Fireplace Fitter Castlereagh Northern Ireland (BT6): Opening up an old disused fireplace to fit an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is an excellent way to add a bit of character and a homely feel to your Castlereagh home. Nippy winter evenings can become very enjoyable as you sit back beside your fireplace listening to the crackle of firewood, and if your fire is used in combination with a back boiler you can even benefit from plentiful hot water too.
Before you start bashing away at a bricked-up chimney there are some things you will need to consider to ensure you can safely install your new fireplace. Any combustible appliance installed within the home must comply with Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, and this applies to chimney breasts, fireplaces, hearths and flue linings. If you are living in a designated conservation area or a listed building you have to check with the local council to see if planning permission is needed for a fireplace installation in your home.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
You might be capable of doing some of the work in renovating a bricked-up fireplace if you have the ability needed, however safety and structural issues are often discovered that need to be resolved by a specialist. You may be fortunate when you expose the old fireplace and find you need little more than a thorough chimney sweep and a quick clean up of the hearth to get a fire roaring. What's more commonplace however is a patch of crumbling, old brickwork covering a blocked flue, and also requires some form of structural modification before it can be used safely.
It is normally advisable to take comfort from the experience and knowledge of a certified fireplace fitter in Castlereagh, on account of the severe health and fire risk problems that can result from an improperly fitted or renovated fireplace. Airflow has to be adequate in any room which has a fireplace; and it is a key requirement of Part J of the Building Regulations that this is so. An accumulation of deadly carbon monoxide fumes can be the result in a space where there is insufficient airflow, and death is a risk where a fire is burning inefficiently.
It could be necessary to install airflow vents in floors and walls to enable the fire to receive ample oxygen to burn effectively and safely all the time. They may also have to fit air vents in unused chimney flues which can sometimes trap moist air and lead to damp spots and staining to your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
An enormous amount of dirt and soot can be discharged from an old fireplace when reopening it for restoration. Even with dust sheets for your furniture, the risk of impairment from soot and grime is still possible and it's advisable to remove your furniture, rugs and carpets before any fireplace restoration work starts. If you are lucky enough to be carrying out a full renovation then it should be one of the very first jobs to work on before re-plastering and decorating the walls. This prevents any staining damage to any refurbished work you have already completed.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
With your fireplace uncovered, it's time to see what needs to be restored and give the chimney and hearth an intensive cleaning. The very first job on your to-do list should be to bring in a decent chimney sweep. They will be able to provide professional advice on the flue and chimney after sweeping, regarding the situation with the chimney structure and whether it is advisable to exchange the existing flue lining.
It might be necessary to fit a new flue lining to conform to the all important UK Building Regulations, and construction might also be required to reinforce the original chimney and breast. These are projects that need to be done by an experienced craftsman with knowledge of the relevant regulations and reliable construction skills.
In older buildings you may discover that the original fireplace is too big for your purposes, in which case a supporting concrete lintel will be necessary to adapt the opening. When your new concrete lintel is safely in place you may now get on with the repair, installation and upgrade of the fireplace hearth. In past times the hearth was generally set into the floor, however current building regs demand that it's raised above floor level. There are bespoke solutions to fit any size and style of fireplace, or you can pick from a range of common sized hearths to match your decor.
STYLE OF FIREPLACE
If you pop along to a fireplace showroom you're spoilt for choice with the array of different options available to you. It is possible that due to your current flue, chimney and airflow to the room, that certain fireplaces might not be suitable, therefore it pays to follow the the recommendations and advice of the fireplace installation company with respect to this.
You home's age, and the theme that you're trying to develop for your room, will all help you to decide on the design and type of fireplace that's best for you. As an example, a cast iron wood burning stove looks amazing set into an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, highlighting the charm of the stove and deflecting the heat into the room to good effect.
If your Castlereagh property hasn't got a chimney breast you still have options for a fireplace feature by putting in a multi-fuel or wood burning stove. A chimney is not required as a stainless steel flue is fitted to the rear or top of the stove and routed through an external wall.
WOOD, ELECTRIC, MULTI-FUEL, OPEN OR GAS FIREPLACE?
The charm and look of an open fire cannot be matched, but what options are out there if this type of fireplace is not possible in your Castlereagh property?
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves can be used with various different fuels, including coal, oil, wood or gas, to create a focal point in your house in Castlereagh. They can be used not simply for heating a room, but some styles such as the AGA range, can supply hot water, provide a useful cooking area and can be used to heat the complete house if plumbed into an existing radiator system.
Wood Burning Stoves - Wood burners have become extremely popular in many properties in Castlereagh, and can have modern or classic design to match your furnishings. A back boiler is an extra benefit and could provide steaming hot water for use around the home, or to provide heating in other rooms via radiators.
Gas Fireplaces - There are a variety of designs to suit all property types and their efficiency to warm a room is superior to wood burning stoves or open fireplaces. Must be professionally installed and maintained by Gas Safe certified (replaced CORGI register in 2009) engineer.
Open Fireplaces - Provides a focal point for a room and can use an assortment of solid fuels. An open fire is wonderful to watch and contemporary fireplaces are no more the inefficient, draughty and smoky things they were in the past.
Electric Fireplaces - Basic installation and a diverse choice of designs make electric fireplaces the obvious choice for Castlereagh homes without a chimney. Even if your home has a traditional fireplace, an electric fire which looks almost like a "real" fire can be fitted.
It is not just in Castlereagh that you're able to obtain fireplace installation providers - neighbouring areas like: Crossnacreevy, Moneyreagh, Saintfield, Dundonald, Drumbo, Dunmurry, Ormeau, Hannahstown, Finaghy, Andersontown, Ballgowan can normally also be covered. Fireplace installers from Castlereagh will generally have the postcode BT6 and the phone code 028. Verifying this should ensure you're accessing a locally based fireplace specialist.
Chimney Sweep Castlereagh
Having the chimney swept is one thing that home owners often forget or put off, but it's essential to get this done regularly if you've got an open fire or a wood burner in your Castlereagh property. Chimneys should be cleaned and swept at least once yearly, if not more.
You could sweep your own chimney, if you've got the right equipment, but this is a filthy job and is best left to a specialist Castlereagh chimney sweep if you want it done correctly and cleanly. While the chimney sweep is cleaning your chimney, he will also be on the lookout for any problems, so that they can then be promptly resolved.
Regular sweeping prevents a build-up of ash, soot and creosote, a common cause of chimney fires. Apart from fires there are other dangerous situations that can be caused by a poorly maintained chimney, one example is that of toxic carbon monoxide gas being drawn back into your house.
This all adds up to the fact that you should always employ a reliable Castlereagh chimney sweep, and one who has decent public liability cover in case any damages or accidents occur. To find a price for chimney sweeping in Castlereagh CLICK HERE.
Improve the Efficiency of Your Fireplace
With all of the current ecological problems, the open fireplace has lost a little of its former charm, however it still is a favourite feature for many in Castlereagh. Sitting in front of the warmth of a fireplace, revives many cherished memories for a lot of people. The fireplace offers many benefits for your property, but there are several major negative aspects that may need to be monitored. With the cost of energy rising significantly year after year, your fireplace must give out heat in a very cost-effective way. Although having a fire going in a fireplace keeps the people around it cosy, it actually removes warm air from the rest of the space, causing your heat source to work harder. The chimney damper is expected to prevent cold air from coming in to your home when you don't have a fire going in the fireplace. However, dampers often have an inefficient seal, so chilly air gets in, and warmer air goes out.
What the majority of homeowners in Castlereagh tend not to understand about their fireplace is that it doesn't always do what they believe it's doing. Instead of managing the heating of a residence naturally, a fireplace can actually add hundreds of pounds to your heating expenses. Just consider that it's not all hopeless because there are ways to make your fireplace very cost-efficient. All you need to do is basically 4 basic things enhance the performance of your fireplace. These is going to make your fireplace very economical and very efficient.
The initial step is to remove your current damper and change it for a new top sealing damper. This kind of damper is placed near the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain and snow from coming in. It does an excellent job of retaining warm air in the house during wintertime and cool air from getting out in the summertime. The damper is easy to fit, and can be purchased online. An additional thing you can do is place a fire-back in the back of your fireplace. A fire-back consists of cast iron and it is actually meant to shield the wall behind from fire damage, while at the same time making your fireplace look elegant. The fire-back gets warmed up by the fire and reflects the heat back into the room, hence boosting the fireplace's efficiency.
Another way to save money is by using a fireplace heater, which heats the area by pulling the air into a heat chamber and returning the air back into the room. These heaters are sealed systems, hence no smoke is emitted, and they can really make a difference in the temperature of your home. The last and final thing that you can do is to install glass doors, which could be your biggest expense. Searching around, you ought to be able to locate a bargain, and with an instruction manual, you can fit them on your own. These doors create a barrier between the hearth and living space, not only stopping the air in the room from escaping, but also providing protection.
All of these ideas are straightforward to implement, and the required products can be sourced online. Retain your existing fireplace and lower heating costs by making it more efficient.
Fireplace Installation Information and Advice
There is so much info about fireplace installation on the net nowadays, and to learn about elegant fireplace designs click here. To find out the best ways to install a log burning stove you could try watching YouTube instructional videos such as this. To get more information regarding the types of fireplaces, coal burning fireplaces, fireplace heating efficiency, the evolution of fireplaces, the environmental effects of fireplaces and the health effects of fireplaces, check out the dedicated Wikipedia page here. Fireplace Installation guidance and advice is easily accessible from online forums, therefore to make the most of this fact you need to pop along to the popular Buildhub Forum, topics under discussion include things like pellet stoves and boilers, wood burners, chimney design, stove vents, building regulations and widening fireplaces. To determine the social media response to fireplace developments and trends, check this out.
Browsing on the Internet
Simply "Googling it" appears to be the way that most home owners in Castlereagh look for all sorts of tradesmen these days. The truth is, you more than likely used Ask, Yahoo, Bing or Google to find the webpage that you are viewing at this moment. However, the notable search engines mentioned above regularly supply the first page listings that are not the most relevant. In this specific case you'll be typing something along the lines of "fireplace installation near me", "Castlereagh fireplace installation", "fireplace installation Castlereagh" or "fireplace installation in Castlereagh" to uncover the ideal person.
Unfortunately, many of the first page of listings on search engines like Google, as you'll swiftly realise, are either going to be PPC (Pay Per Click) results or listings from major lead generation websites like Quotatis, Checkatrade, Bidvine, Rated People, TrustaTrader or My Builder or business directories such as Free Index, Gumtree, Yell or Yelp. In order to discover the websites of real fireplace installers, you will need to scroll down to page 2 and 3 or even farther down the listing results.
Castlereagh Fireplace Related Tasks
There are a wide array of tasks that can be completed by your local Castlereagh fireplace company including Regency fireplaces Castlereagh, fireplace design Castlereagh, chimney repairs in Castlereagh, classic fireplaces Castlereagh, fireplace cleaning Castlereagh, multifuel stoves Castlereagh, gas fireplaces, modern fireplaces Castlereagh, marble fireplace installation in Castlereagh, Victorian fireplaces Castlereagh, oak beam fireplaces Castlereagh, double-sided stove installation, wood burning fireplace installations, traditional fireplaces Castlereagh, inset stove installations in Castlereagh, stone fireplaces, brick fireplaces in Castlereagh, stone fireplace installations, elm fireplaces Castlereagh, the installation of chimney cowls, fireplace suites, two-sided fireplaces Castlereagh, fireplace hearths, gas fireplace installation Castlereagh, flue liners, fake fireplace installations in Castlereagh, cast iron fireplaces, fireplaceestimates, cast iron fireplace installation in Castlereagh, fireplace inserts, chimney strengthening, chimney lining, fireplace refurbishment, electric fireplaces in Castlereagh, tiled fireplaces Castlereagh, wood burning fireplaces, and lots more. These are just some of the duties that are performed by those installing fireplaces. Castlereagh providers will inform you of their entire range of fireplace services.
Fireplace Installers Near Castlereagh
Also find: Ormeau fireplace installers, Ballgowan fireplace installers, Moneyreagh fireplace installers, Hannahstown fireplace installers, Saintfield fireplace installers, Drumbo fireplace installers, Dunmurry fireplace installers, Finaghy fireplace installers, Dundonald fireplace installers, Crossnacreevy fireplace installers, Andersontown fireplace installers and more. All of these localities are covered by companies who fit fireplaces. These tradespeople, with their expertise and know-how, are well-equipped to perform successful fireplace installations in your home. The warmth, comfort and atmosphere of a fireplace in their homes are made possible for residents through the support of these dedicated specialists. By simply clicking here, fireplace installation quotes are available to local residents. Does your home need a new fireplaces? Why not get a quote today?
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Fireplace Fitter Near Castlereagh
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Fireplace installation in BT6 area, and dialling code 028.
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