Fireboard To Block In Fireplace?

[Donquixote]

Hi all,

I live in a very old house with a large rustic stone fireplace in the lounge, which has had a gas fire installed where the open fire/wood-burner would have been. The problem is, as soon as it rains outside or there are even moderately strong winds soot cascades down the flue and stains everything it touches. So I want to block-in the mouth of the flue in order to stop the soot from getting through, but I'm unsure of what to use. I was thinking possibly Fireshield plasterboard, fixed into place on wooden lats? The gas fire is fitted with a flue-liner so there'd be no problem with ventilation. Does this sound feasible?

Whoever had the gas fire fitted (before I bought the house) should really have had the chimney professionally swept, then this wouldn't be an issue. But they didn't, and to have it done now, with the fire already installed and a flue liner fitted, would be a nightmare of a job.

Thanks, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

DonQ

[boxtops]

I can't answer your question, don, but sweeping before installation doesn't solve the problem permanently. I still have open chimneys which I had capped several years ago, and the chimneys were swept well before the sealing - but rubbish and old deposits still fall down regularly into the hearth. Could you not disconnect the gas fire and have it swept?

[Donquixote]

Cheers boxtops.

The problem is that it's a very old (1660s), crudely built sandstone fireplace and chimney, and whoever installed the gas fire has bricked-up around it, concealing the gas pipes within the brickwork (or rather, stonework). It's a very small, tight chimney so to disconnect the fire and remove the hood and flue liner would be more hassle than it's worth.

Thanks for your response, though. I had a feeling that sweeping the chimney might not solve the problem entirely, and you've confirmed that!

Many thanks.

[The Builder]

Rather than plasterboard Don, it's usual to use something like 12mm Masterboard

http://www.travisperkins.co.uk/p/promat-masterboard-2440x1220x6mm/559000/3893471

Easy to cut and fix. Plus it has a higher impact resistance than plasterboard. You can sand a nice edge to it as well if needed.

[Donquixote]

That's great. Thanks, TB! Masterboard it is...