I'm concerned that you advocate that fireplace work is a DIY activity when, in reality, it isn't. Work on a fire, fireplace or stove is notifyable under the Building Regulations 2002. This means you either have to use a member of one of the @competent Persons' schemes - CORGI for gas, HETAS for wood or coal and OFTEC for oil - or get a building notice from your local council's building inspectors. If the latter don't like the job you've done they can make you start again from scratch! In a nutshell, the only way to get a guarantee job is to use a member of a competent persons scheme - don't try to do it yourself!

Peter Healy, National Fireplace Association.