Fireplace Fitter Abbey Wood Greater London (SE2): Re-opening up an unused fireplace or having a new one put in is an excellent way to add character to any room of your property in Abbey Wood. Provided that you have a regular supply of timber or fuel, adding a multi-fuel stove or open fire for those chilly winters' evenings can even prove to be more economical than conventional central heating systems. Combine your fireplace with a back boiler and you'll benefit from supplies of endless hot water for even more savings.
Before you start prising away at a blocked up chimney there are a few things you'll need to think about to make sure you can safely install and use your new fireplace. Work conducted on the chimney breasts, fireplaces, flue linings and hearths of any heating appliances, must abide by Part J of the UK's Building Regulations. Planning permission may also be needed before work begins if your property is in a conservation area or is a listed building.
PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
When renovating an existing bricked-up fireplace, there's a pretty good chance of coming across structural issues, therefore even if you are an enthusiastic DIYer you could find this work difficult. You might find that the chimney breast, hearth and lintel are in good condition, once you have pulled back the boarding surrounding the old fireplace, and the hidden treasure beneath needs nothing more than a clean by a chimney sweep. It is far more likely however, that you will find a blocked flue and an expanse of crumbling, old brickwork that needs to be to be reinforced structurally to make it safe.
It's normally best to look to the experience and knowledge of a specialist fireplace fitter in Abbey Wood, on account of the severe health and fire risk issues that can be caused by an incorrectly fitted or renovated fireplace. As mentioned in the Building Regulations for fireplaces, the airflow in a room must be adequate where a fireplace is installed, because in order to burn efficiently, a sufficient level of oxygen is required. A fire will not burn properly if there is not enough oxygen, and death could occur if carbon monoxide gas builds-up.
To get past this concern a fireplace specialist in Abbey Wood will evaluate the circumstances and install vents around the room, or underneath the floors, to ensure a sufficient amount of air flow for the fire to burn safely and effectively. To prevent condensed air from becoming trapped in blocked off or unused chimney flues and causing damp spots and staining, vents may need to be fitted by the fireplace installation team to enhance the airflow.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
A substantial amount of soot and other dirt can be released from a bricked up fireplace when opening it up for renovation. To make certain that your belongings don't get impaired by the dust, grime and soot that's discharged during the fireplace installation project, removing carpets, rugs and furniture in advance is strongly recommended. Because of the mess involved, if the fireplace installation is only a part of a more extensive restoration project, it should be one of the initial tasks to be done after the room has been taken back to bare walls and floors in preparation. This avoids any discolouring damage to any renovated work you might have already finished.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
You will be able to sweep and clean the hearth and chimney and figure out what is fit for restoring, as soon as the fireplace has been opened up. One of the very first things on your to-do-list should be to contact a local chimney sweep who operates in and around Abbey Wood. After cleaning and sweeping, they will offer professional advice on the condition of your flue and chimney structure, and let you know if there are parts that need to be exchanged.
If you need to install a new flue liner or strengthen the chimney all Building Regulations must be complied with. A qualified craftsman with experience of the Building Regs and decent construction techniques will need to carry out this work.
It is quite likely that a concrete supporting lintel will have to be installed, if the measurements of the revealed fireplace is bigger than your needs. And after that process, replacing or upgrading the hearth will be the next step in your fireplace renovation project in Abbey Wood. You may find your existing hearth has been sunken into the floor, but to be in accordance with latest Building Regulations it is required to be raised at least 12.5mm above floor level. You can get custom-made options to fit any design and size of fireplace, or you can choose from a range of common sized hearths to match your decor.
FIREPLACE STYLES AND DESIGNS
Choosing your ideal fireplace can be difficult when faced with the many designs and styles available from an online retailer or fireplace showroom. The advice and suggestions from your installation team, which will be specific to your requirements, will help you to pick a fireplace that is both perfect for your chimney and flue, and suited to your home's decor.
Some homes and rooms will be more suited to open fireplaces than a wood burner or multi fuel stove and vice versa. For example, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be an ideal backdrop to a classic cast iron wood burning stove, highlighting its charm and reflecting heat back into the room.
You still have possibilities for a fireplace feature by putting in a wood burner stove, even if your Abbey Wood home hasn't got a chimney. As a stainless steel flue can be passed through an external wall and doesn't need an existing chimney, it is still feasible to put in this type of fireplace.
OPEN, ELECTRIC, GAS, WOOD OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
Who doesn't enjoy the glow and warmth of a natural fireplace on a dark winters' evening, but if your circumstances do not permit this, what other options are on offer?
Electric Fireplaces - Basic installation and a diverse choice of styles make electric fires the obvious choice for Abbey Wood homes that don't have a chimney breast. Today's electric fires can be installed in your property, even if you have a regular fireplace, and many of them look pretty much like an authentic fire with crackling sound effects and dancing flames.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Using an assortment of fuels such as wood, smokeless coal, gas or oil, a multi-fuel stove can become an interesting focal point in your lounge or kitchen. These products can be used not just for heating an individual room, but some types like the AGA collection, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be used for heating the entire property if plumbed into a radiator system.
Gas Fireplaces - Available in a variety of styles to suit your property and are more efficient (thermally) than wood burners. Have to be professionally fitted and maintained by a Gas Safe registered tradesperson.
Open Fireplaces - Having the ability to burn almost any solid fuel that's available to purchase, the open fireplace can provide a crackling fire as a great focal point for a room or living space. Luckily, contemporary fireplaces are not the inefficient, smoky and draughty features that they were previously, and an open fire creates a cosy and warm atmosphere for the occupants to enjoy.
Wood Burning Stoves - These stoves come in modern or traditional designs to suit the decor of your home, and they have become very popular in many homes in Abbey Wood. A version with an integrated back boiler will deliver additional heating capabilities by transferring the hot water to radiators in cold rooms in your house.
Fireplace fitters are available in Avery Hill, Plumstead, Belvedere, Polthorne Estate, Welling, Slade Green, Lessness Heath, Northumberland Heath, West Heath, in these nearby postcodes: , SE2 9EZ, SE2 0YH, SE2 9RY, SE2 9NH, DA17 5DT, SE2 9JJ, SE2 9QT, SE2 9RG, and SE2 9HD, plus in Abbey Wood itself. Abbey Wood fireplace installers should have the telephone dialling code 020 and the postcode SE2. Abbey Wood property owners have plenty of choices when they are searching for fireplace services.
Chimney Cowls Abbey Wood
The hood-shaped cover that fits over the chimney to increase the draft and stop smoke from backing up is referred to as a chimney cowl. It's normally made from galvanized iron and its purpose is to prevent the wind blowing smoke down the chimney. It's a fundamental part of any fireplace. To enjoy the benefits of a fireplace, it's recommended that you add a cowl to your chimney.
There are several kinds of chimney cowl on the market. There are pot hanging cowls that can be installed without the need to remove the chimney pot. They hook up with the flue liner by means of three straps, which secure the cowl in position. Another style of cowl is a weathering cap, which is mounted on the end of the flue. These are larger than the chimney pot, which ensures that they stay in position.
You can also find chimney cowls made from run-of-the-mill objects, such as a stainless steel colander or steel bucket. Ordinary chicken mesh can also be used to make a fairly effective cowl. Clay flower pots also make great chimney cowls. These products can easily be purchased on the web or at your local hardware store.
One of the most common types of chimney cowl is referred to as the H-style. This style is one of the best for stabilising the draught and allows your fireplace to function more efficiently. It's made out of a series of H-shaped pipes that isolate the combustion gases from down draughts. It originally served marine applications, but has become popular among property owners because of its energy-saving attributes.
Another type is the Aerodyne cowl. It works by drawing air into the chimney cowl and reducing downdraught. It is available in a number of colours. Its venturi shape draws air into the chimney cowl, creating a drop in air pressure that draws air upward from the stove or fireplace. Other types of chimney cowl include: bonnet chimney cowls, aspirotor chimney cowls, spinning chimney cowls, birdguards, static chimney cowls and anti-downdraught chimney cowls.
Chimney cowls are an easy way to prevent birds building nests in your chimney in Abbey Wood. They are reasonably priced and simple to install. You should ensure that you have easy access to the area above the chimney to install one effectively. It can also stop debris from building up inside your chimney. Ask your local fireplace installer in Abbey Wood if they can fit a suitable chimney cowl for you.
Natural Stone Fireplaces Abbey Wood
As fireplaces go, some homeowners want to go for that truly dramatic look, and there's no better way to do that, than by building a natural stone fireplace. There may already be some natural features on the external areas of your house, a boundary wall or stone facade, for instance? Your fireplace inside, could match those features outside.
Subject to your taste and price range, it's possible to create a stone fireplace with either stone cladding or full depth stone. The kinds of natural stone that can be used are numerous. Pick from marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, slate or limestone.
The exact appearance of your completed fireplace will depend on the methodology used by the stonemason or tradesperson who builds it, the type of stone that's used and the method of building (mortar built or dry stone). You should get some images prepared of the sort of design you are searching for, and before work begins, you can show them to your fireplace company.
Many modern dwellings are not really suited to the look of a stone fireplace, mainly because stone has such a striking appearance, and can dominate the look of an area. However, each individual homeowner has their own preferences and taste, therefore it's for them to decide.
Abbey Wood Fireplace Related Tasks
Your local fireplace installer can carry out a whole host of tasks and services including contemporary fireplaces Abbey Wood, chimney lining, classic fireplaces in Abbey Wood, cheap fireplace installation, fire grate conversions Abbey Wood, chimney modifications, period fireplaces, corner fireplaces Abbey Wood, fireplaces, chimney sweeping Abbey Wood, tiled fireplaces Abbey Wood, Victorian fireplace installation, wood burning fireplace installation, three-sided fireplaces, double-sided stove installations, gas fireplace installation Abbey Wood, built-in gas fires, designer fireplaces Abbey Wood, electric fireplaces, fake fireplace installations, fireplace surrounds Abbey Wood, chimney repairs, hearth fireplaces, freestanding stoves, fireplacequotes, Regency fireplaces Abbey Wood, stone fireplaces, cast fireplaces, traditional fireplaces Abbey Wood, marble fireplace installations, oak beam fireplaces, multifuel & wood burning stove installation Abbey Wood, outdoor fireplaces Abbey Wood, 2-sided fireplaces, fireplace cleaning Abbey Wood, Victorian fireplaces Abbey Wood, and more. When it comes to what's available, this is by no means an all-embracing list of what can be provided by the local fireplace fitter. You could maybe go to this QUOTE FORM and fill out your details, if you have other Abbey Wood fireplace requirements that you are searching for but don't see here.
Leaving a Review
Abbey Wood businesses have always relied on favourable feedback to gain new customers and build their local presence, however these days it is even more vital, and having good online reviews and feedback is an important part of this process. If somebody you have hired has done a decent job, tell others about how they did, by leaving them a nice review and sharing your experience with the world. Both possible clients and the business itself can gain benefits from you recounting your personal experience in this manner. Cast your mind back to when you were searching for somebody to do your work and how good or bad reviews helped you to decide. You might have looked elsewhere if a specific company was lacking some decent feedback and reviews, even if their official company website seemed to be outstanding.
But, when you're on a company's own website, how can the so called customer reviews you see be relied on? Are such glowing reviews written by "real" clients who were satisfied with the services they received, or were they composed by a company employee?
Rather than trusting these, you should check out the reviews on Google My Business listings, where you'll find more genuine and honest reviews on services and companies in Abbey Wood. To discover a company's reputation and also influence a business's search engine ranking, most would agree that this is THE review website. When looking to leave reviews for local companies in Abbey Wood, the 2nd largest review platform is Bing Places for Business, which is Google My Business's big competitor. Your positive review here will establish an overall picture of the company that worked on your fireplace installation project and help to raise their local profile.
Company reviews can also be posted on Twitter and Facebook, which are excellent spots leaving comments. Social media sites such as this will play a key role in any small company's advertising. If you add your positive reviews, this can help strengthen their message.
Those of you who would rather go 'traditional' can obviously send in a hand-drafted thank you letter instead. These could be mounted in a frame or gathered together to build a portfolio of reviews for face to face meetings with potential clients, or photographed for use on their website. The reality that your positive review may have helped a small business to get more customers and gain credibility in the local Abbey Wood marketplace is reward in itself.
Searching On the Web
Searching online is the way that most people in Abbey Wood hunt for any sort of services or tradesmen in this day and age. You can obtain instant results with the use of Bing, Ask, Google or Yahoo, and indeed that is the beauty of today's search engines. Sometimes the page one results offered aren't actually what you'd expected when making use of such search engines. When trying to find fireplace installers in Abbey Wood most householders will type in "Abbey Wood fireplace installation", "fireplace installation in Abbey Wood", "fireplace installation Abbey Wood" or "fireplace installation near me", and go through the results.
Unfortunately, you'll subsequently realise that many of the consequential page one listings on these search engines are either going to be listings from corporate lead creation sites such as Rated People, Quotatis, Bidvine, Checkatrade, TrustaTrader or My Hammer, online directories like Yell, Hotfrog, 3 Best Rated or Yelp, or PPC advertising that the search engine has for profit positioned there. Without big budgets for search engine optimization so as to move their websites further up the ratings, the majority of fireplace installers will be abandoned on the second or third pages of the search engine results.
Fireplace Installers Near Abbey Wood
Also find: Welling fireplace installers, Lessness Heath fireplace installers, Slade Green fireplace installers, Polthorne Estate fireplace installers, West Heath fireplace installers, Plumstead fireplace installers, Belvedere fireplace installers, Northumberland Heath fireplace installers, Avery Hill fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installation services are widely available in almost all of these towns and villages. To adeptly install fireplaces in your property, these skilled tradesmen have the necessary knowledge and experience. Residents, with the help of these committed professionals, can experience the warmth, comfort and ambiance a fireplace adds to their homes. Local property owners can get fireplace installation estimates by clicking here. Need a new fireplace? Don't delay - get a quote today!
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Fireplace installation in SE2 area, and dialling code 020.
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