Open fire - firebox renovation

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Does anyone here have experience or knowledge of best practice in repairing and restoring the firebox of an open fire in a Victorian home?

im failing to find a local tradesman to help so have started researching this myself but am looking for a supportive hand and opinion!

What looks like the fire cement over the original brick has largely cracked and crumbled. Some has literally just fallen off. (Pic attached)

I need to know how far to take this back (I’m guessing I need to get it all off now?) see how bad the brick actually is before deciding next steps?

I don't know how to repair but wanted to say what a lovely period piece. It's 1920's or 1930's ?
Will be a great feature once restored 👏

Thanks. The house was built in the 1890’s and we think it’s original!

No idea - but it might be worth ringing your local chimney sweeping company to see if they can recommend someone. And your tiles around the fire are beautiful.

I took the lazy option in ours and have a faux woodburner sat in the open fire surround in one room.

We’ve had it swept and he checked the flue and replaced a cowl. But he had no recommendations. Just said I could do it myself 🤣.

i love the actual fireplace so really want to keep it and the open fire. But we’ve just finished burning for the winter and the cement on the sides has literally collapsed this year.

Maybe I should try a couple of other sweeping places for ideas. Not a bad shout!

Where are you? I know a place in SE London that does this kind of thing (Avalon antique fireplaces in Forest Hill/Sydenham)

Unfortunately we’re the opposite end of the country up in County Durham but I really appreciate you making a recommendation. 👍

I would try a log burner fitter, ours does all sorts of things.

It is quite hard to find bits. I would remove the fireplace and hack out all the remaining back bit and then replace with a new firebrick. Not sure how you will find a grate, an ash tray and bars though. You could try eBay?

We had our open fire taken back to the brick of the chimney, leaving a rectangular opening. The replacement 'bars' are bigger than the fire opening but I liked them and they just sit in front. I meant to tile around the opening but have never gotten around to it, lol.

As Geneticsbunny says then you buy a new fireback and look for a new grate and front bars based on the width of the fire. The tray and even front bars should be available from a shop/seller. But if you go back to brick you will have to have someone form a 'throat' above the new fireback, it has to be done well or the fire won't draw.

Possibly you could try filling the old fireback with fire bricks and fire cement, then look for bars and grate etc. You'll need a new hearth built to regs in front of the fire too.

https://www.gratefireplaceaccessories.co.uk/br/burners/fire-backs

I have a very handy local hardware store who stocks all sizes of grates apparently! I’m relying on word of mouth here. I know they do firebricks (actually tested) so hopefully they’re right about this too!

@sbplanet the information about the “throat” is something I didn’t know about at all so thank you. I’ll seek more advice and help!

the hearth is there already and I’ve found original tiles (albeit damaged) so I should be able to retile that, but I will get it checked over too 👍

Taking when fire surround off and putting it back on is relatively easy. They usually just screw into the wall with some fixings.

Long shot, but we are also up in County Durham and struggling with our open fire. We have a couple of fire bricks to replace, and otherwise its back to brick so looking at a fire back install. Did you find anyone to do any refurb? My sweep is out in January so I'll ask her too but it needs something as it's very inefficient 😁