Fireplace Surround

[thebadger7]

Hi folks

Got a mini project on the go restoring an old cast iron fireplace with timber surround. Purely decorative purposes.

To fit to wall, there are existing screws on the timber surround. I plan to cut these off and just use grab adhesive to adhere to existing plaster chimney breast.

Reckon that will suffice, or is it better to have a mechanical fixing? I could line holes for the nails and fill those with adhesive too, just more effort.

Cheers

 

[paulc]

Got a mini project on the go restoring an old cast iron fireplace with timber surround. Purely decorative purposes.

To fit to wall, there are existing screws on the timber surround. I plan to cut these off and just use grab adhesive to adhere to existing plaster chimney breast.

Reckon that will suffice, or is it better to have a mechanical fixing? I could line holes for the nails and fill those with adhesive too, just more effort.

A couple of cautionary tales first:

Laura Ashley fined after fireplace collapses on toddler

Laura Ashley has been fined more than £23,000 after a fireplace in one of its stores collapsed on a two year-old girl and fractured her skull.

www.telegraph.co.uk

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-28207300 - Actually, quite a surprising number of children have been injured or killed by falling fire surrounds..

Always use mechanical fixings for anything that has potential to fall and cause injury. Whilst some grab adhesives have a lot of strength, it is relying on the plaster to have a strong (and permanent) bond to the brickwork. A couple of strategically placed wall bolts or long screws will ensure the surround is secure. The holes for the fixings can be neatly covered with wooden plugs or a bit of filler.

 

[Cubist]

How much of the exterior of the surround is wood? It looks like the iron is limited to just the inner border and a back plate. If that's correct could you separate the iron element and just fix the wooden surround to the wall? If so then a grab adhesive would do but if not then you'll need mechanical fixings.

 

[thebadger7]

Oh god, that's terrible.

The iron on the surround is limited to the border. There's then hit cast iron inner part, which has no fixings, so I'd assumed the border sits over it and holds into place. I'll just put some new screws through the timber into the brickwork then, and cover with a bit of filler.