Fireplace Fitter Bricket Wood Hertfordshire (AL2): Opening up an unused fireplace or having a new one installed is an excellent way to add a bit of charm to any room of your house in Bricket Wood. If you decide to add a back boiler to your brand new fireplace, you can not only delight in the ambience and warmth of an open fire or stove on those cold winter evenings, you will also be provided with plenty of steaming hot water.
There are some essential considerations you must keep in mind to achieve a safe and efficient fireplace, before you begin smashing down the walls of a bricked-up fireplace. Work that is conducted on the chimney breasts, hearths, flue linings and fireplaces of any heating appliances, must conform to Part J of the UK Building Regulations. If your home in Bricket Wood is a listed building or lies within a conservation area, planning permission could also be needed before work can begin. You will need to check this with the local authorities.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
If you're a keen DIYer it may be possible to renovate an existing bricked-up fireplace, however the chances of encountering structural problems in most cases is high. It might be that in order to get a fire roaring once more you need little more than a quick clean of the hearth and a sweeping of the chimney. If you are not so fortunate, you'll discover a wall of old, crumbling bricks that is covering a string of problems, like a stopped-up chimney or an old broken lintel.
If a fireplace is installed improperly there's not just a risk of fire to your property, but there can also be associated respiratory health hazards, which is why it is better to bring in a certified Bricket Wood installation company for fireplaces. According to the Building Regulations, a room that has a fireplace installed in it must have sufficient oxygen and airflow to allow the fire to burn properly and efficiently. An accumulation of deadly carbon monoxide gas can occur in an area where there is insufficient airflow, and even death is possible where a fire does not burn effectively.
To ensure suitable levels of oxygen are able to reach the fire at all times, and to effectively get over any issues with air flow, vents might be installed in the room during the installation of a fireplace. Flue vents may also have to be installed in blocked or unused chimney flues which can sometimes cause staining and damp areas on to your chimney breast, due to trapped moist air.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
It's surprising how much dust and soot can build up inside an old fireplace and chimney and you will not know exactly what's there until you open it up. A decent Bricket Wood fireplace fitter will bring dust sheets to cover up your home furnishings and supply some form of protection, but it's advisable when possible to remove carpets and furniture from the room before work commences. The opening up of a fireplace ought to be one of the initial things that you tackle, when it's part of a bigger refurbishment project. By opening a fireplace first you'll avoid any soot from the chimney causing discolouration damage to other phases of your project, such as fresh plaster or wallpapered walls.
CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK
Now that you're able to see the opening of your fireplace it is time to sweep and clean the hearth and chimney and see what can be repaired. One of the first items on your agenda should be to phone a professional chimney sweep who works in the Bricket Wood area. A chimney sweep will first clean the flue and while doing this can inspect the structural condition of the chimney and offer you guidance on whether you need a new flue lining.
Following a chimney sweep examination it may be required to install a new liner and/or strengthen the chimney breast as demanded by Part J of the UK Building Regulations. A reputable fireplace installer and builder in Bricket Wood will be required to perform this task, and will have the knowledge and skills in construction to closely follow all building regulations.
In an older building a concrete or steel lintel might be necessary to adapt the opening, if you find that the uncovered fireplace is too large. As soon as you have supported your fireplace with a lintel it will then be possible to renovate or update the hearth. If the current hearth is sunken into the floor you will have to raise it above floor level to conform to the latest Building Regulations for the UK. You can get bespoke options to fit virtually any style and size of fireplace, or you can select from a variety of common size and shape hearths to fit in with your decor.
FIREPLACE DESIGNS AND STYLES
You'll quickly discover that you're spoiled for choice, with the wide array of different choices that are available to you, once step through the door of a good fireplace outlet. The recommendations and advice from your fireplace installers, which will be in line with your specific requirements, will enable you to pick a fireplace which is both perfect for your chimney and flue, as well as for your home's decor.
Whether you go with a wood burner, a multi-fuel stove or an open fireplace will be based on the overall look you're seeking to develop, your existing decor and maybe, the age of your home in Bricket Wood. As an example, a wood burner looks fantastic set into an inglenook fireplace, which highlights the charm of the stove and also reflects the heat into the room to good effect.
It is still viable to install a multi-fuel or wood burning stove, even if there's no chimney in your Bricket Wood home. It is possible to take a stainless steel flue straight from the rear or top of the stove and out through an external wall, therefore a chimney structure is not necessary.
WOOD, MULTI-FUEL, GAS, OPEN OR ELECTRIC FIREPLACE?
The charm and ambience of a "real" fire can't be beaten, however what alternatives are out there if this kind of fireplace isn't possible within your Bricket Wood home?
Electric Fireplaces - Electric fireplaces can be fitted easily and safely by any competent person and there are styles and varieties which are suitable for any room and type of house in Bricket Wood. It can be hard to tell one from the genuine thing with with "real feel" electric fires, and they can readily be set into a conventional fireplace when that is what is required.
Open Fireplaces - This is the timeless fireplace, creating an eye-catching focal point for your room, and can be used to burn various different solid fuels, such as briquettes, wood, coal and anthracite nuts nuts. Being a far cry from the smoky old fireplaces of yesteryear, a modern, expertly installed open fire can provide a cosy and warm environment in any Bricket Wood home.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - As the name implies they can be used with various fuels, such as gas, oil, coal or wood, and become an attractive focal point in any lounge or kitchen in Bricket Wood. These stoves can be used not merely for heating an individual room, but some types such as the AGA collection, can supply hot water, provide a useful cooking area and can be used to heat the whole house when plumbed into a network of radiators.
Gas Fireplaces - More thermally efficient than multi-fuel stoves or wood burners, gas fires come in an assortment of styles to complement your home in Bricket Wood. Must be professionally fitted and maintained by Gas Safe certified (previously CORGI registered) engineer.
Wood Burning Stoves - These have grown to be very popular in a lot of homes in Bricket Wood, and can have modern or classic design to suit your decoration. If used alongside a back boiler they can provide hot water to heat radiators or for use in your house.
Natural Stone Fireplaces Bricket Wood
You could always think about bringing the outdoors inside, and build a natural stone fireplace, which is a great way to achieve a truly dramatic look. A stone facade or boundary wall could already be a natural stone feature of your home's exterior areas. Why don't you match those natural features on the inside of your property?
Either full-depth stone or thinner stone cladding can be used to create a stone fireplace. Your taste and spending budget could influence your choice. There are also various different stone types which can be used for building a fireplace, including: marble, slate, quartz, limestone, sandstone or granite.
How your new fireplace looks, will be affected by the building technique (dry stone or mortar jointed), the individuality of the craftsman or stonemason who builds it and the kind of stone which is used. Pick a style and design that you like, and show the fireplace builder some pictures before they start the project.
There is no doubt that stone fireplaces are usually more suitable for older properties, and can be somewhat too striking and dominant for a modern home. But the choice, as they say, is yours to make.
Flue Liners
A chimney liner or flu liner is an essential part of the chimney system on your home, allowing it to operate a lot more effectively than it would without one, and improving it's overall safety. Flue liners are conduits manufactured from ceramic material, metal or clay that are installed inside chimneys to carry toxic fumes outside. There's a reasonable possibility that if your home in Bricket Wood is quite old, the chimney might not even have a lining, and even if it does it will very likely need a replacement.
As a fire is burning, some harmful gases are created, and the flue inside your chimney can be impaired and eaten away and harmed by these gases. An excellent time to check for potential issues and damage is while your chimney is being swept and cleaned - so ask your sweep to do this. You need to prevent those dangerous gases from seeping into your home's living space, which is exactly what can happen when a flue is compromised. There can be an increased potential for house fires when flu liners are defective, as intensive heat can reach the chimney structure, sometimes with lethal results.
Chimney Cowls
A chimney cowl is a hood-shaped cover that can be installed over your chimney pot to increase the draft and stop smoke from backing up your chimney. Often made from galvanised iron, the chimney cowl is designed to stop the wind blowing smoke down the chimney and causing an issue. This should be an integral element of any fireplace in Bricket Wood. If you want to enjoy the many benefits of a fireplace, you should fit a cowl to your chimney in Bricket Wood.
There are several kinds of chimney cowl available. There are pot hanging cowls that can be installed without removing the chimney pot. They hook up with the flue liner by means of three straps, which secure the cowl in place. Another type of cowl is a weathering cap, which is mounted on the end of the flue. It is larger than the chimney pot, which makes certain that it remains in place.
One of the most common sorts of chimney cowls is known as the H-style. This pattern is one of the best for controlling the draught and enables your fireplace to function more efficiently. It is made from 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 due to its energy-saving attributes.
Another kind is the Aerodyne cowl. It works by drawing air into the chimney cowl and reducing downdraught. These are available in a variety of colours. Its venturi shape draws air into the chimney cowl, creating a drop in air pressure that draws air upwards from the stove. Other types of chimney cowl include: birdguards, static chimney cowls, revolving chimney cowls, bonnet chimney cowls, aspirotor chimney cowls and anti-downdraught chimney cowls.
Chimney cowls are an easy way to stop birds from nesting in your chimney in Bricket Wood. They are inexpensive and easy to install. You should make sure you have easy access to the area above the chimney to fit one effectively. It can also prevent dirt and debris from building up inside your chimney.
Bricket Wood Fireplace Related Tasks
The assortment of tasks and services that can be conducted by your local fireplace fitter are wide and varied, and should include things like electric fireplace installations in Bricket Wood, fake fireplace installation, Victorian fireplace installation Bricket Wood, fireplace removal, the installation of disigner fireplaces, fireplace installation, fireplace cleaning, reclaimed fireplaces Bricket Wood, two-sided fireplaces in Bricket Wood, classic fireplaces, chimney modifications, fireplace services, marble fireplaces, contemporary fireplaces Bricket Wood, fireplace inserts in Bricket Wood, fireplace hearths, designer fireplaces, gas fireplace installations, timber mantels, stone fireplaces, fire grate conversions, Regency fireplaces Bricket Wood, brick fireplaces, fireplace restoration, fireplace design, double-sided stove installation, reclaimed fireplace installations, outdoor fireplaces Bricket Wood, chimney sweeping, cast iron fireplaces, electric fire baskets, period fireplace installations, wood burning fireplace installations, fireplace suites, flue liner installation, and others not mentioned here. Bricket Wood professionals providing these types of fireplace services, will supply you with a full-blown list on request. If there are different Bricket Wood fireplace requirements that you are searching for but don't find here, you should list them on the QUOTE FORM provided.
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Fireplace Installers Near Bricket Wood
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