Fireplace Fitter Widnes Cheshire (WA8): Opening up an old fireplace or having a new one installed is a good way to add a touch of character to any room in your house in Widnes. Providing that you have a ready source of fuel, adding an open fire or wood burning stove for those chilly winters' days can even be cheaper than a regular central heating system. Combine your fireplace with a back boiler and you can benefit from constant supplies of hot water for even more savings.
. All work must comply with Part J of the UK Building Regulations, which covers the installation and construction of chimney breasts, flue linings, hearths and fireplaces of any heating appliance. If you reside in a listed building you'll also have to find out if planning permission is necessary from the local council before any work begins.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
You might be capable of doing some of the work in renovating a bricked-up fireplace if you've got the skills needed, but there is always a problem in finding structural and safety issues that need to be resolved by a specialist. It might be that so as to get a fire roaring in your fireplace once again you will need little more than a quick clean up of the hearth and a visit from a chimney sweep. However, a flue that is blocked and old, crumbling brickwork that needs to be structurally reinforced is what you will more likely find.
Employing a professional fireplace installer in Widnes is normally recommended, as a fireplace that's wrongly installed can can cause a fire risk and respiratory health issues. Airflow must be adequate in any room which has a fireplace; in fact it's a requirement in the Building Regulations (Part J) that this is the case. Carbon monoxide fumes (which are deadly can build-up and become a problem in an inadequately ventilated area where an inefficently burning fire is installed.
It could be necessary to install airflow vents in walls and floors to allow the fireplace to receive ample oxygen to burn effectively and safely all the time. To avoid condensed air from becoming trapped in blocked off or unused chimney flues and producing damp spots and staining, vents may have to be fitted by the installation team to introduce some airflow.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
When re-opening an unused fireplace for refurbishing, you will probably be astonished at the magnitude of the dirt and soot that has built-up in your old chimney. A fireplace installer will bring dust sheets to cover up your home furnishings and supply a bit of protection, however it's wise where possible to remove furniture and carpets from the room before any work starts in earnest. If your fireplace is being fitted as part of an overall renovation then it should be one of the initial tasks to be worked on once you have got the room back to bare floors and walls. This helps prevent any discolouring damage to any renovated work you may have already done.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
Now that you're able to see the opening of your fireplace it is time to clean and sweep the hearth and chimney and work out what is fit for refurbishment. One of the first items on your to-do-list should be to contact a professional chimney sweep who operates in the Widnes area. They will not only make sure that your chimney and flue are nice and clean, but they can also assess the condition of the chimney and flue liner and provide guidance about whether you need to replace any area of the chimney and flue.
It may be vital to fit a new flue liner to observe the current UK Building Regulations, and work may also be required to beef up the existing chimney and breast. Experience in good construction practices and an awareness of the appropriate Building Regulations will be required by anybody who tackles this kind of renovation work, so you really need a skilled builder and shouldn't try to do this yourself.
If the size of the original fireplace is bigger than your requirements, a supporting concrete lintel should be put in. When you've successfully supported the fireplace with your lintel it is now necessary to upgrade or repair the hearth. You may find your existing hearth has been sunken into a floor void, however to conform to latest building regulations it must be raised above floor level. You can get bespoke options to fit pretty much any size and design of fireplace, or you can pick from a variety of common sized hearths to match your decor.
STYLES OF FIREPLACE
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be tricky amongst the many styles and designs available from an online store or fireplace showroom. The advice and recommendations from your fireplace installers, which will be in keeping with your specific requirements, will enable you to choose a fireplace which is both suitable for your chimney and flue, as well as for your decor.
Some rooms and homes will be more suited to an open fireplace than a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner and vice versa. For instance, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be a perfect backdrop to a classic cast iron wood-burner stove, highlighting its charm and reflecting heat back into the room.
A wood burner is also a good choice if you do not have a chimney breast in your Widnes property. An existing chimney isn't required as the flue is fitted to the top or rear of the stove and routed through an outside wall.
WOOD, ELECTRIC, GAS, MULTI-FUEL OR OPEN FIREPLACE?
Who doesn't enjoy the flickering of a natural fireplace on a cold evening, however if your circumstances do not allow for this, what are the other available options?
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves provide you with the option of using coal, oil, gas and wood to deliver a versatile stove for any house in Widnes. Some styles, like the AGA range, are also suitable for generating hot water, cooking and heating your whole home.
Gas Fireplaces - Available in a wide range of styles to suit any property and are typically more thermally efficient than wood burning stoves. Must be professionally installed and maintained by Gas Safe registered (replaced CORGI register in 2009) tradesman.
Wood Burning Stoves - Wood burners have become very popular in many homes in Widnes, and can have modern or classic styling to complement your decor. If fitted with a back boiler can provide hot water for radiators or for use in your house.
Open Fireplaces - Provides a focal point for any room and can be used with a variety of solid fuels. An expertly installed modern open fire will be no comparison to the old style smoky fireplace that was blocked up by previous owners, and its warm elegance is a delightful addition to any room in Widnes.
Electric Fireplaces - Simple installation and a varied choice of designs make electric fires a popular choice for Widnes properties without a chimney breast. Even if your room has a conventional fireplace, an electric fire can be fitted that looks almost like a "real" fire with an authentic flame effect.
Fireplace installation work can be undertaken in Widnes and also nearby in: Lunts Heath, Moss Bank, West Bank, Bold Heath, Gateacre, Appleton, Cuerdley Cross, Tarbock Green, Town End, Doe Green, Halsnead Park, and in these postcodes WA8 0EG, WA8 2AA, WA8 0BD, WA8 0WS, WA8 0EA, L35 1QZ, WA8 0SY, WA8 0DR, WA8 2BW, and WA8 0BH. It's likely that any fireplace fitters in the Widnes district will have the phone code 0151 and the postcode WA8. This is one thing you can verify if you favour using a local fireplace builder. Widnes homeowners have lots of choices when they're trying to find fireplace services. If you would like to obtain the installation of fireplaces information for your area, click the "QUOTE" banner or form.
Chimney Cowls Widnes
A chimney cowl is a hood-shaped cover that fits over the chimney pot to increase the draft and prevent smoke from backing up. It is generally made of galvanized iron and is designed to prevent the wind from blowing smoke down the chimney. It is an integral part of any fireplace. You should install a cowl on your chimney in Widnes if you want to enjoy the benefits of a fireplace.
A chimney cowl can also help protect your home and keep you safe. There are several types of chimney cowls available on the market, each designed to address different issues. Before you purchase one, consider a few aspects to ensure you get one that will help protect your home. Once you know what you need, you can then choose a chimney cowl based on your budget and needs.
One of the most common types of chimney cowls is the H-style. This style is the most effective at stabilizing the draft and allows your fireplace to function more efficiently. It is made from a series of H-shaped pipes that isolate the combustion gases from down drafts. It originally served marine applications but has become popular among homeowners due to its energy-saving functionality.
Another type is the Aerodyne cowl. It works by drawing air into the chimney cowl and reducing downdraught. It is available in a variety of colours. Its venturi shape draws air into the chimney cowl, creating a drop in air pressure that draws air upward from the stove. Other types of chimney cowl include: anti-downdraught chimney cowls, revolving chimney cowls, static chimney cowls, bonnet chimney cowls, aspirotor chimney cowls and birdguards.
Chimney cowls are a simple way to prevent birds from nesting in your chimney in Widnes. They are inexpensive and easy to install. You should make sure you have easy access to the area above the chimney to install one. It can also prevent debris from accumulating inside the chimney.
Fireplace Installation Help and Advice
By conducting a brief online search you can read numerous helpful articles about fireplace decoration, fireplace designs and fireplace installation - we found this engaging one about fireplace design ideas check this out. Visit Wikipedia to learn more information about fireplaces. To learn the right way to install a log burning stove you could study You Tube video tutorials like this. To get the low down on the most recent fireplace trends on social media, check this out. A forum is an excellent place to pick up useful information on fireplace installation, so it would be a good idea to have a look at the Buildhub Forum, topics comprise widening fireplaces, pellet boilers and stoves, log burning stoves, building regulations, chimney design and stove vents.
Browsing on the Internet
Searching online is the way that most people in Widnes hunt for any kind of tradesmen these days. With popular search engines such as Yahoo, Bing, Google or Ask, it is easy to get some instant results. In reality the listings displayed on the 1st page of the celebrated search engines might not be the particular results that you need. When looking for fireplace installers in Widnes, you will more than likely enter "fireplace installation near me", "Widnes fireplace installation", "fireplace installation in Widnes" or "fireplace installation Widnes" into a search engine and see what resulting listings this brings up.
It is best to bear in mind that the top 4 results are quite often pay per click (PPC) advertising and many of the other results on page one are going to be online directories like Cyclex, Yelp, Three Best Rated or Yell, or entries for major trade portals such as My Builder, Bidvine, Quotatis, Checkatrade, Rated People or TrustaTrader. Fireplace installers don't have big budgets to advance their own websites to the top of the positions, therefore you are likely to locate these out of sight farther down the search engine results possibly on the 2nd or 3rd pages. Rated People, Checkatrade and other trader vetting sites are still worth trying from time to time, because you can never have an excess of information, their reviews, customer feedback and free estimates can come in handy.
Widnes Fireplace Related Tasks
There is a wide range of work that can be completed by your local Widnes fireplace company including cheap fireplace installation in Widnes, fireplace surrounds, fireplace packages, outdoor fireplaces Widnes, chimney lining in Widnes, fireplace inserts, contemporary fireplaces Widnes, fireplace repairs, fire grate conversions in Widnes, fireplace services, modern fireplace installations, inset stoves in Widnes, wood burning fireplace installation, electric fireplaces, designer fireplaces Widnes, Regency fireplaces Widnes, chimney sweeping, fireplace installation, marble fireplace installation Widnes, oak beam fireplaces, wood burning fireplaces, traditional fireplaces Widnes, the installation of modern fireplaces in Widnes, corner fireplaces Widnes, limestone fireplace, hearth fireplaces Widnes, made-to-measure fireplaces, wood burning stove installation, cast iron fireplaces, open fireplaces, double-sided stove installations, period fireplaces Widnes, chimney cowl installation, Victorian fireplaces in Widnes, reclaimed fireplaces Widnes, and lots more. These are just an example of the activities that are undertaken by those installing fireplaces. Widnes companies will be happy to tell you about their full range of services.
Fireplace Installers Near Widnes
Also find: Gateacre fireplace installers, Bold Heath fireplace installers, Halsnead Park fireplace installers, Doe Green fireplace installers, West Bank fireplace installers, Town End fireplace installers, Appleton fireplace installers, Cuerdley Cross fireplace installers, Lunts Heath fireplace installers, Tarbock Green fireplace installers, Moss Bank fireplace installers and more. It is possible to get fireplaces installed in almost all of these towns and areas. These skilled tradesmen's know-how and experience make them well-suited for the correct installation of fireplaces in your property. Thanks to the support from these dedicated professionals, residents can relish the warmth and cosy atmosphere a fireplace provides in their living environments. To get fireplace installation quotes, local homeowners can click here.
Fireplaces Widnes
Fireplace Installers Near Me
Fireplace Installation WidnesFireplace installation in WA8 area, telephone code 0151.