Case study

The slate stayed, the fire moved on

A before and after transformation in Boston Spa: the original slate surround carefully kept and reinstated, with a new wood burning chamber formed behind it.

Talk to us about your project Stoves in Boston Spa

WorkFireplace transformation

LocationBoston Spa, West Yorkshire

KeptOriginal slate surround

HearthAntique Leather granite

Before

A good surround behind a dated fire

The room already had a slate fireplace worth keeping, but it had been painted, and behind it sat an existing gas fire with a reproduction arched cast iron insert that no longer suited the house.

The plan was straightforward in principle and careful in practice: preserve the character of the slate surround, and change everything behind it so the fireplace could take a modern wood burning appliance.

The strip out

Removing the old fire safely

We began by carefully removing the painted slate fireplace, lifting the original tiled hearth and dismantling the existing gas fire together with the reproduction arched cast iron insert.

A Gas Safe registered engineer then safely capped and sealed the gas supply, so that part of the work was completed correctly by the right trade and the installation complied with current gas safety regulations.

The new chamber

Opening, lining and hearth

A new fireplace opening measuring approximately 950mm wide by 950mm high was created, with a reinforced concrete lintel installed to provide structural support above. The newly formed chamber was lined with Gyproc Glasroc F FireCase boards, a non-combustible fire resistant material that gives a smooth, clean finish behind the appliance.

To frame the chamber and make a neat transition between the slate surround and the fire resistant lining, we installed Antique Leather granite border slips. They give the opening an elegant edge while also protecting the slate from the higher temperatures the new appliance produces.

A matching Antique Leather granite hearth was then fitted, comprising a 950mm by 400mm chamber hearth together with a 1450mm by 380mm by 60mm raised front hearth with a boxed and lipped profile. That design works particularly well alongside fitted carpets and timber flooring while staying durable and easy to keep clean.

Making good

Putting the slate back properly

Finally the original slate fireplace was carefully reinstated, mechanically secured and bonded around the newly created chamber. Any disturbed wall surfaces were refinished, and the slate was thoroughly cleaned before being re-grouted with a colour matched grout.

That last stage is what separates a fireplace that has obviously been worked on from one that looks like it has always been that way. The finish is crisp and seamless, and the surround the client wanted to keep is still the feature of the room.

The job

Photographs from this installation

Before: the painted slate surround with the original gas fire and reproduction cast iron insert.

After: the same slate surround reinstated around a new chamber, granite hearth and wood burning stove.

The thinking

Keep the surround, change everything behind it

Plenty of homes have a fireplace surround worth saving sitting in front of an appliance that is long past its best. That was the case here: a slate surround with real presence, a painted finish, and behind it a gas fire with a reproduction cast iron insert that no longer suited the room.

The brief was to preserve the slate and rebuild everything behind it so the fireplace could take a modern wood burning appliance, which is a more delicate job than starting from scratch.

The detail

Protecting stone from heat

A new appliance runs hotter than what came before it, so the transition between the fire resistant chamber lining and the original stone matters. Antique Leather granite border slips were used to frame the chamber, giving a neat edge while shielding the slate from the higher temperatures.

The final stage is the one people notice without knowing why: the slate reinstated and mechanically secured, disturbed surfaces refinished, the stone cleaned and re-grouted in a colour matched grout. More on fireplace work, and the Boston Spa area we cover.

Questions about this kind of job

Asked and answered

Can you keep an existing fireplace surround when fitting a stove?

Often yes. The surround can be carefully removed, the opening and chamber rebuilt behind it, and the original then reinstated. It takes longer than fitting a new surround, but it keeps the character the room already had.

Who caps off an old gas supply?

A Gas Safe registered engineer. We are HETAS registered for solid fuel work and do not carry out gas work, so a redundant gas supply is always capped and sealed by the correct trade before a wood burning installation continues.

What are granite border slips for?

They frame the chamber opening and bridge the gap between the fire resistant lining and the surround. They tidy the transition visually and add a layer of protection between the appliance and more heat sensitive materials such as slate.

Will heat damage a slate fireplace?

Slate copes with heat well, but a modern appliance runs hotter than an old open or gas fire, so the chamber is lined with non-combustible board and the stone is protected at the opening rather than left exposed to direct heat.

HETAS registered

Installed with care, certified with confidence

Carl self-certifies every installation and notifies Building Control on your behalf, so the work is signed off properly and your certificate of compliance is issued for your records.