Fireplace Fitter East Malling Kent (ME19): Re-opening a disused fireplace to fit an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is a good way to add a homely feel and a bit of charm to your East Malling property. If you choose to combine your fireplace with a back boiler, not only can you enjoy the warmth and ambience of an open fire on those nippy winter evenings, you will also be supplied with lots of hot water.
Before you begin bashing away at a bricked-up chimney there are some things you'll need to consider to make sure you can install your new fireplace in an efficient and safe way. All work must comply with Part J of the Building Regulations, which addresses the installation and construction of flue linings, fireplaces, hearths and chimney breasts of any combustible appliance. If you are living in a designated conservation area or a listed building you should check with the local authorities to see if planning permission is required for a fireplace installation in your home.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
A basic restoration of a current fireplace can probably be achieved by a skilled do-it-yourselfer, however if any construction work is needed there's the possibility of encountering structural problems that need to be addressed professionally. It might be the case that when you pull back the boarding surrounding a disused fireplace to discover a hidden treasure which requires little more than a quick clean and a check from a chimney sweep to get a fire roaring once again. However, what you will likely discover is a pile of crumbling, old bricks that hides issues such as a lintel that needs replacing or a stopped up chimney.
If a fireplace is installed incorrectly there's not only a fire risk to your home, but there can also be health hazards, which is why it is best to bring in a specialist East Malling installation team for a fireplace. Airflow has to be adequate in any room in which a fireplace is to be installed; in fact it's a requirement in Part J of the Building Regulations that this is so. A fire will not burn efficiently if there is not enough oxygen, and death or serious injury could occur when carbon monoxide builds-up.
To get past this concern a professional fireplace installation team will assess the circumstances and install vents in the room, or underneath the floor, to guarantee a satisfactory air flow for the fire to combust safely and efficiently. They might also have to install vents in unused chimney flues which sometimes trap moist air and result in staining and damp spots on your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
Opening up an old fireplace can cause a lot of of dirt and soot to enter your room. Even with covers and other dust protection for your furniture, the risk of damage from grime and soot is still possible and it's advisable to remove your furniture, rugs and carpets before any fireplace restoration work starts. If your fireplace is being fitted as part of an overall renovation then it should be one of the initial things to be worked on once you have brought the room back to bare walls and floors. This will help to prevent any discolouration damage by soot and other chimney dirt to any completed work.
CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK
Now you can see the opening of your fireplace it is time to sweep and clean the hearth and chimney and identify what can be refurbished. The first item on your agenda will be to contact a decent chimney sweep. They will be able to provide professional advice on the flue and chimney after sweeping, regarding the state of the chimney structure and whether you need to swap the existing liner.
It may be vital to put in a new flue liner to observe the all important Building Regulations, and construction might also be required to reinforce the existing chimney and chimney breast. This sort of work needs to be accomplished by a skilled tradesperson who is familiar with the appropriate building regulations and decent working practices.
If you need to modify the size of opening of your original fireplace to something more suitable for your design, a lintel support should be installed. When your new lintel is in position and secure you can now get on with the renovation, updating and installation of the fireplace hearth. In past times the hearth would be sunken into a hole in the floor, but the current building regs require it to be raised above floor level. If your fireplace is of non-standard size you may have to purchase a made to measure hearth, however there are a wide variety of ready to fit hearths in concrete, marble or slate.
STYLE OF FIREPLACE
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be difficult when faced with the many shapes, styles and sizes that are available from an online retailer or fireplace showroom. It's possible that owing to your current chimney, flue and airflow to the room, that some fireplaces might not be appropriate, and it's advisable to follow the the recommendations and advice of the fireplace installer in this respect.
You home's age, and the theme you're trying to develop for your room, will all help you to determine the design and type of fireplace that is most suitable for you. As an example, a wood burner looks wonderful set back in an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, which highlights the character of the stove and also reflects the heat into the room to good effect.
If your East Malling property hasn't got a chimney breast you've still got the option of a fireplace feature by installing a wood burning or multi fuel stove. An existing chimney isn't needed since a stainless steel flue is fitted to the top or rear of the stove and routed through an external wall.
GAS, MULTI-FUEL, WOOD, OPEN OR ELECTRIC FIREPLACE?
A flickering fire on a cold evening creates an ambience and charm that simply can't be beaten, however what are the other available options to install in your new fireplace in East Malling?
Electric Fireplaces - A wide variety of electric fireplaces to complement pretty much any home in East Malling, can easily be fitted by any reasonable competent person. Modern electric fires can provide authentic looking flame effects and even the sound of crackling wood to replicate an open fire when inset into a conventional fireplace.
Open Fireplaces - A roaring fire is a focus for any room and it has the ability to burn virtually any solid fuel that you can purchase. An open fire is lovely to see and contemporary fireplaces are no longer the draughty, smoky and inefficient objects they were in the past.
Gas Fireplaces - There are a range of designs to suit all property types and their effectiveness in warming a room is superior to wood burning stoves or open fireplaces. A Gas Safe certified technician must maintain and install any gas fireplace in your home, (CORGI was replaced by Gas Safe registered qualification in 2009).
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Provides you with options to use coal, wood, gas and oil to deliver a multi-purpose heater for any home in East Malling. They can be utilised not merely for heating a single room, but some designs like the AGA range, can supply hot water, provide a useful cooking area and can be used to heat the complete property if they are plumbed into a radiator system.
Wood Burning Stoves - These have become very popular in many households in East Malling, and can have classic or modern design to match your decoration. A version with an integrated back boiler will supply extra heating by connecting the hot water to a radiator in a cold room of your home.
Fireplace installation work can be carried out in East Malling and also in nearby places like: Teston, Quarry Wood, Barming, Birling, Wrotham Heath, Ditton, Offham, Larkfield, West Malling, Mereworth, Addington, Kings Hill, Ryarsh, Wateringbury, as well as in these postcodes ME19 6SB, ME19 6PT, ME19 6JW, ME19 6JJ, ME19 6AW, ME19 6DW, ME19 6AL, ME19 6BH, ME19 6RS, and ME19 6SY. Fireplace companies from East Malling will normally have the phone code 01732 and the postcode ME19. This might be something to verify if you would like to make certain you hire a local fireplace company. East Malling property owners have the use of these and other fireplace services at any time the need arises. You can just click on the "quote" banner or form to get more specifics on fireplaces in the area.
Flue Linings
A flue liner is an important part of your chimney set-up, allowing it to function a lot more efficiently and improving the safety of your chimney. With the objective of carrying fumes safely to the outside of a property, flue liners are conduits made from clay, metal or ceramic material that are fitted to the inside of chimneys. Subject to their age and condition, older chimneys in East Malling may have to be relined, or may not be fitted with a lining at all.
The hazardous gases and fumes that are produced when you burn a fire can cause damage to your fireplace's flue. Your flue lining needs to be frequently inspected for damage and possible issues each time it is being cleaned. Instead of expelling those dangerous gases outdoors, a damaged flue can permit them to leak into your living area. There's an added threat with broken flue liners, in that they may allow extreme heat to penetrate the structure of the chimney, which could lead to fires.
Tips On How To Lower Your Heating Bill Plus Keep Your Open Fireplace In Good Shape
The traditional fireplace seems to have lost some of its glamour as a result of worries about the environment but it is still loved by many in East Malling. The natural warmth of a fireplace triggers very special recollections for those who have them. The fireplace provides numerous benefits for your home, but there are also a couple of major downsides that might need to be monitored. With the cost of energy increasing each year, your fireplace must give out heat in a cost-effective way. Although having a fire alight in a fireplace keeps those around it cosy, it can actually suck warm air from other parts of the room, causing your heat source to work harder. If there's no fire, a damper ought to manage the airflow. However, dampers are generally not very efficient seals, so a lot of the warm air escapes and enables cold air to enter the room.
Many house owners that currently have fireplaces in their property in East Malling don't understand how the fireplace can have an effect on their utility bill. Instead of managing the heating of a house naturally, a fireplace can in fact add hundreds of pounds to your heating bills. However, there are a number of techniques that you can do that can easily turn your budget smashing fireplace into something much more efficient. All you need to do is only 4 simple things boost the performance of your fireplace. All of these is going to make your fireplace very affordable and more efficient.
The first point is to change your existing fireplace damper with a more efficient top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is set up at the top end of your chimney which in turn also doubles as a storm door. The top sealing damper will keep the air in the home from leaking out and will work incredibly well in both warm and cold weather conditions. The seal is simple to install, and can be bought online. One more thing you will be able to do is fix a fire-back in the back part of your fireplace. A fire-back consists of cast iron and it is meant to shield the wall behind from fire damage, whilst making your fireplace look elegant. The fire-back absorbs the heat from a fire, and radiates it back into the room, increasing the efficiency of your fireplace.
Another option is to obtain a fireplace fan/heater, which draws cool air in and warms it up. These heaters are sealed systems, therefore no smoke is released, and they really can make a difference in the temperature of your home. The last thing you're able to do is to fix glass doors, which might be the most expensive option. If you do your homework, you can actually get an excellent deal on glass doors and they're not too challenging to install yourself. These glass doors help to prevent the heat from escaping and additionally it keeps pets and youngsters from getting burned.
Every one of these tips are simple to implement, and the required products can easily be found on the internet. Just do your best to keep your fireplace efficient and notice your heating bill go down.
Chimney Sweep East Malling
The routine sweeping of your chimney is essential if you've got a log burning stove or an open fire in your home in East Malling. Chimneys ought to be swept and cleaned at least once per year to keep them in safe working condition.
In order to get this work done correctly it is best to call in a professional East Malling chimney sweep. 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 promptly.
The build-up of ash and soot that results from failure to sweep a chimney in East Malling, can easily lead to a chimney fire. An equally dangerous situation that can arise as a result of a poorly maintained chimney is harmful carbon monoxide fumes flowing back into your home.
Make certain you choose a qualified chimney sweep in East Malling, and check that they are covered by public liability insurance in the event of accidents or damages. For chimney sweeping prices in East Malling GO HERE. You should also be able to get chimney sweeping services in nearby locations.
Skip Hire East Malling
Home refurbishments and garden makeovers make us feel a lot better about our lives and our properties in East Malling, but even so, as with almost everything that make us feel good there are certain drawbacks, and in this instance it's the heaps of waste that are created. When it comes to fireplace installations in East Malling, it will depend on the extent and specifics of your project. Sometimes there'll be a lot of waste, sometimes hardly any. In many instances the tradesperson you are hiring will happily remove the waste that's produced in the course of the work, but be warned - quite a few of them don't!
Regardless of whether the tradesman is dealing with this or you're doing it yourself, hiring a skip will usually be the best option for waste removal. Skips are available in many different sizes, so you ought to be able to get one that is ideal for you. Generally mini-skips hold about 2 cubic yards of waste, midi-skips hold about 4 cubic yards of waste, builders skips hold about 6 cubic yards of waste and roll-on-roll-off skips hold about 20 cubic yards of waste. Skip bags usually hold around 1-1.5 cubic yards of waste.
For skip hire prices in East Malling GO HERE.
East Malling Fireplace Related Tasks
There are a wide array of tasks that can be accomplished by your local East Malling fireplace installer including fireplace repairs in East Malling, flue liners, fireplace packages in East Malling, chimney modifications, fireplace hearths, modern fireplace installations, marble fireplaces, Victorian fireplace installations East Malling, inglenook fireplaces East Malling, fireplace inserts East Malling, bespoke fireplaces in East Malling, fireplace replacement, wood burning fireplace installation East Malling, cast iron fireplaces, Victorian fireplaces, electric fireplaces, chimney sweeping, oak beam fireplaces, stone fireplaces East Malling, double-sided stove installation East Malling, cast iron fireplace installations, fireplace mantels, multifuel stove installations, chimney repairs in East Malling, cheap fireplace installation, freestanding stoves, fireplace surrounds, chimney lining in East Malling, and lots more. These are just a small portion of the duties that are handled by tradesmen installing fireplaces. East Malling specialists will keep you informed about their entire range of fireplace services.
Fireplace Installers Near East Malling
Also find: Wrotham Heath fireplace installers, Barming fireplace installers, Ditton fireplace installers, Offham fireplace installers, Kings Hill fireplace installers, Ryarsh fireplace installers, Larkfield fireplace installers, West Malling fireplace installers, Quarry Wood fireplace installers, Addington fireplace installers, Birling fireplace installers, Teston fireplace installers, Mereworth fireplace installers, Wateringbury fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installation services are available in most of these places. With the requisite experience and knowledge, these versatile tradespeople are adept at adeptly installing fireplaces in your property. Residents can experience the ambiance, comfort and warmth that a fireplace brings to their living areas with the help of these dedicated specialists. By going here, local homeowners can get fireplace installation quotes. Therefore, there is no reason not to get started on your fireplace installation right away!
More East Malling Tradespeople: East Malling home improvements normally require the skills of many different craftsmen, and although you are currently interested in fireplace specialists in East Malling, an electrician in East Malling, a building contractor in East Malling, a handyman in East Malling, a carpenter in East Malling, metalworkers in East Malling, SKIP HIRE in East Malling, a bricklayer in East Malling, a roofing contractor in East Malling, a floor fitter in East Malling, a plasterer in East Malling, a stonemason in East Malling, a chimney sweep in East Malling, a plumber in East Malling, waste removal in East Malling, a painter and decorator in East Malling, a tiler in East Malling, could also be required at some stage during your venture.
Fireplaces East Malling
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Fireplace Installation East MallingTo get local information regarding East Malling, Kent click here
Fireplace installation in ME19 area, 01732.