Paradise Lost or Cinema Paradiso?

[celtic13]

Hi folks

After taking inspiration from the many fantastic threads here, 2 weeks ago I made an almost Faustian pact with the Devil.

The deal was; I must restore and install an original early Victorian cast iron fireplace that has lurked in the garage for more years than I care to remember, caked under 1000 layers of paint. I must remove a hideous 60's modern brick (its beige!) fireplace and 12 foot hearth. I must completely redecorate and make good the room as a sitting room. I must build from scratch a unit to hide gear and dvd collection.

What do I get in exchange? A new electric screen for my projector (must be hidden behind a pelmet). A plasma for over the newly installed fireplace and an upgraded projector next year when full 1080ps have bedded down a bit and there is more choice (my panny ae300 is over 3 yrs old and still going strong).

Not a bad deal I hear you cry - but here's the rub - I am handy enough but have never attempted a fireplace before, and... a timescale has been imposed - end of Nov!

So spurred into action I started two weekends ago - got some nitromores to strip the fireplace, bought an sds drill, a new 12lb hammer and attacked the hideous one!

The results were not pretty but it was a start...hope to keep this thread updated over the next while to see if it becomes "Paradise Lost or Cinema Paradiso"

Here's the evidence so far.


Thanks for the inspiration

Paul

[Tides2002]

I helped my Dad remove a modern brick fireplace and replace it with a Victorian fireplace, we kept thinking that we would need a builder for the next stage and in the end we did all of the insulation work ourselves and there have been no problems with it over the last 19 years (was really 19 years ago, good god).

We sealed the fire surround with asbestos rope (not sure you can still get that) and another tip we were given was that if you are packing the rear of the firebox with rubble then stick pieces of corrugated cardboard on the inner firebox, this will char away leaving an air gap (making an insulator) between the firebox and the packing.

We started off being daunted by the project but in the end we found it quite easy and one of the most satisfying DIY jobs that either of use has done.

[celtic13]

Thanks for the tips Tides, I have some fire rope to make a compression seal with and the idea of the corrugated cardboard makes perfect sense. Did you use bonding plaster to fix the insert tiles - mine just arrived and wondered if I should fix them with bonding plaster or fire cement. I am black leading and burnishing tomorrow.

All the best

Paul

[Tides2002]

The fire place that we fitted although cast iron did not have any tiles, but I would think you would be better off using fire cement due to the heat.

[celtic13]

Have checked with a local fireplace installer and it seems that for this type of fireplace bonding plaster is the way to go for insert tiles.

I have now finished channelling the walls for cables for the plasma to go above the fireplace - my God the dust - people weren't kidding!!!


Do I really need to run a seperate chase for power? Any advice welcome.

Continuing to lay the new slate hearth this afternoon then black lead fireplace tonight. This better be worth it...

Any recomendations for plasma, have to start looking around - are the new pio's worth it or are they marketing hype? I'm looking for a 42" mainly used for SD Tv viewing - projector will handle the movies. We also have a 36" crt sony trinitron in the family room that I have no intention of upgrading yet.

More pics later....

Paul

[celtic13]

Well, thats it for the evening, going to have a glass or two! Got the hearth tiled and the first coat of paint onto the fireplace. My "much betterhalf" black leaded the inner part and it has come up a real treat - never thought I would ever see the day that this fireplace would be brought back to its former glory!

Anyway a couple of pics then onto vermiculite tomorrow.

All the best

Paul

[dbs2]

Originally Posted by celtic13

................

Do I really need to run a seperate chase for power? Any advice welcome.

Continuing to lay the new slate hearth this afternoon then black lead fireplace tonight. This better be worth it...

Any recomendations for plasma, have to start looking around - are the new pio's worth it or are they marketing hype? I'm looking for a 42" mainly used for SD Tv viewing - ......
Paul

This looks a Cracking Project celtic13....

BLIMEY.... That fire and surround/hearth did have to come out didn't it.... it's looking so much better without it already.... Did you break any tools or digits while 'calmly dismantling' your feature fireplace ??

For chasing power cables adjacent to others....it is always recommended on theses forums as far as i am aware, on my last setup i was unaware of this but did have them as far apart as possible. but to what extend this degrades audio and video i would be also interested to hear about......

As for plasma's them pio's certainly are getting good reviews and likewise again, something i am also looking into, or whether to go down the Sony X3500 series lcd route..... but probably stick with plasma...

Good Luck with the refurb Paul.... i will be watching with great interest.........

[celtic13]

Many thanks for your encouragment Deano. Yes that fireplace and hearth were hideous yet its only now after years of saying rip it out, that we have now gotten round to it. I think its something to do with "aw the kids will wreck it anyway" - unfortunately they didn't (wrecked everything else though and are still at it!)

I had a look at the pio's today and yes they seem pretty good - don't know if they are worth a 100% premium over a Panasonic though! We watch a lot of films and I think I would prefer to spend the dosh on a 1080p projector, perhaps a "pearl" or the JVC and buy a panny 42incher.

Still haven't decided what to do about power cables...

Anyway, finished the hearth and tiles arrived for the inserts, fitted those tonight with bonding plaster - hope it doesn't crack in the heat, and my wife is pretty pleased - feels like finally getting somewhere.

All the best

Paul

[dbs2]

OOoooo if you have the choice you just have to go down the PJ and 42" option... best of both worlds then, makes 'movie time' so so special

[Gavster]

Originally Posted by celtic13

Still haven't decided what to do about power cables...

That is a cracking looking fireplace chap. It will look superb when all's done.

As for the power cable conundrum ... the IEE regs (I think it's currently on the 16th edition) also states that power and signal should be kept separated along runs. I don't think the extent of the separation has to be much ... you can buy trunking that actually has a divider inside so that power can be run on one side and signals on the other ... if you see what I mean.

Looking at your photos, I can see you've cut quite a large channel out for your cabling ... rather than using that large bore grey pipe (looks like the sort of pipe used for sink wastes) you could always use a couple of smaller conduits. But then again, I don't know what you're thinking with regard to actually getting the cables in place themselves ... do you want the ability to thread them through reterospectively?

Admittedly, I have installed ducting through my chimney breast and have run both the mains lead for the tv and the scart cable through together and the picture quality is absolutely fine (Gavster's modest home cinema)

Probably not much help to you really but food for thought

[Pupster01]

forgive me for asking this but are you really thinking of lighting a fire under a plasma TV?? you keep mentioning the effectof heat on the tiles which are at the side think of the heat rising

also remember all chimleys are fire damaged brick work so you need to use decent fixings with rawl bolts or chemical fixings ? personally Having been on the plasma installation courses with hitachi and panasonic ( admittedly it was 2 years ago) id never put a plasma on there have you looked at the weight?

Sorry if im stating things you have already thought about but its always worth mentioning just in case

stunning work will look amazing when its finished

[celtic13]

Hi folks,

I have been working away for a few days so please excuse the delay in posting.

Looking at your photos, I can see you've cut quite a large channel out for your cabling ... rather than using that large bore grey pipe (looks like the sort of pipe used for sink wastes) you could always use a couple of smaller conduits. But then again, I don't know what you're thinking with regard to actually getting the cables in place themselves ... do you want the ability to thread them through reterospectively?

Think I will try that Gavster, thanks for the advice. I will get two sizes, one dedicated to the power cables and the other to the audio / video - the channelling should be wide enough.

forgive me for asking this but are you really thinking of lighting a fire under a plasma TV?? you keep mentioning the effectof heat on the tiles which are at the side think of the heat rising

Pupster01, the fire will only be lit occasionally, more for effect at times like Christmas etc so hopefully it won't be much of a problem. The fireplace has a cast iron mantle which I would assume will displace some of the heat and prevent it from affecting the plasma.

Quick update, I have ordered a new 100" grandview electric screen which should be arriving any day. I will start putting the electrics in this weekend so prepare to be bombarded with questions and hopefully pics.

All the best

Paul

[dbs2]

Originally Posted by celtic13

<snip>

Quick update, I have ordered a new 100" grandview electric screen which should be arriving any day. I will start putting the electrics in this weekend so prepare to be bombarded with questions and hopefully pics.

All the best

Paul

Sounds Grand Paul

How Are you going to be doing the pelmet, as your screen wall will be rather wide..??

[celtic13]

Dean,

The screen is going into a bay window almost perpindicular to the fireplace - I should have posted pics at the start to show the layout and will do later. The pelmet will house the curtain rails on theree sides and the design will be unrepentantly stolen from other members of this esteemed forum!

All the best

Paul

[dbs2]

Originally Posted by celtic13

Dean,

The screen is going into a bay window almost perpindicular to the fireplace - I should have posted pics at the start to show the layout and will do later. The pelmet will house the curtain rails on theree sides and the design will be unrepentantly stolen from other members of this esteemed forum!

All the best

Paul

That's what i like to hear

That is what it's all about !!