Fireplace Fitter Walsall West Midlands (WS1): Re-opening up an old fireplace or having a new one put in is a good way to add a bit of character to any room of your property in Walsall. Nippy evenings in winter can become a joy as you relax beside your fireplace listening to the crackle of firewood, and if your fire is combined with a back boiler you can also enjoy cheap hot water as well.
However before you start smashing down the walls of a blocked up fireplace there are some important things to consider to achieve a safe and efficient fireplace. Any work which is undertaken on your flue lining, hearth, fireplace and chimney breast must conform to the building regulations, Part J for heat producing appliances. For the installation of a fireplace in a listed building, or one that's located in an official conservation area, you'll need to find out from your local council if planning permission will be needed.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If you have the skills to do so, and are decent at DIY you might be able to do some of the work in remodeling an old or existing fireplace, but professional assistance may be needed if safety or structural problems arise. You may be lucky and find that the chimney breast, lintel and hearth are in fine shape, when you've revealed your old fireplace, and the hidden treasure that lies beneath needs little more than a clean by a chimney sweep. What you will likely find is a wall of old bricks that conceals problems such as a blocked chimney or a lintel that needs replacing.
Because of the serious fire risk and health problems that can be caused by a poorly installed or renovated fireplace, it is advisable to draw on the experience and knowledge of a competent fireplace installer in Walsall. Airflow must be satisfactory in any room in which a fireplace is to be installed; and it's a key requirement of Part J of the Building Regulations that this is the case. An accumulation of deadly carbon monoxide gas can result in a space where there is inadequate airflow, and even death is a risk when a fire does not burn effectively.
It may be necessary to fit airflow vents in walls and floors to enable the fire to receive ample oxygen to burn safely and properly at all times. Blocked off and unused chimney flues may also have to have air vents installed as they can often trap moist air within them and cause damp to develop inside the chimney.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
Old chimneys are notorious for the quantity of soot and dust that can pile up inside of them, therefore when you open up a disused fireplace you should anticipate that it will be a rather messy undertaking. It's sensible when possible to remove any woven floor coverings and furniture from the room before any work starts, although a fireplace installer will bring coverings for for your home furnishings. Due to the mess involved, if the fireplace installation is just a part of a larger home restoration project, it should be one of the initial tasks to be done. This will prevent damage to other stages of your renovation project (i.e. painted walls or fresh plaster), by soot and dirt that's emitted.
STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION WORK
With your fireplace uncovered, it's time to determine what can be restored and give the chimney and hearth a good clean. If this has not already been done, you will now need to contact the local Walsall chimney sweep. After sweeping and cleaning, they'll offer advice and guidance on what kind of state your chimney structure and flue liner is in, and inform you if there are elements that need to be changed.
Following an assessment by a competent chimney sweep, and in compliance with the Building Regulations (Part J), work to install a new flue liner and/or strengthen the chimney structure could be necessary. These are tasks that should be done by an experienced craftsman with a good understanding of the pertinent regulations and sound construction skills.
If the size of the original fireplace is greater than your requirements, a steel or concrete lintel should be put in. Once this has been done the next step of your fireplace installation in Walsall should be to modernise the old hearth. The circumstances with hearths has changed somewhat down the years, and whilst in the olden days hearths were quite often set into floor voids, they now must be laid above the normal floor level if the current regulations are to be followed. Off-the-shelf solutions from stone, slate or marble are available on the market to accomplish this, or your fireplace builder in Walsall may be able to provide you with a bespoke, made to measure hearth to fit in with your room style.
FIREPLACE DESIGNS AND STYLES
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be tricky amongst the various styles available from an online dealer or fireplace showroom. It usually pays to follow the advice of the salespeople and the installation team when it comes to which fireplaces will be appropriate for your existing chimney and flue, as some of them certainly won't be.
In choosing the fireplace style and design that is most appropriate for your situation, you'll want to look at your property's age, and the style that you're trying to develop for your room. If you have an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, a wood burning stove can look amazing set inside it, and has the added benefit of effectively reflecting the heat back into the room from the brick or stone walls surrounding the stove.
You've still got options for a fireplace feature by by having a wood burner installed, even if your Walsall home hasn't got an existing chimney. An existing chimney isn't needed as the flue is taken straight from the rear or top of the stove and taken out through an external wall.
MULTI-FUEL, WOOD, GAS, OPEN OR ELECTRIC FIREPLACE?
You simply can't beat a flickering fire on a cold winter's evening, to create a unique charm and ambience in your Walsall property, but what other options exist?
Wood Burning Stoves - These can be a free standing feature, and there is a vast selection available to complement any type of home in Walsall. A version with a back boiler will deliver additional heating by transferring the hot water to radiators in cold spots in your home.
Gas Fireplaces - Gas fireplaces come in a wide range of designs to suit your property and are generally more efficient than wood burners. Only a Gas Safe technician is permitted to install these fires.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - To introduce an eye-catching focal point in your home in Walsall, these stoves can burn a selection of fuels, such as gas, wood, smokeless coal or oil. One of the most widely regarded brands of multi-fuel stoves is AGA, and these can not only provide you with low-cost heating for an entire house, but also hot water and cooking.
Open Fireplaces - This type of fireplace can be used with a wide array of solid fuels, and provides an interesting focal point for your room. In times past thought of as being draughty, inefficient and smoky, a well-installed modern open fireplace can create a warm, toasty atmosphere.
Electric Fireplaces - Electric fireplaces can be fitted easily and safely by any competent individual and there are designs which are appropriate for almost any room and type of home in Walsall. When inset into a conventional fireplace, contemporary electric fires can mimic an actual fire, with authentic looking flame effects and even the crackling sound of wood.
You should be able to access fireplace installation providers in Walsall, and surrounding areas such as: Leamore, Daisy Bank, Bescot, Palfrey, The Delves, Shelfield, Fishley, Great Barr, The Chuckery, Fullbrook, Friar Park, Rushall, Birchills, Stubbers Green. Areas with postcodes like WS1 1TN, WS1 1NG, WS1 1WN, WS1 1SP, WS1 1RD, WS1 1EG, B74 3TP, WS1 1LN, WS1 1NH, and WS1 1UR can also be covered. Two pointers which imply that a fireplace company hails in the Walsall area is if they've got the postcode WS1 and the dialling code 01922. This could be one thing you can verify if you wish to make certain you hire a locally based fireplace builder. Walsall people can benefit from these fireplace services. If you simply click the "QUOTE" banner or form, you will be able to get details about the installation of fireplaces in your region.
Tips On How To Lower Your Heating Bill And Keep Your Open Fireplace In Excellent Shape
With worries about the environment, the classic fireplace is missing some of its appeal, although it's still a favourite with many householders in Walsall. There's nothing like feeling the real warmth of an open fireplace on a chilly winter's evening. Having a fireplace has its advantages but there are also some issues which could affect its usefulness. As power costs rise, you should make sure that your fireplace is giving off heat in an efficient way. When you've got a fire roaring in the fireplace, it can in fact extract warm air away from the room, making your heater work harder. In case you don't have a fire going, the damper is supposed to keep heat in. Unfortunately, fireplace dampers are renowned for being inefficient in keeping warm air in the house and cold air out.
Many homeowners that currently have a fireplace in their residence in Walsall do not realise how the fireplace can cause their energy bills to skyrocket. Rather than keeping the cost of heating down, it can actually do the exact reverse if one isn't careful. However, there are some techniques that can be done that will be able to turn your budget busting fireplace into something a touch more efficient. There are four simple steps that you can take to make your fireplace into a cost-effective heat resource. Each of these will make your fireplace very economical and more efficient.
The first step is to take out your current fireplace damper and swap it for a new top sealing damper. This style of damper is installed at the top end of the chimney, and works like a storm door. It does an excellent job of retaining warm air in the house during winter months and cool air from getting out in the warmer months. It's not that tricky to put in and can be easily purchased from a fireplace supplier or on the web. A second thing that you can do is to position a fire-back at the back of your fireplace. It's made of cast iron and it is used to enhance the look of your fireplace while at the same time protecting the back wall from fire damage. The fire-back also soaks up heat coming from the fire and sends it back inside, making the fireplace more effective.
Another way to save money is by using a fireplace heater, which heats the room by drawing the air into a heat chamber and blowing the air back into the room. These fireplace heaters are set up as closed systems in order that they do not produce any smoke, but they are quite effective in warming your room. Finally, you may install glass doors which will likely be the most expensive. Searching around, you will be able to find a great deal, and with instructions, you could fit them on your own. These doors help to prevent the heat from getting away and also it keeps children and pets from getting burned.
The information presented here is not that challenging to implement, and most of the items you need can be purchased on the internet. Just do your utmost to keep your fireplace efficient and notice your heating bills go down.
Natural Stone Fireplaces Walsall
If you are attempting to achieve a truly dramatic look with your fireplace, what about bringing the outside in with a fireplace created from stone? There might already be some natural stone features on the exterior of your property, a boundary wall or stone facade, perhaps? Why not match those features on the inside of your home?
There are two ways by which a natural stone fireplace can be constructed, and according to your personal taste and how much cash you are able to spend, you can choose from full-depth stone or the thinner stone cladding option. You'll also need to choose what sort of stone you would prefer for your new fireplace, choose between: marble, limestone, sandstone, granite, quartz or slate.
Exactly how your stone fireplace looks when it's completed will depend on the building technique (mortar jointed or dry stone), the individuality of the tradesman or stonemason who builds it and the type of stone that's used. Take a look around the internet and find some designs that you like, and you can show these to your fireplace builder before they get to work.
There is no doubt that stone fireplaces are usually more suitable for older buildings, and could be a bit too striking and overwhelming for the modern home. But the choice, as they say, is yours to make.
Chimney Sweeping Walsall
Getting the chimney swept is one thing that householders often put off or forget, but it's essential to get this done regularly if you've got a wood burning stove or an open fire in your Walsall property. To keep the chimney safe and working correctly, it should be swept at least once each year.
The best approach to get this done is to contact a specialist Walsall chimney sweep, who will carry out the work properly and without any mess. In addition to cleaning your chimney, the chimney sweep will be able to identify any safety issues with your chimney, so that these can be dealt with in a timely fashion.
Chimney fires can easily be the result of an accumulation of soot and ash if you forget to sweep your chimney. Deadly carbon monoxide fumes can also be drawn back into your house if you allow your chimney to become poorly maintained.
You will no doubt now appreciate the necessity for hiring a reputable chimney sweep in Walsall, and also one who's covered by adequate public liability insurance. To find a price for chimney sweeping in Walsall GO HERE. chimney sweeps are also available in nearby areas.
More Walsall Tradespeople: Walsall home improvement projects typically require the skills of various different tradesmen, and despite the fact that you're currently focused on finding fireplace installers in Walsall, a roofing specialist in Walsall, a floor fitter in Walsall, a stonemason in Walsall, a plasterer in Walsall, a plumber in Walsall, waste removal in Walsall, a carpenter/joiner in Walsall, stone cleaning in Walsall, a handyman in Walsall, a chimney sweep in Walsall, a bricklayer in Walsall, SKIP HIRE in Walsall, a metal worker in Walsall, a painter and decorator in Walsall, an electrician in Walsall, a building contractor in Walsall, pressure washing in Walsall, a tiler in Walsall, could also be needed at some stage of your venture.
Fireplace Installers Near Walsall
Also find: Friar Park fireplace installers, Fullbrook fireplace installers, Birchills fireplace installers, Bescot fireplace installers, Fishley fireplace installers, Stubbers Green fireplace installers, The Delves fireplace installers, The Chuckery fireplace installers, Rushall fireplace installers, Palfrey fireplace installers, Daisy Bank fireplace installers, Leamore fireplace installers, Great Barr fireplace installers, Shelfield fireplace installers and more. Companies who install fireplaces can be found in most of these towns and localities. Possessing the necessary experience and knowledge, these skilled tradesmen can adeptly install fireplaces in your property. The warmth, atmosphere and comfort that a fireplace brings to their living areas can be enjoyed by residents with the help and assistance of these dedicated experts. Local homeowners can obtain fireplace installation quotations by simply clicking here.
Walsall Fireplace Related Tasks
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