Fireplace Fitter Hampstead Greater London (NW3): A splendid way to add some charm to any Hampstead property is by the installation of a new fireplace, or the restoration of an existing one. Nippy winter evenings can become very enjoyable as you sit back beside your new fireplace listening to the crackle of a burning fire, and if your fire is combined with a back boiler you can also enjoy steaming hot water too.
There are some things that you will need to do to make sure you can install your new fireplace in a safe and efficient way, before you begin prising away at a blocked chimney breast. All work must abide by Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, which addresses the construction and installation of chimney breasts, hearths, flue linings and fireplaces of any heat producing appliance.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
If you're a keen DIYer it might be quite possible to renovate an existing bricked-up or blocked fireplace, but the likelihood of encountering structural problems in most cases is unfortunately high. You may discover that the chimney breast, hearth and lintel are in fine shape, when you've exposed your old fireplace, and the hidden gem that lies beneath needs little more than a clean by a chimney sweep. If you aren't so lucky, you'll discover a wall of crumbling bricks that's hiding a litany of problems, like a stopped-up chimney or a broken old lintel.
Using a certified fireplace fitter in Hampstead is widely recommended, as an incorrectly fitted fireplace can cause serious risk of fire and respiratory health conditions. As mentioned in the Building Regulations for fireplaces, there must be enough airflow in a room where there's a fireplace, because in order to burn properly, a sufficient amount of oxygen is required. Carbon monoxide fumes (which are poisonous can accumulate in an inadequately ventilated room where an inefficently burning fire is installed.
A competent fireplace installation team will assess the situation at hand and overcome this problem to guarantee a sufficient air flow for the fireplace to combust safely and properly, by installing vents around the room, or under the floors. To prevent condensed air becoming trapped in blocked off or unused chimney flues and producing staining and damp spots, flue vents might need to be fitted by the fireplace installation team to enhance the airflow.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
An enormous amount of soot and dust can be discharged from a blocked up fireplace upon opening it up for restoration. It's a good idea where possible to remove woven floor coverings and furniture from the area before the commencement of any work, although a fireplace installer will bring coverings for for your furniture. Due to the mess involved, if the fireplace installation is merely part of a more extensive restoration project, it should be one of the initial things that you do. This should help to avoid any impairment by soot and dirt to any completed restoration work.
CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK
Once you have opened up your fireplace you'll have a far better idea of the work that is required, and also be in a position to rigorously sweep the chimney and clean up any hearth that remains in place. If you haven't already done so, you should now make contact with the local Hampstead chimney sweep. A professional chimney sweep will first of all clean the flue and while doing this will be able to check the condition of the chimney and provide you with guidance on whether you need a new flue lining.
Construction might be essential to reinforce the original chimney and breast, and a new flue lining may also need to be fitted. All of this work will need to comply with the all important Building Regulations which are of course there for your safety. This sort of work should be done by a skilled person with experience of the Building Regulations and good construction practices.
And after this, restoring or replacing the hearth should be the next phase of your fireplace installation in Hampstead. You might find your existing hearth has been sunken into a void in the floor, but to be in accordance with latest regulations it is required to be raised at least 12.5mm above floor level. Off-the-shelf options from slate, stone or marble are available on the market to achieve this, or your fireplace builder in Hampstead might be able to offer you a bespoke, tailor-made hearth to match your room style.
DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be challenging when faced with the different styles available from an online store 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 appropriate for your existing chimney and flue, as well as for your decor.
Certain rooms and homes will look better with an open fireplace than a multi-fuel or wood burning stove and vice versa. If you are lucky enough to have a property with an inglenook fireplace for example, this can be an ideal setting for a classic iron wood-burner stove. This won't only deflect any heat that's produced back into the room, but will also put the focus on the beauty and charm of the stove.
You've still got options for a feature fireplace by by having a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner installed, even if your Hampstead property hasn't got a chimney. You do not need a chimney breast to experience a genuine fire, provided that you have an exterior wall which can have a flue routed through it.
WOOD, GAS, MULTI-FUEL, ELECTRIC OR OPEN FIREPLACE?
If this style of fireplace is not suitable for your Hampstead home, what other choices are available?
Gas Fireplaces - There are a range of different designs to suit all types of home and their effectiveness in warming a room is better than wood burning stoves or open fireplaces. Have to be professionally maintained and fitted by Gas Safe registered (replaced CORGI register in 2009) technician.
Electric Fireplaces - A wide variety of electric fireplaces to suit any property in Hampstead, can easily be fitted by any competent person. They can be set into traditional fireplaces, and with "real feel" electric fires it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from the genuine thing.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves provide you with the option of burning coal, wood, oil and gas to deliver a multi-purpose stove for any property in Hampstead. If you choose something like the AGA range of multi-fuel stoves, you can get supplied with hot water, do cooking, and when connected to your radiator system, heat the whole house.
Wood Burning Stoves - A wide array of styles to complement any kind of house in Hampstead, and can even be freestanding. When used in conjunction with a back boiler, these kinds of stoves can provide extra heating capabilities by connecting the heated water to a colder area of your property by way of radiators.
Open Fireplaces - Can be used with an assortment of solid fuels, and provides a focal point for any room in your home. Modern fireplaces are not the draughty, smoky and inefficient features that they used to be, and an open fire creates a cosy and warm atmosphere for the enjoyment of its occupants.
Fireplace installation work can be carried out in Hampstead and also nearby in: Kentish Town, Highgate, Hampstead Heath, Frognal, Belsize Park, Childs Hill, Fortune Green, Golders Green, Gospel Oak, together with these postcodes , NW3 1LG, NW3 2AE, NW3 1EA, NW3 1NG, NW3 1AB, NW3 1HS, NW3 2AN, NW3 1SU, and NW3 1AA. A couple of hints which suggest that a fireplace installer works in Hampstead area is if they have the phone code 020 and the postcode NW3. Hampstead property owners can use and benefit from these fireplace services.
Chimney Cowl Installation Hampstead
To increase draft and prevent back-up, a chimney cowl is a hood-shaped covering for your chimney. Fitting neatly on top of your chimney pot, and usually manufactured from galvanized iron, it stops the wind blowing smoke back down your chimney. It can be found online or in a hardware store. A chimney cowl will keep your stove or fireplace working efficiently, whether you decide to invest in a new one or improve the performance of an existing one.
There are several types of chimney cowl available. There are pot hanging cowls that can be installed without removing the chimney pot. They connect to the flue liner via three straps, which secure the cowl in place. Another style of cowl is a weathering cap, which is attached to the end of the flue system. These are larger than the chimney pot, which makes sure that they stay in place.
You can also find chimney cowls made from commonplace objects, like a stainless steel colander or steel bucket. Ordinary chicken wire can also be used to make a cowl. Clay flower pots also make good chimney cowls. These products can easily be purchased on the internet or at your local hardware store.
Chimney cowls are a simple way to prevent birds from nesting in your chimney in Hampstead. They're inexpensive and easy to install. You should make sure that you have easy access to the area above the chimney to install one. It can also stop dirt and debris from building up inside the chimney. Ask your local fireplace installer in Hampstead if they can fit a suitable chimney cowl for you.
Fireplace Inserts
Among property owners in Hampstead looking to enhance their conventional fireplaces, fireplace inserts are a widely favoured choice. To enhance the efficiency of a fireplace, these inserts have been devised to direct more heat into the room and reduce heat loss. These inserts offer a more practical and safe way to experience the allure of a fire, without the fuss and untidiness associated with conventional wood-burning fireplaces.
Fireplace inserts are offered in an array of designs and sizes, including gas, electric and wood-burning models. While gas fireplace inserts are effortless to use and need minimal maintenance, electric inserts offer convenience and flexibility with their variable settings and remote control. Householders who value the genuine crackling fire experience and the fragrance of burning wood will appreciate wood-burning inserts as an excellent option.
Fireplace inserts not only provide convenience and efficiency but are also environmentally friendly. Efficient fuel burning and fewer emissions production are used to decrease the amount of air pollution caused by traditional fireplaces.
Having a professional installation is crucial to guarantee the correct and safe installation of a fireplace insert. Fireplace inserts are a worthwhile investment for property owners looking to enhance the convenience, comfort, and value of their home, offering numerous benefits. Enhancing home comfort and reducing heating bills can be achieved with fireplace inserts, which direct more heat into the room and reduce heat loss. When considering different kinds of fireplace inserts, it is essential to keep in mind that they may require different methods of venting. A professional consultation is essential for householders to determine the most suitable venting system for their specific fireplace insert, as well as for proper installation and safety measures.
Flues
Installed to boost the safety and efficiency of your chimney system, a chimney or flue liner is vital and shouldn't be overlooked in any circumstances. Flue liners are conduits manufactured from clay, metal or ceramic material which are installed inside chimneys to transport toxic fumes outside. Some chimneys in older properties in Hampstead might not even have a lining, or if the existing lining is compromised, may need to be relined.
The dangerous gases which are generated when you burn a fire can impair your fireplace's flue lining. Whilst it is being cleaned, get the chimney sweep or fireplace specialist to inspect your flue lining for any impairment or any prospects of it failing in the future. A broken flue can enable those harmful gases to penetrate your property. There is an increased likelihood of house fires when flu liners are defective, because fierce heat can reach the actual structure of the chimney, sometimes with deadly results.
Tips To Look After Your Open Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Costs
With all of the current concerns about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost a little of its allure, but it's still a favourite feature for many in Hampstead. The natural ambiance of a fireplace invokes very special remembrances for those who've got them. Having a fireplace has its many perks and benefits but there are also a few negative aspects that could have an impact on its performance. Because of energy costs increasing so quickly nowadays, your open fireplace needs to be a reliable source of heat, not one of inefficiency. When a fire is burning, it may possibly provide warmth for those who are standing near it, but it can in fact pull warm air out of your room, making your heater work even more. The fireplace damper is expected to prevent cold air from entering your home when you don't have a fire in the fireplace. Often times though, fireplace dampers are renowned for being inefficient in keeping cold air out, and warm air in.
What the majority of householders in Hampstead don't know about their fireplace is that it does not always do exactly what they assume it's doing. Rather than keeping heating charges down, it can actually do the exact reverse if one is not careful. There is a way to take your less than efficient fireplace, and make it into a heat creating system that your budget will love. There are at least 4 basic elements that you can do to improve your fireplace. These should make your fireplace very affordable and more efficient.
The first step is to take out your existing damper and swap it for a new top sealing damper. This form of damper is placed near the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain and snow from entering. The top sealing damper helps to keep the air in the property from getting away and operates remarkably well in both cold and hot weather conditions. This doesn't take lots of time to fit and you can find one online. Next, you should have a fire-back in the rear area of your open fireplace. A fire-back is made of cast iron and it is meant to protect the back wall from fire damage, while at the same time making your fireplace look elegant. The fire-back essentially heats up from the fire and sends the heat back into a room, thus improving the fireplace's efficiency.
The next thing that could also help is a fireplace heater/fan, which heats the air that's being circulated through a chamber, and blows it back into the room. These heating devices do not produce any smoke and can be extremely effective in keeping your property warm and toasty. The last and final thing that you can do is to fit glass doors, which could be your biggest expense. Searching around, you ought to be able to locate a great deal, and with clear instructions, you can even put them in on your own. Glass fireplace doors will keep the air in your home from escaping up the chimney and it also helps to save your family from fires.
All these ideas are easy to implement, and the products can be sourced online. Simply do your utmost to ensure your fireplace is efficient and watch your heating bills go down.
Chimney Sweeping Hampstead
The regular sweeping of your chimney is essential if you've got a log burning stove or an open fire in your house in Hampstead. At least once every year is the advice for chimney sweeping.
You should always call in a specialist Hampstead chimney sweep, because this is a messy job. A competent chimney sweep won't only clean your chimney but in addition be on the lookout for safety issues and other problems.
A chimney fire could easily be caused by a build-up of soot and ash if this is not removed by sweeping. Another dangerous situation that you want to avoid at all costs is harmful carbon monoxide fumes being drawn back into your property, which can also be caused by a badly maintained chimney.
Check that your chosen chimney sweep in Hampstead is adequately covered by public liability insurance, and is qualified in this field. To get a chimney swept in Hampstead, GO HERE for a quote. You can also get chimney sweeping done in nearby locations and areas.
Friends & Family Recommendations
When you're trying to find professionals for any project or service, it is always extremely helpful to turn to friends and relatives for recommendations. To identify someone who is perfect for your requirements, and to point a finger at inferior fireplace contractors and companies that have terrible service records, word of mouth references are usually the preferred solution.
Asking an acquaintance or family member for feedback also means that you can find out whether anything went awry, how speedily mistakes were resolved, and what the contractor's attitude was like. Additionally you can get an insight into the time keeping and reliability of the fireplace fitter. You can also get a perception of how accurate was the original estimate when compared with the final price. which can be difficult to get from the installers themselves unless they've got some form of guaranteed price promise.
You can rely on your relatives and friends to be honest and truthful, so they should be your first point of reference when it comes to advice. If you find that it's difficult to get details on a specific contractor or company, it is likely because they have had an unsatisfactory experience in their dealings with them. A lot of people will be perfectly happy to recommend a good quality contractor, less likely to talk about a poor one, and may even endorse an alternative company rather than 'malign' a far from ideal business they've had dealings with previously.
Hampstead Fireplace Related Tasks
Maybe you came here looking for basic fireplace installation, however your local Hampstead fireplace installer can provide a broad range of additional services and tasks, and these could include stone fireplaces, 2-sided fireplaces, Regency fireplaces Hampstead, brick fireplace installations Hampstead, cheap fireplaces, gas fireplace installations, fireplace packages, fireplace cleaning Hampstead, elm fireplaces Hampstead, fireplace inserts Hampstead, stone fireplace installation Hampstead, wood burning fireplaces Hampstead, three-sided fireplaces in Hampstead, fireplace installation, inset stove installation, outdoor fireplace installation, chimney modifications, fireplacequotes, the installation of modern fireplaces Hampstead, double-sided stoves, classic fireplaces, electric fireplace installations, marble fireplace surrounds, gas fireplaces in Hampstead, marble fireplace installation, brick fireplaces, cast fireplace installation Hampstead, fireplace suites in Hampstead, fireplace surrounds, fireplace hearths, fireplace design Hampstead, outdoor fireplaces Hampstead, fireplace restoration, electric fireplaces, built-in gas fires, and others I can't think of right now. This is just a sampling of the services that may be available from the local fireplace installer. Hampstead companies, when asked, will inform you about the whole range of fireplace services that can be accessed. If there's something fireplace related, that you need but cannot see listed here, you can go to this QUOTE FORM and tell us what you need.
Fireplace Installers Near Hampstead
Also find: Gospel Oak fireplace installers, Kentish Town fireplace installers, Childs Hill fireplace installers, Frognal fireplace installers, Fortune Green fireplace installers, Highgate fireplace installers, Hampstead Heath fireplace installers, Golders Green fireplace installers, Belsize Park fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installers are ready and able to serve those living in the majority of these towns and areas. These tradespeople, with their expertise and know-how, are well-equipped to perform successful fireplace installations in your home. These devoted experts assist residents in achieving the comfort, warmth and ambiance a fireplace contributes to homes. By simply clicking here, fireplace installation quotes are available to local residents.
More Hampstead Tradespeople: Of course, when you're doing home improvements and repairs in Hampstead, Greater London, you will probably need all types of different tradespeople and aside from fireplace specialists in Hampstead, Greater London, you could additionally need a damp proofing specialist in Hampstead, SKIP HIRE in Hampstead, a blacksmith in Hampstead, a stonemason in Hampstead, a painter and decorator in Hampstead, a handyman in Hampstead, brick cleaning in Hampstead, a bricklayer in Hampstead, a heating engineer in Hampstead, a carpenter in Hampstead, a roofer in Hampstead, a chimney sweep in Hampstead, metalworkers in Hampstead, waste removal in Hampstead, an electrician in Hampstead, pressure washing in Hampstead, a building contractor in Hampstead, a plasterer in Hampstead, and other different Hampstead tradesmen.
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