Fireplace Fitter Hindhead Surrey (GU26): A fantastic way to add more character and a cozy feel to any dwelling in Hindhead, is to re-open an old unused fireplace to fit a open, multi-fuel or wood burning fire. If you add a back boiler to your new fire you'll even be able to enjoy a plentiful supply of piping hot water as well. Freezing winter evenings can be a pleasurable experience as you relax beside your fireplace surrounded the crackle of firewood.
If you're to finish up with an efficient and safe fireplace, there are a few essential considerations you must keep in mind, before you begin smashing down the walls of a boarded over fireplace. Any heating appliance installed in the home must comply with Part J of the building regs, and this covers chimney breasts, flue linings, hearths and fireplaces. For a fireplace installation in a listed building, or one that lies in a conservation area, you'll have to find out from you local planning office if planning permission will be needed.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
If you've got the skills that are necessary, and are good at DIY you might be able to do some of the work in renovating a pre-existing fireplace, but professional assistance might be required if safety or structural problems arise. When your boarded up fireplace is exposed you may find a stable chimney breast, lintel and hearth which needs little more than the services of a chimney sweep to get it all working again. It's much more likely that you'll discover a stopped up flue and old brickwork that needs structural reinforcement.
If a fireplace is installed incorrectly there is not only a fire risk to your property, but there can also be associated respiratory health hazards, which is why it is best to bring in a certified Hindhead installation company for fireplaces. As is laid down in Part J of the Building Regulations for fireplaces, there must be adequate airflow in a room where there is a fireplace, because in order for it to burn satisfactorily, the right quantity of oxygen is needed. A fire will not burn properly in a room where there's not enough oxygen, and death or serious injury could occur if there's a build-up of carbon monoxide.
To effectively get around any airflow problems, vents may be fitted in the room during a fireplace installation, to guarantee suitable oxygen levels reach the fire. To enhance ventilation inside unused chimney flues, your fireplace installation team might also need to install vents to stop condensed air becoming trapped and producing staining and damp areas.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
Opening up an old fireplace can cause a lot of of soot and muck to enter your room. So that your stuff doesn't get affected by the soot, dust and dirt that's emitted during works by a fireplace installer, removing carpets, rugs and furniture beforehand is strongly recommended. If you are lucky enough to be carrying out a full renovation then it should be one of the first tasks to focus on before re-plastering and decorating the walls. This should prevent damage to other phases of your restoration project (i.e. wallpapered walls or fresh plasterwork), by soot and dirt that is expelled.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
Once you have exposed your old fireplace you'll have a greater understanding of the work that is needed, and also be in a position to thoroughly sweep the chimney and clean any parts of hearth that is still in position. Bringing in a chimney sweep to clean your chimney will be one of the very first things on your to-do-list. Whilst doing cleaning and sweeping, they will be in a good position to determine the structural integrity of your chimney and flue, and propose what is needed to get it back in good shape.
After a chimney sweeps examination it may be necessary to strengthen the chimney breast or/and install a new flue liner as laid down in Part J of the Building Regulations. Experience in the right working practices and familiarity with the relevant Building Regulations will be required by anyone who tackles this sort of construction work, so what you really need is a competent builder or fireplace fitter and should not try to do this yourself.
If it is necessary to adjust the width of opening of your exposed fireplace to a more suitable size for your new design, a concrete supporting lintel will have to be installed. Once you've successfully supported your fireplace with a new lintel it will then be necessary to renovate or update the hearth. You may find the original hearth has been sunken into a void in the floor, however to conform to latest UK Building Regulations it is required to be raised at least 12.5mm above floor level. You'll find that there's a whole host of pre-formed hearths in marble, concrete or granite, however if your fireplace is of non-standard size you may have to opt for a custom-made hearth, which you can ask your fireplace builder in Hindhead about.
FIREPLACE DESIGNS
Visiting the nearest fireplace outlet or browsing on the internet will give you an inkling about the wide range of different styles and designs of fireplace for you to choose from for your home. It's important to ask for the expert advice of the salespeople and the installation team, because all of the available fireplaces won't be suitable for your specific chimney and flue.
The all round style that you are trying to create, your current decor and perhaps even, the age of your home in Hindhead, will to some extent determine whether you go for a wood burner, a multi-fuel stove or an open fireplace. A cast iron wood-burner stove for example, will look wonderful when placed in an inglenook fireplace, which reflects the heat back into the room and draws attention to its character and charm.
You still have options for a feature fireplace by installing a wood burning or multi fuel stove, even if your Hindhead home hasn't got an existing chimney. Since a stainless steel flue can be routed through an external wall and doesn't need a chimney breast, it's still feasible to put in this type of fireplace.
ELECTRIC, MULTI-FUEL, GAS, WOOD OR OPEN FIREPLACE?
If this style of fireplace isn't feasible within your Hindhead property, what other options are there?
Gas Fireplaces - Offering instant heat and being more thermally efficient when compared to open fireplaces, there are a wide variety of designs and styles to suit any type of Hindhead property. Any gas fire in your Hindhead home must be installed by a certified Gas Safe contractor.
Open Fireplaces - Can be used with a number of solid fuels, and creates an excellent focal point for any room in your home. Being a far cry from the smoky old fireplaces of days gone by, a professionally installed open fire can provide a warm and cosy atmosphere in any Hindhead dwelling.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Using various different fuels such as wood, gas, oil or coal, a multi-fuel stove can become a unique focal point in your living space. These can be utilised not simply for heating a single room, but some types like the AGA collection, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be used to heat the whole property when plumbed into an existing radiator system.
Electric Fireplaces - A popular choice for householders in Hindhead, these fires can be fitted by virtually any competent person, quickly and safely. Contemporary electric fires can deliver real look flames and and sometimes even the crackling sound of wood to imitate an open fire when inset into an old fashioned fireplace.
Wood Burning Stoves - A wide array of different styles to suit any period of house in Hindhead, and can even be a freestanding feature. When used in tandem with a back boiler, these can provide extra heating capabilities by connecting the hot water to colder areas of your property by means of a radiator.
Fireplace installers can be obtained in Hearn, Headley, Grayswood, Lindford, Grayshott, Passfield, Dockenfield, Standford, Hollywater, Bramshott, Bowlhead Green, Churt, Arford, Deadwater, Frith End, Green Cross, in these nearby postcodes: GU26 6UY, GU26 6FT, GU26 6DJ, GU26 6FB, GU26 6DH, GU26 6FF, GU26 6HX, GU26 6RY, GU26 6BQ, and GU26 6SS, as well as in Hindhead itself. If a fireplace fitter has the telephone dialling code 01428 and the postcode GU26, it is likely that they come from somewhere in Hindhead area. This is obviously one thing to verify if you favour using a locally based fireplace specialist.
Tips On How To Lower Your Heating Bill And Also Keep Your Open Fireplace In Excellent Shape
With all of the current green concerns, the open fireplace has lost a little of its glamour, but it's still a favourite feature for many in Hindhead. The natural comfort of an open fireplace invokes special remembrances for those who have them. There are lots of perks and benefits to having an open fireplace but there are also some downsides that could possibly need to be taken care of. As power costs go up, you should make certain that your fireplace is producing heat efficiently. When you've got a fire roaring in the fireplace, it can in fact extract warm air away from the room, making your heat source work harder. The hearth damper is expected to prevent cold air from coming in to your home when you don't have a fire going in the fireplace. Often times though, fireplace dampers can be very inefficient in keeping cold air out, and warm air in.
Many house owners that currently have a fireplace in their residence in Hindhead do not understand how the fireplace can have an effect on their energy bill. Instead of warming a residence naturally, a fireplace can in fact add 100s of pounds to the cost of your heating. Just consider that it's not all bad news because there are ways to make your fireplace much more cost-efficient. There are four simple things that you can do to change your fireplace into a cost-effective heat resource. These should make your fireplace very economical and very efficient.
The very first thing that has to be done is to replace the damper with a top sealing damper. This kind of damper is positioned near the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain and snow from entering. It stops the inside air from escaping, and the outside air from entering, and performs in cold or hot weather. It's not very tricky to put in and may also be easily purchased online. Next, you will need to have a fire-back at the back part of your fireplace. A fire-back consists of cast iron and it is actually meant to protect the wall behind from fire damage, whilst making your fireplace look elegant. The fire-back actually heats up from the open fire and sends the heat back into the room, hence enhancing the fireplace's efficiency.
Another option is to obtain a fireplace heater/fan, which draws cool air in and warms it up. These devices are put in place as closed systems to make sure they don't produce any smoke, but are quite effective in keeping your house warm. The last and final thing that can be done is to install glass doors, which could be the most expensive option. If you do a bit of groundwork, you can find glass doors at a decent price and install them yourself. Such doors form a screen between the hearth and living space, not only stopping the heat from escaping, but also providing protection to the inhabitants.
These suggestions are not very tough to do and you can buy most of the items from the internet. Just do your very best to make sure your fireplace is efficient and watch your heating bills go down.
Brick Fireplaces
Fireplaces that are made out of brick have been a preferred feature in dwellings for centuries, and they continue to be a beloved design element today. A brick fireplace can add character, warmth, and a little rustic charm to any room. The following are some things to consider if you're thinking about adding a brick fireplace to your home in Hindhead.
Firstly, you'll need to choose the type of fireplace you prefer. Conventional brick fireplaces normally feature a straightforward design with a mantel and hearth. However, you could also go with a more modern design with a sleek finish and clean lines.
Brick fireplaces can be constructed using different kinds of bricks. You can select from a variety of brick textures and colours to match your property's design. It's also possible to add additional elements such as wood, tile or stone to enhance the brickwork.
Lastly, consider the practical side of a brick fireplace. Ensure that the fireplace is adequately vented and that you've got a functioning chimney. If you want to use the fireplace for heating, consider the addition of a fireplace insert or glass doors to increase efficiency and safety.
In conclusion, a brick fireplace can add charm and warmth to any room. With good planning and consideration, you can create a beautiful and functional brick fireplace that will enhance your home's design and provide a cosy environment.
Friends & Family
Friends and family are a fantastic source of recommendations, whenever you're searching for a contractor in Hindhead for your project or undertaking. If you are really serious about choosing someone who is suitable for your requirements, it is generally acknowledged that personal references are often the preferred solution. And aside from that, they can also be a great help for pointing a finger at Surrey companies with far from complimentary service records, or fireplace contractors of a substandard nature.
By getting this form of feedback from a friend or family member you can find out the attitude of the contractor if things went wrong, how rapidly any problems were resolved, and also get some an insight into their work ethic, time keeping and reliability. They should be able to advise you how precise the original quotation was in comparison with the eventual price, which, unless they have a price guarantee, is sometimes difficult to obtain from the installers themselves.
You can depend on your friends and family members to be honest and truthful, so they should be your first port of call when it comes to advice. You may well find that they will be reluctant to talk about them, if they have had a poor experience in their dealings with a particular contractor or fireplace fitter. Most people will be perfectly happy to speak about a decent quality contractor, less likely to discuss a mediocre one, and rather than 'bad mouth' a below par business that they've had dealings with in the past, they may even suggest an alternative company.
Searching Online
The inclination for most people when they're searching for tradesmen in Hindhead, is to access the internet with their laptop or smartphone. It is probable that you're seeing this page at this point because you stumbled upon it by typing your keywords into Ask, Google, Yahoo or Bing, or one of the lesser known search engines. One problem is often that the opening page listings displayed by the major league search engines may not exactly be the ones you were anticipating. Keying in "Hindhead fireplace installation", "fireplace installation Hindhead", "fireplace installation in Hindhead" or "fireplace installation near me" will typically be the procedure to follow when trying to track down fireplace installers in Hindhead.
Internet directories such as ThreeBestRated, Thomson Local, Yelp or Yell, or entries for large trade portals like My Builder, Rated People, TrustaTrader, Checkatrade, Bidvine or Quotatis will more than likely feature highly on the page 1 results, as will strictly pay per click (PPC) advertising. You will very likely discover the websites of genuine fireplace installers abandoned on page two or three of the search engine listings, overshadowed by the wealthier corporations who can more easily afford SEO.
Hindhead Fireplace Related Tasks
Your local Hindhead fireplace fitter can deliver an extensive assortment of tasks, and on top of what has already been covered they should be able to do open fireplaces in Hindhead, double-sided stoves, fireplace design, bespoke fireplaces, corner fireplaces Hindhead, limestone fireplace installations, wood mantels, fake fireplace installations, stone fireplaces, fireplace replacement in Hindhead, inglenook fireplace installations, fireplace cleaning, wood burning fireplace installation, cheap fireplace installation in Hindhead, period fireplaces, the installation of Victorian fireplaces Hindhead, fire grate conversions, fireplace refurbishment, hearth fireplaces in Hindhead, designer fireplaces Hindhead, fireplace installation, gas fireplaces, electric fireplace installation in Hindhead, freestanding stoves, traditional fireplaces Hindhead, fireplace services, electric fire baskets in Hindhead, chimney repairs, 2-sided fireplaces, fireplace surrounds, flue lining inspections, tiled fireplace installations Hindhead, brick fireplace installations, gas fireplace installation, cast iron fireplace installations, and others. This is just a selection of the services on offer from the local fireplace installer. Hindhead companies offering these kinds of fireplace services, will supply you with a full-blown list when asked.
Fireplace Installers Near Hindhead
Also find: Deadwater fireplace installers, Arford fireplace installers, Green Cross fireplace installers, Churt fireplace installers, Frith End fireplace installers, Headley fireplace installers, Standford fireplace installers, Passfield fireplace installers, Hollywater fireplace installers, Bowlhead Green fireplace installers, Dockenfield fireplace installers, Grayswood fireplace installers, Bramshott fireplace installers, Lindford fireplace installers, Hearn fireplace installers, Grayshott fireplace installers and more. There are companies who fit fireplaces in the majority of these villages and towns. To successfully install fireplaces in your property, these versatile tradesmen possess the necessary experience and knowledge. These dedicated specialists can help residents experience the comfort, warmth and atmosphere that a fireplace brings to their living areas. By simply clicking here, fireplace installation quotes are available to local homeowners.
If you're interested in local information relating to Hindhead, Surrey take a look here
Fireplace installation in GU26 area, telephone code 01428.
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