Fireplace Fitter Mitcham Greater London (CR4): Installing a brand new fireplace or reinstating an existing one is a great way to add a bit of charm to any home in Mitcham. So long as you've got a regular supply of wood, adding a wood burning stove or open fire for those chilly winters' evenings can even prove to be cheaper than conventional central heating systems. Combine your fireplace with a back boiler and you can enjoy supplies of endless hot water for even more savings.
However before you begin bashing down the walls of a blocked up fireplace there are some essential considerations you must bear in mind to achieve an efficient and safe fireplace. Any heat producing appliance installed in the home must adhere to Part J of the UK's buildings regulations, and this applies to hearths, flue linings, fireplaces and chimney breasts. If you reside in a listed building you'll also need to ascertain if planning permission is required from the local authorities before any work can commence.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If you are a keen DIY'er it is quite possible to renovate a bricked-up fireplace, however the likelihood of experiencing structural problems in many cases is high. It may be your good fortune when you remove the covering from an old fireplace to uncover a hidden gem which requires little more than a quick clean and a check from a chimney sweep to get a fire roaring once again. However, a stopped up flue and old, crumbling brickwork that involves structural reinforcement is what you're more likely to find.
An improperly fitted fireplace can cause serious respiratory health problems and fire risk and should only be fitted by a professional fireplace company in Mitcham with the knowledge and experience to do the work effectively. Airflow has to be adequate in any room in which a fireplace is to be installed; in fact it is a requirement in the Building Regulations that this is so. If the airflow is not sufficient then it is quite possible that a fire will not burn efficiently and cause a build-up of carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.
It may be necessary to fit airflow vents in walls and floors to allow the fire to get sufficient oxygen to burn properly and safely all the time. Unused and blocked up chimney flues may also have to have air vents fitted because they can sometimes trap moist air inside them causing damp to develop inside the chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
Huge amounts of soot and dirt will enter your home when you're re-opening a fireplace for restoration. Essentially, this is an exceedingly messy job. It is advisable to remove any furniture, rugs and carpets from a room where you are going to open up an old fireplace, to avoid them being affected by grime, dust and soot that will be whipped up during the fireplace installation work. Due to the mess involved, if your fireplace installation is only part of a bigger home refurbishment project, it ought to be one of the first things to be worked on. This stops any discolouration damage to any renovated work you may have already completed.
CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL WORK
You will have a far better understanding of the refurbishment work that needs to be done, once you've exposed the old fireplace. You will also be in a position to sweep the chimney and clean any of the hearth that has survived. If you have not already done so, you should now contact your local Mitcham chimney sweep. After cleaning and sweeping, they'll be able to offer guidance and advice about what kind of state the chimney structure and flue liner is in, and let you know if there are elements that need to be repaired.
Following an examination by a competent Mitcham chimney sweep, and in accordance with the Building Regulations (Part J), work to strengthen the chimney and/or install a new flue liner could be required. Experience in the right construction techniques and an awareness of the Building Regulations will be needed by anybody who does this sort of renovation work, so you really want a competent builder and should not attempt to do it on your own.
If you need to modify the width of opening of your existing fireplace to a more suitable size for your new design, a lintel support must be put in. As soon as this has been completed the next phase of your fireplace installation in Mitcham should be to update the old hearth. To remain in line with the present Building Regulations, the hearth of a fireplace needs to be laid at least 12.5mm above the normal floor level, although you might discover that yours is sunk into a floor void, as they frequently were in the olden days. You could think about asking your fireplace builder in Mitcham about a made to measure, bespoke hearth to complement your property's style and design, or if your fireplace is of a standard size, there's a wide variety of pre-made, ready to fit options in slate, stone and marble.
STYLE OF FIREPLACE
Visiting the nearest fireplace outlet or browsing on the web will swiftly make you realise that there's a whole host of different designs and styles of fireplace for you to pick from. The advice and recommendations from your sales and installation team, which will hinge on your particular requirements, will help you to choose a fireplace that is both suited to your chimney and flue, as well as for your decor.
A wood burner or multi fuel stove might be perfect for some rooms and properties in Mitcham, whilst an open fireplace will be more appropriate for others. If you have an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, a wood burner can look stunning in this surrounding, and also has the benefit of reflecting the heat into the room from the brick or stone walls surrounding the stove.
For houses in Mitcham that haven't got a chimney breast, a wood burning or multi fuel stove is a good option. This form of fireplace can be installed with a flue which is passed through an external wall and doesn't need a chimney, to be installed and work safely.
ELECTRIC, GAS, WOOD, OPEN OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
If this kind of fireplace isn't feasible within your Mitcham property, what other choices are there?
Wood Burning Stoves - These have become "the in thing" in a lot of homes in Mitcham, and can have classic or modern styling to match your home's decor. A version with a back boiler can supply supplementary heating capabilities by transferring the piping hot water to a radiator in a cold spot of your house.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Can be fired up with with a range of fuels, including coal, gas, oil or wood, to create a unique focal point in your home in Mitcham. These stoves can be used not simply for heating a single room, but some designs such as the AGA collection, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be used to heat the entire house if they are plumbed into a system of radiators.
Gas Fireplaces - Their efficiency to warm a room is better than multi-fuel or wood burning stoves, and there many styles to complement all property types. The installation and maintenance of gas fires should only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered technician in Mitcham.
Electric Fireplaces - A wide variety of electric fires to complement pretty much any home in Mitcham, can easily be fitted by anyone who's reasonable competent. Contemporary electric fires can provide authentic looking flames and even the crackling sound of wood to replicate an open fire when set into into an old fashioned fireplace.
Open Fireplaces - The classic fireplace which can make use of different fuels such as briquettes, wood, smokeless coal and other flammable materials. A skillfully fitted contemporary open fire will be no comparison to the smoky old fireplace that was perhaps blocked up by earlier owners, and its glowing elegance is a welcome addition to any room in Mitcham.
Fireplace installation companies are available in Mitcham itself, in these nearby postcodes: , CR4 1FB, CR4 1PB, CR4 1DU, CR4 1NP, CR4 1NL, CR4 1AY, CR4 1DW, CR4 1BZ, and CR4 1EF, as well as in surrounding places like Morden, Waddon, Merton Abbey, Carshalton, St Helier, Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge, The Wythe, Rosehill, Streatham. If they have the phone code 020 and the postcode CR4, it's probable that they hail from Mitcham or somewhere nearby.
Natural Stone Fireplaces Mitcham
If you are aiming to achieve a truly dramatic look with your new fireplace, how about bringing the outdoors inside with a fireplace made from stone? It's possible that you already have some natural stone features on your home's exterior, for example a stone facade or boundary wall. You could build something on the inside that matches the outside.
Either full-depth stone or stone cladding can be used to build a stone fireplace. Your taste and spending budget might affect your decision. There are also a number of different kinds of stone that can be used to build a fireplace, including: quartz, marble, granite, sandstone, slate or limestone.
Precisely how your fireplace looks when it is complete will be affected by the style of building (mortar joints or dry stone), the kind of stone used and the individuality of the craftsman or stonemason who builds it. If you have a good idea of exactly what you want, get some pictures and show them to your fireplace installer before they start.
There is no doubt that stone fireplaces are generally more suited to older properties, and may be a bit too striking and overwhelming for the modern home. But the choice, as they say, is yours.
Flues
Put in to boost the safety and efficiency of your chimney structure, a chimney liner or flu liner is important and should never be left out whatever the circumstances. Flue liners are conduits made of ceramic material, clay or metal that are installed inside chimneys to carry smoke and fumes to the outside. Subject to their age and condition, older chimneys in Mitcham might need to be re-lined, or might not be fitted with a flue liner at all.
Dangerous gases and fumes are formed by burning fires and these could harm the flue lining of your chimney. Your flue lining should be routinely examined for possible issues and damage every time it's being cleaned. Instead of expelling those harmful gases outside, a damaged flue can allow them to leak into your home's interior. There's an added threat with broken flue liners, in that they might allow intense heat to penetrate the structure of the chimney, which may lead to fires.
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair plays an important role in ensuring the efficiency and safety of fireplaces and heating systems. Over time, chimneys are susceptible to wear and tear, resulting in issues like blockages, cracks or leaks. Swift repairs are essential to prevent potential threats, including fire and carbon monoxide exposure. These issues can be resolved by professional chimney repair specialists in Mitcham, ensuring the chimney functions optimally and adheres to safety specifications. Prolonging the chimney's longevity and minimizing the need for expensive future repairs, regular repairs and inspections provide householders with reassurance and a dependable heating source. (71372 - Chimney Repairs Mitcham)
Information, Help and Social Media
With a brief search on the internet you can read a whole host of useful articles regarding fireplace installation, fireplace decoration and fireplace ideas - we just found this engaging one about fireplace design ideas click here. If you wish to read more about fireplaces, you'll uncover details of the health effects of fireplaces, the evolution of fireplaces, how fireplaces affect the environment, gas fireplaces, the heating efficiency of fireplaces and the different types of fireplace, by going to Wikipedia. To follow discussions about fireplace installation go to a fireplace installation forum, subjects include chimney design, wood burning stoves, pellet boilers and stoves, stove vents, building regulations and widening a fireplace. To discover the kind of social media marketing that's done on fireplaces, check this out. Learn how to install a wood burning fireplace on You Tube here.
Mitcham Fireplace Related Tasks
You probably arrived here looking for basic fireplace installation, however your local Mitcham fireplace fitter can accomplish a number of different additional tasks, and these could include three-sided fireplaces, fireplace installation, the installation of disigner fireplaces, brick fireplaces, cast iron fireplaces, Regency fireplaces Mitcham, chimney repairs, fireplace inserts in Mitcham, fake fireplaces, fireplace services, fireplaces, designer fireplaces Mitcham, fireplace repairs, open fireplaces, fireplace cleaning, fireplace fitting in Mitcham, period fireplace installation, classic fireplaces, fake fireplace installation, fireplace design, flue lining inspections, chimney cowl installation, outdoor fireplaces Mitcham, fireplace removal Mitcham, limestone fireplace, gas fireplaces, fireplace packages, stone fireplace installation, hearth fireplaces, Victorian fireplace installations, traditional fireplaces Mitcham, fireplace hearths, fireplace suites, chimney modifications in Mitcham, gas fireplace installations in Mitcham, and more. Mitcham companies providing these kinds of fireplace services, will supply you with a full-blown list if you need one.
Fireplace Installers Near Mitcham
Also find: Eastfields fireplace installers, Streatham fireplace installers, Merton Abbey fireplace installers, Waddon fireplace installers, St Helier fireplace installers, Mitcham Junction fireplace installers, Carshalton fireplace installers, Hackbridge fireplace installers, Morden fireplace installers, Rosehill fireplace installers, The Wythe fireplace installers and more. These and other locations are covered by fireplace fitters and related tradesmen. These seasoned tradesmen possess the experience and knowledge necessary to successfully install fireplaces in your home. Dedicated specialists facilitate residents in enjoying the warmth, ambiance and comfort that come with having a fireplace in their homes. By going here, local home and property owners can obtain fireplace installation quotations. Today is the ideal time to begin your fireplace installation.
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