Hi folks.

First post on here and I really hope someone can help me.

I want to use an existing fireplace for a real fire. There's never been a real fire there before, just an electric insert. The house is reasonably modern, about 20 years old.

I went out today and bought a grate and some fire cement as I had notice that there was a gap between the fireplace surround and the fire back (see pics). However I've just had another close look, which included sticking my head up the chimney(!) and was alarmed to see polystyrene insulation sheets clearly visible at the top of the opening.

What do I do with these - break them off sufficiently to enable me to force some fire cement up into the opening? I've tried to capture them in the pictures. I'll try to place these pics in order, so #1 is straight-on view of fireplace, #2 is one of the vertical sides showing the gap, #3 and #4 are looking up, where the polystyrene is visible.

Thanks in advance for any help.

You need professional advice before you either burn your house down, kill yourself with CO poisoning or achieve both at the same time.

For a "real" fire you must take a lot more precautions than say for a gas fire. Underneath the fire place and the hearth you need some substantial concrete, then the firebricks or whatever they are called and the hearth is not decorative ... it is meant to stop coals and wood getting to your floorboards and putting the house on fire.

Back of the fire, chimney must have no combustible materials yadda yadda yadda. The chimney has to be safe for gases and on it goes.

Thanks for the reply, and the warnings!

The reason I included the age of the house and the front-on picture was to show what was in place already. There is a solid marble/granite hearth in place, a fire-back and the chimney is lined and clear. It's just this space I'm worried about. I would've liked to have had a real fire in place for Christmas, but confined to the fireplace only, not the whole house!

I will see if I can get someone local to have a look at it. Any more pointers/suggestions etc gratefully received in the meantime.

My point was ... the fire place had to be suitable for an open fire. A marble hearth for example, may not be sufficient if a log falls on it (it will crack the marble). It may have to be infilled with mortar.

You asked about the white polysterine, certainly it cannot be there.

My now not open fire (was open it is now gas) sits on a concrete block which goes all the way to the ground even if it is some 2-3 feet off ground level. You may or may not be able to have a real fire ... you need to remember they run hotter than gas. The reason I am warning you is that what you got may be way unsuitable for an open fire or it may just need a little bit of work and it can be running.