How To Install A Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Hi,
I accept a bandage iron insert fireplace to install in an existing fireplace. I have fitted the required hearth on height of the original constructional hearth and screeded in the back and am now ready to fit the insert. The insert will be sealed to the fireplace with burn cement and then held in place with the surround, but i need to make full the void at the back of insert and cap off at the throat.

My question is, do i have to fill the void at the dorsum of the insert with rubble/vermiculite through the throat in the insert or is there a quicker/better mode? The void behind the insert volition exist quite large and i volition have to get a lot of material in before i can cap off, and then doing this through the throat volition take quite a while.

Secondly, the insert has a plate which sits at an angle which preusmably makes the required throat to get the chimney cartoon properly. This plate has some wedges screwed on to hold information technology open. If i remove these wedges the plate can then be hinged to close off the chimney if required only volition nonetheless sit open on its own. If i remove these wedges, volition i be doing anything wrong? i'd similar to have the option of closing off the chimney to prevent draughts when the fire is not being used.

Cheers

Richard
When I used to install fireplaces nosotros would have to backfill, as we chosen it through this pharynx. If information technology was a gas burn down nosotros would use scrunched up fibreglass insulation and pack it tight. If it was a solid fuel fire then nosotros would use rubble or vermiculite. Yes information technology could exist a labourious task. On any of the above it would so be capped off with a sand/cement mix slanting from the throat upwards to the walls of the bedchamber.
As regards the closure plate, are you sure it will non stay open or closed one time the wedges are removed. It should pivot on some little lugs on it.
If it was a gas fire we were fitting we would fire cement information technology open up constantly then that a forgetful resident wouldn't forget to open it and gas themselves.
Promise this helps.
Thanks for the reply.
Yeah, the closure plate volition stay open up. it does indeed pivot on lugs merely volition pin overcentre then volition stay open under its own weight.

On the rubble front, how fine does the rubble have to be? will sharp sand practice?
As far every bit the rubble goes we used to use what we had knocked out to open up upwardly the fireplace which was mainly bricks/half bricks and bits and pieces.
In that location was a train of idea that the back could be insulated too much. Information technology was a catch 22 situation. Too loose and air gaps could aggrandize and crack the cast iron. Too meaty and the cast gets too hot and can scissure.
Obviously sand would be very compact. I'thou non sure what to suggest with sand.
Deputyg has obviously done this a few times. I have been asked to expect at a like job.
I recently fitted a new firebrick in a conventional fireplace. For that I used a vemiculite/cement mix chucked downwardly backside the firebrick (mixing ratios on the v bag). I was also brash to use some corrogated cardboard (old heavy duty cardboard box stuff will do) to line the back of the firebrick before chucking in the vemiculite. This soon burns off and thus leaves a gap allowing the firebrick room to expand and contract without nifty too much.

I don't know whether the cardboard pull a fast one on could exist used on the cast irn fireplace.

Also, you lot may need building regs or a HETAS engineer to come and certify your work.

It may pay you to go and chat to your local fireplace specialist. Also as having all the bits you're likely to need they will exist a good source of info.

CC
i think that i will apply a mixture of rubble infilled with vermiculite and then that i go the bext of both worlds. I'll apparently simply take to have the labout intentsive side of things!
I'll u.s.a. the carboard option likewise. i would have thought that a cast iron fireback will aggrandize much more than than a ceramic one and so an expansion gap can't injure.