How To Build a Fireplace

The fire surround is designed to accommodate an (electric) inset fire against a flat wall with no chimney recess. The marble back of the surround when snug against the surround is approximately 4 inches from the wall. Any ideas on how to securely fix this heavy piece to the wooden surround to stop it falling back? I don’t think glue would be strong enough – I was thinking along the lines of wooden batons but not sure if this is correct nor how to actually do it.

Any help would be gratefully received!

Fix battens to the wall of the required thickness (with screws and wall plugs) to set the marble in the correct position so that the whole assembly mates correctly and the marble lays plumb against the wall (I used 3 battens on mine one at the top across the width and one each lower side). You need to measure the gap you need to fill with battens very accurately, checking that the wall is flat before proceeding otherwise the fit will not be correct and allow for a layer of glue. Once you have checked that the surround fit is correct, by doing a trial fix, glue the marble to the battens using a general purpose silicon sealant – hold the marble and surround in place until the sealant has set (this will be strong enough to hold the marble but weak enough to enable it to be removed if necessary). Finish by screwing the surround to the wall using the fixing plates provided.

We want to build a backyard fire pit or fireplace
and we need to know what the codes are.

ie… How far from the house or the walls or plants it has to be.

I have searched and searched and can’t find the info.

You will need to check with your local governmental department that handles building codes. I can tell you what they are PROBABLY going to say, but not sure. Most fire pits/fireplaces that are used outdoors have to be a minimum of 10-20 feet from the outside of your home. They also have to be contained. You will probably have to get a fire pit with a lid or a fireplace that is fully enclosed, especially if you are in an area that is dry and has a burn restriction. There are some great models that fit into these regulations, but check your building codes before buying anything.