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General Tips

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What size fire back do I need? -If your fireplace has a rear wall 30" - 48" wide you can allow anywhere between 4" to 15" on both sides of a fire back and be fine. This means that you may be able to use the same fire back in multiple fireplaces. Obviously the fire back you choose will need to be big enough to protect the area directly behind the fire. You will also need to ensure the top of your fire back is not too tall. If it is, this can cause the draft to get closed off or it could get in the way of the damper. Contemporary fireplaces are smaller than older fireplaces. If you have a modern fireplace you may have to consider a fire back without the rolling top.
How Can I secure my Fire back? - You should never try securing the fire back directly to the back of the fireplace wall. This could cause the wall to bust due to expansion from the heat. If you are concerned about your fire back falling over, you may consider purchasing a set of safety boots. Safety Boots are supports used to hold fire backs securely in place. Basically you just put your fire back in the boots and stick it back behind the logs. The supports are really nifty because they raise the fire back for better visibility. Most are made to tilt the fire back forward, allowing for any curvature in the rear wall by. If you have a gas fireplace, you may have to procure a set of safety boots if you want to use a cast iron fire back instead of one made of ceramic.
Can I use a fire back with a fire basket? - Absolutely! If you are planning on buying a fire basket in addition to your fire back, you should consider buying them as a set. Some fire backs actually have a fire basket attached to it. If you buy a fire back like this, you may be getting a bit of a bargain by purchasing them as one. If you buy them separately you might need to buy a set of safety boots also.
Ceramic Fire backs - You should never use a ceramic fire back in tandem with a real fire. These are only meant to be used with gas fireplaces. If you use a ceramic fire back in a real fireplace, it may overheat, explode and throw projectile shards. This is extremely dangerous and can turn into a fatal situation.

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