Fireplace Fitter Gillingham Kent (ME7): A marvelous way to add charm to any Gillingham home is by the installation of a brand new fireplace, or the renovation of an existing one. Adding an open fire or wood burning stove for those chilly winter evenings can even be cheaper than some central heating systems, as long as you have a ready source of timber. If used in combination with a back boiler it can supply you with plentiful hot water at the same time.
There are some important considerations you must think of before you start any work, in order to create an attractive, efficient and safe fireplace in your home. All work must abide by Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, which addresses the installation and construction of chimney breasts, hearths, fireplaces and flue linings of any combustible appliance. Planning permission may also have to be sought before work commences if your home is listed or in a conservation area.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If you are an enthusiastic and competent do-it-yourselfer it may be possible to renovate an existing bricked-up fireplace, but the probability of encountering structural problems in the majority of cases is unfortunately high. If you are fortunate when you open up a stopped up fireplace you might find a decent lintel, chimney breast and hearth that requires nothing other than the services and advice of a chimney sweep to get it ready for a fire once more. What's more typical however is a patch of crumbling brickwork that conceals a stopped up flue, and needs some form of structural modification before it can be safely used.
If a fireplace is installed improperly there's not just a risk of fire to your home, but there can also be associated health hazards, which is why it's best to bring in a specialist Gillingham installation team for a fireplace. There must always be a decent air flow into a room where there's a fireplace to ensure adequate amounts of oxygen for the fire to burn effectively. A deficiency of oxygen means the fire won't burn effectively, and carbon monoxide could accumulate, which can lead to death.
To safely overcome any airflow issues, vents might be fitted around the room during a fireplace installation, to ensure suitable levels of oxygen reach the fire. Blocked off and unused chimney flues may also have to have air vents installed since they can sometimes trap moist air causing damp to occur inside the chimney.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
It is surprising just how much dust and soot can accumulate inside an old chimney and you will not know what is there until you proceed to open it up. A fireplace installer will bring coverings for your home furnishings and provide a bit of protection, but it is sensible where feasible to remove furniture and woven floor coverings from the area before any work commences. If you're performing a full restoration of a property or room, the fireplace should be opened up before any plastering or decorating is tackled. This avoids any discolouration damage to any renovated work you may have already finished.
STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION WORK
Once you have opened up your old fireplace you will have a better understanding of the work that needs to be done, and also be able to thoroughly sweep the chimney and clear out any hearth that may have been left in place. The first thing on your to-do list will be to bring in a decent chimney sweep. A chimney sweep will first of all clean the flue and whilst doing so will check the structural condition of the chimney and offer advice on whether a new flue liner is required.
If it is necessary to strengthen the chimney or install a flue lining all current Building Regulations must be followed. These are projects that need to be done by an experienced craftsman with a good understanding of the appropriate regulations and quality construction skills.
If the dimensions of the original fireplace are larger than your needs, a concrete supporting lintel should be installed. When this is complete the next step for your Gillingham fireplace installation will be to update the hearth. You might find the original hearth has been set into a floor void, however to conform to current regulations it must be raised above floor level. If your fireplace is of non-standard size you might have to choose a bespoke, custom-built hearth, but there are a whole host of ready to fit hearths in slate, marble or concrete.
STYLES OF FIREPLACE
A trip to a fireplace showroom or a browse online will show the choices that are available for the different designs and styles of fireplaces. The recommendations and advice from your installation team, which will be in keeping with your particular requirements, will enable you to choose a fireplace that's both appropriate for your chimney and flue, as well as for your decor.
Whether you go for a multi-fuel stove, a wood burner or an open fireplace will be based on the all round look that you are trying to develop, your existing decor and maybe, your property's age. As an example, a cast iron wood burning stove looks great set into an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, highlighting the character of the stove and reflecting the heat into the room effectively.
A wood-burning stove is also a great choice if you haven't got a chimney breast in your Gillingham property. This style of fireplace can be fitted with its own flue that is routed through an outside wall and does not require a chimney, to be installed and work safely.
MULTI-FUEL, GAS, WOOD, ELECTRIC OR OPEN FIREPLACE?
The ambience and feel of a log fire can't be surpassed, however what options are available if this style of fireplace is not possible in your Gillingham home?
Open Fireplaces - A crackling fire is a focus for any room in your home and it has the capacity to burn almost any solid fuel that you can buy. A professionally fitted open fire will be no comparison to the old style smoky fireplace that was perhaps bricked up by past owners, and its warm elegance is a welcome addition to any house in Gillingham.
Wood Burning Stoves - These have become extremely popular in a lot of homes in Gillingham, and can have classic or modern styling to match your decoration. A back boiler is an extra benefit and could provide hot water for use around the home, or to provide heating in other rooms via radiators.
Gas Fireplaces - Supplying instant heat and being more thermally efficient than wood burning stoves or open fireplaces, there are a multitude of styles and designs to suit any Gillingham home. A Gas Safe certified engineer must fit and maintain any gas fire in your home.
Electric Fireplaces - A wide variety of electric fireplaces to suit pretty much any home in Gillingham, can be easily fitted by any competent individual. Even if your property has a conventional fireplace, an electric fire can be installed that looks almost like a genuine fire with multi-coloured flames.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Provides you with the option of using gas, coal, oil and wood to furnish you with a multipurpose heater for any house in Gillingham. They can be used not merely for heating a room, but some designs such as the AGA range, can supply hot water, provide a useful cooking area and can be used to heat the entire home if they're plumbed into a network of radiators.
Fireplace fitters can be obtained in Wouldham, Grange, Frindsbury, Hartlip, Walderslade, Wainscott, Chattenden, St Marys Island, Hempstead, Brompton, Blue Bell Hill, Wigmore, in these nearby postcodes: ME7 1BX, ME4 4FQ, ME7 1FD, ME5 7EL, ME4 4SD, ME7 1HZ, ME4 4QU, ME7 1EE, ME7 1DN, and ME5 7JG, as well as in Gillingham itself. Fireplace installers from Gillingham will typically have the telephone code 01634 and the postcode ME7. Checking this will make sure that you access a local fireplace builder.
Fireplace Installation Help and Guidance
If you need to find out more information on on fireplace designs check this out. To become part of the world of fireplace installation head over to one of the fireplace forums, discussion topics include pellet stoves and boilers, trims for stoves, widening a fireplace, log burners, understanding building regulations and chimney designs. To get an outline of how fireplace installation is currently being depicted on social media, check this out. The dedicated Wikipedia "fireplace" page is the place to visit for info on fireplace heating efficiency, electric fireplaces, the health effects of fireplaces, how fireplaces affect the environment, the types of fireplaces and the history of the fireplace. Head here to learn how to install a fireplace.
Gillingham Fireplace Related Tasks
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Fireplace Installers Near Gillingham
Also find: Blue Bell Hill fireplace installers, Hartlip fireplace installers, Chattenden fireplace installers, Wouldham fireplace installers, Grange fireplace installers, Frindsbury fireplace installers, Wainscott fireplace installers, Brompton fireplace installers, Hempstead fireplace installers, St Marys Island fireplace installers, Walderslade fireplace installers, Wigmore fireplace installers and more. Almost all of these towns and localities are served by companies who fit fireplaces. To adeptly install fireplaces in your home, these seasoned tradesmen possess the necessary know-how and experience. With the help of these dedicated specialists, residents can enjoy the atmosphere, warmth and comfort that a fireplace brings to their living areas. Local homeowners can get fireplace installation estimates by going here.
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Fireplace Installation GillinghamGillingham (ME7): Learn more about Gillingham here
Fireplace installation in ME7 area, telephone code 01634.
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