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Will My Fireplace Sit Against a Flat Wall?Fireplace Advice Centre > Will My Firepalce Sit Against a Flat Wall?
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Most cast iron fireplaces are not flat at the back. The fireback projects behind the decorative front and is designed to sit inside a chimney opening.
This guide explains why that matters, what to check if your wall appears completely flat and the options you may need to discuss with your builder.
This guide explains why that matters, what to check if your wall appears completely flat and the options you may need to discuss with your builder.
The direct answer
No. A cast iron fireplace will not normally sit flat against a plain wall.
The fireback projects behind the front of the fireplace and needs to sit inside a chimney opening or another suitably constructed recess.
From the front, the fireplace may appear fairly shallow, but much of its depth is hidden within the chimney breast once it is installed.
The fireback projects behind the front of the fireplace and needs to sit inside a chimney opening or another suitably constructed recess.
From the front, the fireplace may appear fairly shallow, but much of its depth is hidden within the chimney breast once it is installed.
Why this question comes up
Customers usually ask because their room has a completely flat wall and no chimney breast at all.
It is an understandable question when most product photographs are taken from the front and the projecting fireback is not obvious.
The front view shows the part you will see after installation.
The rear part is deliberately hidden within the chimney breast.
It is an understandable question when most product photographs are taken from the front and the projecting fireback is not obvious.
The front view shows the part you will see after installation.
The rear part is deliberately hidden within the chimney breast.
What if the chimney opening has been covered?
A room may still have a chimney breast even though the opening has been boarded or plastered over. In that situation, a builder can investigate whether an original opening remains behind the covering.
We cannot advise on opening up a wall or changing the chimney breast, but once the opening is properly exposed we can help compare its measurements with a fireplace.
We cannot advise on opening up a wall or changing the chimney breast, but once the opening is properly exposed we can help compare its measurements with a fireplace.
What if there is no chimney breast?
If there is no chimney breast at all, the fireplace cannot simply be fixed to the flat wall because there is nowhere for the fireback to go.
For a purely decorative feature, some people consider having a false chimney breast constructed. That can create the depth needed to accommodate the back of the fireplace, but it also projects into the room and may take up more space than expected.
Whether that is practical or appropriate is a matter to discuss with a builder. Grate Finds does not design or construct false chimney breasts.
For a purely decorative feature, some people consider having a false chimney breast constructed. That can create the depth needed to accommodate the back of the fireplace, but it also projects into the room and may take up more space than expected.
Whether that is practical or appropriate is a matter to discuss with a builder. Grate Finds does not design or construct false chimney breasts.
How much space does the back need?
Every fireplace is different. On each listing we give the minimum width, height and depth of chimney opening required for that particular fireplace.
We calculate those figures from the maximum dimensions of the irregularly shaped rear section. This is why a photograph of the front alone cannot tell you how much room is needed behind it.
We calculate those figures from the maximum dimensions of the irregularly shaped rear section. This is why a photograph of the front alone cannot tell you how much room is needed behind it.
Decorative use still needs an opening
Using a fireplace purely for decoration does not make the projecting fireback disappear. Even when the fireplace will never be used for a fire, the rear section still needs to be housed within a suitable opening or purpose-built structure.
The difference is in the intended use, not in the shape of the fireplace.
The difference is in the intended use, not in the shape of the fireplace.
Before buying
Check that you have a chimney breast and that the opening is exposed. Then compare its width, height and depth with the minimum opening stated in the listing.
If you are unsure, use the WhatsApp button on the relevant fireplace page and send us a photograph of the chimney breast, a photograph of the opening and the measurements. We can then look at the actual fireplace you are considering rather than answer in general terms.
If you are unsure, use the WhatsApp button on the relevant fireplace page and send us a photograph of the chimney breast, a photograph of the opening and the measurements. We can then look at the actual fireplace you are considering rather than answer in general terms.
Most customers simply compare their measurements with the fireplace listing and place their order online.
If you’d like us to check anything before you buy, the easiest way is to use the WhatsApp button on the product page for the fireplace you’re interested in. That tells us exactly which fireplace you’re asking about and keeps the photographs and measurements together in one conversation.
If you’d like us to check anything before you buy, the easiest way is to use the WhatsApp button on the product page for the fireplace you’re interested in. That tells us exactly which fireplace you’re asking about and keeps the photographs and measurements together in one conversation.
Browse our fireplaces
You can browse our current collection of restored fireplaces → and compare the measurements shown on each listing.