Fireplace Fitter Hinckley Leicestershire (LE10): Re-opening a disused fireplace to install an open fire, a wood burner or a gas fire is a good way to add some character and a homely feel to your Hinckley home. If you choose to combine your new fireplace with a back boiler, you can not only enjoy the ambience and warmth of an open fire or stove on those nippy winters' evenings, you'll also be supplied with a plentiful supply of boiling hot water.
However before you start knocking down the walls of a bricked-up fireplace there are some important things to consider if you are to finish up with a safe and efficient fireplace. Any combustible appliance within residential homes in Hinckley must comply with Part J of the Building Regs, and this covers flue linings, hearths, fireplaces and chimney breasts. Planning permission may also be needed before work begins if your property is listed or in a conservation area.
PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
You may be able to do some of the work in remodeling a blocked up fireplace if you have the skills to do so, but structural and safety issues are often found that need to be resolved by a professional tradesman. If you're lucky when you expose a boarded fireplace you may find a decent lintel, chimney breast and hearth that involves nothing other than the services and advice of a chimney sweep to get it ready for use. It is much more likely that you will discover crumbling brickwork that requires structural reinforcement and a stopped up flue.
It's normally better to draw on the experience and knowledge of a specialist fireplace fitter in Hinckley, on account of the severe health and fire risks associated with an improperly installed or refurbished fireplace. As stated in the Building Regulations for fireplaces, the airflow in a room must be adequate where a fireplace is installed, because in order to burn safely, the right quantity of oxygen is needed. Carbon monoxide fumes (which are poisonous can accumulate in a poorly ventilated area where a fire that is burning inefficiently is installed.
To successfully get over any airflow issues, vents might be installed in the room as part of a fireplace installation, to ensure suitable levels of oxygen are able to reach the fire. They might have to install vents into unused chimney flues which can sometimes trap moist air and result in staining and damp spots on your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
A substantial amount of soot and dust can be released from a blocked up fireplace upon opening it up for renovation. Even with covers and other dust protection for your home furnishings, the risk of damage from dirt and soot is still likely and it's advisable to remove your belongings and any woven materials before any fireplace restoration work starts. If you are lucky enough to be working on a full home restoration project then it should be one of the first tasks to concentrate on before you re-plaster or decorate the walls. This stops any discolouring damage to any refurbished work you may have already done.
CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK
Once you've revealed your old fireplace you'll have a better idea of what work needs to be done, and also be able to sweep the chimney and clear out any sections of hearth that remains in place. The first item on your to-do list should be to contact a proper chimney sweep. Not only will they make certain that your flue and chimney are completely clean, but they can also investigate the condition of the chimney and flue liner and provide guidance about whether you need to replace any area of the chimney structure and flue.
It could be vital to fit a new flue liner to conform to the all important UK Building Regulations, and construction might also be needed to beef up the original chimney and chimney breast. These are projects that should be done by a skilled tradesman with a knowledge of the relevant building regs and reliable construction skills.
If it is necessary to adjust the size of opening of your existing fireplace to a more suitable size for your new design, a concrete supporting lintel should be installed. When your new concrete lintel is safely in position you may now get on with the upgrade, repair and installation of the fireplace hearth. In past times the hearth was set into the floor, but the current building regulations require it to be raised above floor level. You can find custom-made options to fit virtually any size and style of fireplace, or you can select from a range of common size and shape hearths to fit in with your decor.
STYLES OF FIREPLACE
If you pop along to a fireplace showroom you'll find that you are spoilt for choice with a wide array of different choices open to you. Every fireplace may not be appropriate for your chimney and flue and it is wise to accept any advice and help offered by your fireplace installers with regards to your specific circumstances.
Some homes and rooms will look better with an open fireplace than a wood burner or multi fuel stove and vice versa. If you have an inglenook fireplace, a wood burner can look spectacular set within it, which also has the benefit of effectively deflecting the heat into the room from the brick or stone walls surrounding the stove.
Even if your Hinckley property does not have a chimney you still have options for a fireplace feature by installing a wood burning or multi fuel stove. So long as you have an outside wall through which a flue from the back or top of the stove can be channeled, you do not need a chimney structure in place to experience a real fire.
WOOD, ELECTRIC, GAS, OPEN OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
The charm and look of an open fireplace can't be surpassed, however what options are out there if this style of fireplace is not possible in your Hinckley home?
Electric Fireplaces - Simple installation and a varied choice of styles make electric fires the obvious choice for Hinckley homes that don't have a chimney. Modern electric fires can provide authentic looking flame effects and even the sound of crackling wood to mimic an open fire when inset into an old fashioned fireplace.
Wood Burning Stoves - A wide variety of different styles to suit any kind of home in Hinckley, and can even be a freestanding feature. A model with a back boiler can provide extra heating capabilities by connecting the hot water to a radiator in a cold room of your house.
Gas Fireplaces - Providing instant heat and being more thermally efficient when compared to wood burning stoves or open fireplaces, there are a multitude of designs to suit any period of property. A Gas Safe registered technician must fit and maintain any gas fireplace in your property.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - As the name indicates multi-fuel stoves can be used with different fuels, such as gas, wood, oil or smokeless coal, and become a focal point in any kitchen or living room in Hinckley. Some types, like the multi-fuel stoves from AGA, can also be used for generating hot water, cooking and heating your entire home.
Open Fireplaces - Provides a stunning focal point for your room and can be used with a range of solid fuels. In earlier times an open fire may have had the associations with being inefficient, smoky and draughty, however a well installed fireplace is a joy to behold while reclining in the warmth it provides.
Fireplace installers can be obtained in Aston Flamville, Lindley, Ullesthorpe, Sketchley, Claybrooke Magna, Dadlington, Claybrooke Parva, Frolesworth, Wolvey Heath, Copston Magna, Sapcote, Higham on the Hill, Wolvey, Elmesthorpe, Sharnford, Lash Hill, Stapleton, Atterton, Shelford, Wykin, Stoke Golding, in these nearby postcodes: LE10 0GP, LE10 0DY, LE10 0NA, LE10 0FZ, LE10 0FG, LE10 0FR, LE10 0AB, LE10 0AT, LE10 0GD, and LE10 0DZ, as well as in Hinckley itself. Fireplace installers from Hinckley will typically have the telephone code 01455 and the postcode LE10. Hinckley people can utilise these and lots of other fireplace services.
Chimney Sweep Hinckley
If you have a stove or an open fire in your house, it is best to have your chimney swept regularly. At least once annually is the recommendation for chimney sweeping.
The best approach to get this done is to contact a professional Hinckley chimney sweep, who'll complete the work properly and without any mess. While your chimney is being cleaned, the sweep will also be on the lookout for any problems or safety issues that there may be with your chimney.
Routine sweeping prevents a build-up of ash, creosote and soot, a common cause of chimney fires. An equally hazardous situation that can arise as a result of a badly maintained chimney is carbon monoxide gas flowing back into your house.
Check that your chosen chimney sweep in Hinckley is adequately covered by public liability insurance, and is knowledgeable in this field. To check on the current prices of chimney sweeps in Hinckley GO HERE.
Flues
A chimney liner or flu liner is an essential part of your chimney set-up, allowing it to perform a lot more effectively than it would otherwise, and improving the overall safety of your property. Fitted to the inside of chimneys to carry smoke and fumes to the outside, flue liners are conduits fabricated from clay, metal or ceramic material. Some older chimneys in Hinckley may not even be fitted with a liner, or if the current lining is defective, might have to be re-lined.
The harmful gases which are formed when burning a fire can eat away at your chimney's flue lining. Ensure that your fireplace installer assesses the flue lining for damage and potential issues. You need to stop those harmful gases from leaking into your home, which is what can happen when a flue is faulty. There's an additional risk with busted flue liners, in that they can allow extreme heat to penetrate the structure of the chimney, which may lead to fires.
Improve the Efficiency of Your Fireplace in Hinckley
With all the current fears about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost a little of its glamour, but it's still a favourite feature for many property owners in Hinckley. There's nothing quite like feeling the real warmth of a fireplace on a freezing winter's evening. The fireplace provides a lot of benefits for your property, but there are also several important negative aspects that need to be fixed. With the cost of energy soaring each year, your fireplace must give out heat in a very cost-effective way. When a fire is burning, it might give warmth to people standing near it, but it can in fact pull warm air out of your room, making your heat source work even harder. In case you do not have a fire going, the damper is intended to keep heat in. Often times though, fireplace dampers can be very inefficient in keeping cold air out, and warm air in.
A great many people in Hinckley who have fireplaces do not know how it can affect heating costs. Instead of keeping the cost of heating down, it may actually do the exact reverse if one isn't careful. Just consider that it's not all hopeless as there are ways to make your fireplace more cost-efficient. There happen to be 4 simple steps that you can take to turn your fireplace into the cost-effective heat sourse you're looking for. These definitely will make your current fireplace far more efficient, and reduce your heating bills.
The first point is to swap your current fireplace damper with a top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is installed right at the top of your chimney which in turn also doubles as a storm door. The top sealing damper will keep the air in the house from escaping and operates very well in both hot and cold weather. Its not that tricky to fit and may also be easily bought online. A second thing that you can do would be to position a fire-back at the back of your fireplace. It is manufactured from cast iron and is used to improve the appearance of your fireplace while shielding the back wall from heat damage. The fire-back basically heats up from the fire and sends the heat back into the room, hence boosting the fireplace's efficiency.
Another way to save money is by using a fireplace fan/heater, which heats the space by drawing the air into a heat chamber and recycling the air back into the room. These clever devices don't produce any smoke and are be extremely effective in keeping your property warm. And finally, putting in glass doors, while a bit on the pricey side, can be helpful in making your fireplace cost efficient. If you do a bit of research, you can find glass doors at a decent price and install them yourself. These glass doors create a buffer between the fireplace and living space, not only stopping the warm air in the room from escaping, but also providing protection.
The suggestions presented here are not terribly tough to do and you should be able to obtain everything you need online. Retain your existing fireplace and lower heating costs by increasing it's efficiency.
Hinckley Fireplace Related Tasks
There is a range of work that can be completed by your local Hinckley fireplace installer including flue liner installation, fireplace removal Hinckley, brick fireplace installation, marble fireplaces Hinckley, modern fireplace, Victorian fireplaces in Hinckley, fireplace inserts, fireplace design in Hinckley, fireplace suites, freestanding stoves, open fireplaces, marble fireplace installations, fireplace repairs, chimney sweeping, wood burning fireplace installations, fireplace replacement, fireplace surrounds, chimney modifications in Hinckley, brick fireplaces, multifuel stoves, double-sided stove installation in Hinckley, fireplace installation, fireplace hearths, fireplace services, fake fireplaces Hinckley, fireplaces, Victorian fireplace installations, limestone fireplace, and lots more. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are handled by tradesmen installing fireplaces. Hinckley providers will keep you informed about their full range of services.
Fireplace Installers Near Hinckley
Also find: Copston Magna fireplace installers, Lash Hill fireplace installers, Atterton fireplace installers, Wolvey fireplace installers, Wykin fireplace installers, Lindley fireplace installers, Dadlington fireplace installers, Stapleton fireplace installers, Claybrooke Magna fireplace installers, Wolvey Heath fireplace installers, Shelford fireplace installers, Stoke Golding fireplace installers, Sapcote fireplace installers, Aston Flamville fireplace installers, Sketchley fireplace installers, Higham on the Hill fireplace installers, Ullesthorpe fireplace installers, Claybrooke Parva fireplace installers, Frolesworth fireplace installers, Elmesthorpe fireplace installers, Sharnford fireplace installers and more. All of these towns and areas are catered for by companies who install fireplaces. These tradespeople, with their expertise and know-how, are well-equipped to perform precise fireplace installations in your home. With the assistance of these dedicated specialists, residents can enjoy the warmth, ambiance and comfort that a fireplace brings to their living areas. By clicking here, local property owners can obtain fireplace installation estimates. Therefore, there is no reason not to get cracking on your fireplace installation right away!
More Hinckley Tradespeople: When your Hinckley home needs improvements or refurbishing, many different tradesmen could be needed to finish the project, and although your present search is for fireplace specialists in Hinckley, Leicestershire, you could also need the skills of a general builder in Hinckley, a painter and decorator in Hinckley, a stonemason in Hinckley, a chimney sweep in Hinckley, a handyman in Hinckley, a roofer in Hinckley, a tiler in Hinckley, a bricklayer in Hinckley, SKIP HIRE in Hinckley, a carpenter and joiner in Hinckley, waste removal in Hinckley, a floor fitter in Hinckley, a plasterer in Hinckley, a plumber in Hinckley, an electrician in Hinckley, a metal worker in Hinckley, and perhaps others.
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