fireplace with a marble hearth and backplate, and it was so heavy I wound up taking a sledge hammer to it all in situ - they are not designed to be removed, except in little pieces!  I'd had the idea I could sell it on...

That's a decent idea, I'll look into that. I looked at using sticky back vinyl as it says its heat resistant up to 75 degrees. No idea what temperature the back place and hearth would reach when the fire is on for about 2 hours. We normally just use CH so i now have 2 options...thank you

FreeBear

GDJTAM said: I looked at using sticky back vinyl as it says its heat resistant up to 75 degrees. No idea what temperature the back place and hearth would reach when the fire is on for about 2 hours.

If it is an open fire, the temperature rise shouldn't be too bad. But if you have an inset stove like mine, you might get a shock - I have a sensor buried in the wall just above the fire (data is logged), and regularly see 125°C or more. Highest recorded temperature this year was 194°C

Rosa_Damascena

ic said:

Could you tile over it, with a suitable tile?  I expect new marble would be very expensive as you'd need thin pieces cutting to size to cover it (with a risk of breakage whilst installing if too thin).  FYI I took out a fireplace with a marble hearth and backplate, and it was so heavy I wound up taking a sledge hammer to it all in situ - they are not designed to be removed, except in little pieces!  I'd had the idea I could sell it on...

I would have had it! 

Fireplace companies are ridiculously expensive. DIY is best

swampduck

Have you thought of dyeing the marble? Or possibly painting with a chalk type paint? Then seal it with a clear varnish?

gwynlas

I cannot imagine any decorative finish standing up to the heat if you are determined to use the fire, There are companies who offer to cover workyops in quartz which is in a thin layer tthat might work, In order to fit any replacement marble you would probably need to remove the surround. Have you checked out any on line sites such as ebay for replacement?

Slider

Try these people. I have used them a couple of times, and they have been great

https://www.firesandsurrounds.co.uk/t/hearths-and-backs/marble-and-granite

twopenny

Our local reclaimation yard often has pieces of marble.

I have a pink piece if you want it

What about the bits of marble used for kitchen worktops? Could you ask who is installing if it's small and get the offcuts? I tried that once but the builder reckoned he had a customer for it.