repairing inside fireplace

Wonder if someone can help me.I have a apartment which is rented out.The fireplace has taken a good bit of wear and tear over the past few years.My problem is this;the base where the ashes fall onto and where you shovel them up from has no cement left in it!There is only what looks like sand. It looks about 1 to 1half inches too low.The grate that you set the fire on sits into this instead of on the hard base.The tenant was still using the fireplace but now that the weather is getting milder I want to repair this.Is it an easy diy job or do I need to get someone in to do it?
Also if it is a diy job what type of cement/material do I need to build the base up again?

Thanks
Annette

Take out any remaining debris and replace with a 4 sand to 1 Portland cement mix; (you can probably get a small bag from B&Q with enough in to do the job) don't make the mix too wet.

Damp the surface that you are putting the mix on and smooth the mix level.

Thanks billk for that.Much appreciated!

Annette

net64 said:

Wonder if someone can help me.I have a apartment which is rented out.The fireplace has taken a good bit of wear and tear over the past few years.My problem is this;the base where the ashes fall onto and where you shovel them up from has no cement left in it!There is only what looks like sand. It looks about 1 to 1half inches too low.The grate that you set the fire on sits into this instead of on the hard base.The tenant was still using the fireplace but now that the weather is getting milder I want to repair this.Is it an easy diy job or do I need to get someone in to do it?
Also if it is a diy job what type of cement/material do I need to build the base up again?

Thanks
Annette

Click to expand...

Annette,

Most modern apartments don't have real fires in them - what it yours?

It seems that the FP hearth has degraded and/or was not intended to host a real fire.

In houses as well as the upper floors the hearth is usually cast in concrete, not screeded over with sand and cement.

I may be over-cautious, but I think you should get a building professional to look it over for you.

ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.

Good morning ONQ.Yes it is a real fire.It is a small block of 20 apts that all have that ruddy electric storage heating!No gas.
But the one consolation is that they have a real open fire.Mine is on the ground floor.The apts are ground level and 1st floor only.The apts are about 10 yrs old.

Annette

I was a building professional, many years ago.