Be careful at the beginning of the fire season

The most important rule for using a fireback is that you start to heat the fireback slowly, especially at the beginning of the season when the fireback is thoroughly cooled down. This means that you should start the season by making a moderate fire only. If a cold fireback is confronted with a lot of heat, it can obtain a so called ‘thermoshock’ and as a result start to crack.

Cracks

Some used firebacks contain one or more smaller or bigger cracks. By normal usage, which means that the fire is not too big and is not burning day and night continuously, the cracks do not hamper the functioning of the fireback. They will normally not continue to crack. It is possible to prevent the crack to become larger by drilling a small hole through the fireback at the end of the crack.

This reduces the tension in the plate caused by the crack. If you prefer a large fire using large logs and/or like to keep the fire going continuously, it is advisable to select a very thick plaque with little of no cracks. On the other hand every fireback can become overheated and crack when large fires are kept continuously for days and nights.

Radiator effect

The effect of a fireback behind a fire is immediately tangible. A fire without a fireback hardly radiates warmth, a fire with a fireback does. There is more radiation when the fireback is larger or when the plaque is thicker.  A thicker plaque moreover retains the warmth longer. After burning a fire for a day, the next morning you can still feel the warm plaque.

Size of the fireback

The preferred size of a fireback depends on the following factors:

• Size of your fireplace. 
• Size of your fire (how big do you want to burn?). 
• Your taste. 
• Wish to protect the back of the fireplace.

Visually it often looks nice not to fill the back of the fireplace entirely with a fireback, but to keep 5 -10 cm spare on each side (except the bottom ofcourse). If the back is sloping it is often nicer to cover as much as possible of the back with the fireback. But it always remains a matter of personal taste.

Style

A choice for a certain fireback can reflect a personal statement or can follow the period or style that dominates a house. On the website you find under the heading “style” firebacks that correspond with the different style periods. It is important that the fireplace, its surroundings and the fireback match. Also the combination of a fireback and firedogs and grate deserves attention. A beautiful fireback and a pair of lovely firedogs can form an unattractive ensemble.

Placement

In principle a fireback can be placed against the back of the fireplace. However, the cast iron of the plaque, cracks when it falls. To prevent the fireback from falling, the fireback can be secured to the wall by one or two hooks attached in the wall on the topside of the back. Normal hooks and plugs can be used, as the wall just above the fireback usually does not heat up very much.

Sometimes it looks nicer to elevate the fireback to obtain a better view on the fireback. The fireback can be lifted by using refractory bricks or by using a special toggle, including plugs that can keep the weight of the plaque. 

Maintenance of the fireback

A fire always gives soot. If necessary the soot can be eliminated by brushing the fireback with a steel brush. The fireback can be further refreshed by using stove polish. Stove polish can be bought by the DIY shop.