Fireplaces Okehampton

Fireplace Fitter Okehampton Devon (EX20): Re-opening up an unused fireplace or having a new one installed is a wonderful way to add character to any room in your home in Okehampton. The addition of an open fire or multi-fuel stove for those cold winter evenings can even prove to be less expensive than a conventional central heating system, providing that you have a regular source of timber. If combined with a back boiler it can provide you with plenty of hot water in the process.

There are some crucial things you must think about before you commence any work, in order to establish a safe, efficient and attractive fireplace in your property. All work must abide by Part J of the UK Building Regulations, which covers the construction and installation of flue linings, hearths, chimney breasts and fireplaces of any combustible appliance.

DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?

A straightforward remodeling of a current fireplace can perhaps be achieved by a skilled DIYer, however if any construction work is required there's a chance of encountering structural issues which have to be handled professionally. You might be lucky and find that the lintel, hearth and chimney breast are in good condition, when you've revealed the old fireplace, and that what lies beneath needs barely more than a visit by a chimney sweep. However, a stopped up flue and crumbling, old brickwork that involves structural reinforcement is what you are most likely to find.

Hiring a certified fireplace fitter in Okehampton is normally advised, because a poorly installed fireplace can can cause a fire risk and respiratory health conditions. As is laid down in the Building Regulations for fireplaces, there must be adequate airflow in a room where there's a fireplace, because in order for it to burn properly, a sufficient level of oxygen is necessary. A fire which is burning inefficiently in an inadequately ventilated room can lead to a build-up of poisonous carbon monoxide.

To guarantee an adequate air flow for the fire to burn safely and effectively, a competent fireplace installation engineer will assess the circumstances and install vents in locations around the room, or underneath the floor, thus resolving this problem. To increase air movement within blocked or unused chimney flues, your fireplace installation engineer might need to fit vents to prevent condensed air getting trapped and causing damp areas and stains.

BEFORE WORK BEGINS

A large amount of dust and soot can be released from a blocked up chimney upon opening it up for restoration. It's advisable to remove any rugs, carpets and furniture from a room where you are going to expose an old fireplace, to prevent them from being damaged by soot, grime and dust that may be disturbed during the fireplace installation and chimney cleaning works. Due to the mess involved, if your fireplace installation is only a part of a more extensive refurbishment project, it ought to be one of the initial tasks that you tackle. This avoids any discolouration damage to any restored work you may have already completed.

CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK

With the fireplace opened up, it is time to determine what can be renovated or replaced and to give the chimney and hearth a thorough cleaning. The first thing on your checklist should be to bring in a decent Okehampton chimney sweep. In addition to cleaning and sweeping the chimney and flue, they will also consider the condition of your chimney and flu liner and tell you about any section of the flue and chimney structure that needs to be replaced.

If you need to strengthen the chimney or install a flue lining all UK Building Regulations must be followed to the letter. Experience in the right construction practices and an awareness of the appropriate Building Regs will be essential for anybody who tackles this kind of construction work, so you really want a qualified builder and should not try to do this on your own.

If the size of the original fireplace is bigger than your needs, a supporting concrete lintel will have to be put in. Once this step has been completed, the refurbishment or upgrading of the fireplace hearth can be undertaken. In the past the hearth was normally sunken into the floor, but current regulations require it to be raised at least 12.5mm above normal floor level. You will find that there's a wide variety of ready to install hearths in slate, marble or granite, however if you have a non-standard sized fireplace you may have to opt for a tailor-made hearth, which you can ask your fireplace builder in Okehampton about.

FIREPLACE DESIGNS

A quick browse online or a visit to a fireplace showroom will show the alternatives that are available for the different styles and types of fireplaces. It is entirely possible that due to your existing chimney and flue, that certain fireplace designs may not be suitable, and it pays to follow the advice of your fireplace company with respect to this.

An open fireplace might be a suitable choice for some rooms and homes in Okehampton, whilst a wood burner or multi fuel stove will be a better choice for others. For instance, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be an ideal backdrop for an old-fashioned cast iron wood-burner stove, highlighting its character and reflecting heat back into the room.

For homes in Okehampton that don't have an existing chimney, a wood burning stove is a great alternative. Your fireplace specialist can take a stainless steel flue straight from the rear or top of the wood burner and out through an exterior wall, therefore a chimney structure isn't required.

WOOD, MULTI-FUEL, OPEN, ELECTRIC OR GAS FIREPLACE?

Who does not enjoy the glow and warmth of a natural fireplace on a cold evening, however if your circumstances do not permit this, what are the other alternatives?

Electric Fireplaces - These can be fitted quickly and safely by any reasonable competent individual and there are varieties and styles which are suitable for almost any room and home in Okehampton. When set into a conventional fireplace, modern electric fires can mimic an actual fire, with convincing looking flames and occasionally even the crackling sound of wood.

Open Fireplaces - The classic fireplace that can use various fuels such as wood, briquettes, coal and other combustible products. An open fire is a delight to the eye and modern fireplaces are no more the inefficient, draughty and smoky items that they used to be.

Wood Burning Stoves - These stoves can have classic or contemporary styling to match the decor of your property, and they have recently become very popular in many Okehampton households. A version with an integrated back boiler will supply supplementary heating by connecting the hot water to a radiator in a cold spot of your house.

Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves provide you with the option of burning coal, wood, gas and oil to deliver a versatile stove for any property in Okehampton. One of the best known brands of multi-fuel stoves is AGA, and these products can not only provide you with low-cost heat for your entire home, but also hot water and cooking.

Gas Fireplaces - Offering instant heat and more efficient (thermally) when compared with open fireplaces, there are a wide range of styles and designs to suit any period of property. The maintenance and installation of gas fireplaces should only be conducted by a certified Gas Safe heating engineer in Okehampton.

Fireplace installation work can be carried out in Okehampton and also nearby in: Belstone Corner, Sourton, Thorndon Cross, Sticklepath, Northlew, Folly Gate, Inwardleigh, Sampford Courtenay, Stockley Hamlet, Coombe Head, Chichacott, Exbourne, Bridestowe, Graddon Cross, as well as in these postcodes EX20 1LL, EX20 1DR, EX20 1FY, EX20 1DP, EX20 1DL, EX20 1HJ, EX20 1JD, EX20 1PX, EX20 1BW, and EX20 1FQ. If a fireplace company has the phone code 01837 and the postcode EX20, you can safely presume that they hail from somewhere in Okehampton area. This information is valuable if you wish to verify that you're looking at a local fireplace specialist. Okehampton people can use these and other similar services at any time they need to. You can simply click the "QUOTE" banner or form to get more information on the installation of fireplaces in the area.

Suggestions To Take Care Of Your Open Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Bill

Along with worries about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost some of its charm, although it is still a favourite for many people in Okehampton. Sitting in front of the comfort of an open fireplace, revives many precious memories for a lot of folks. There are many upsides to having an open fireplace although there are several downsides that could possibly need to be taken care of. As power costs climb, you need to ensure that your fireplace is producing heat efficiently. When you have a fire roaring in the fireplace, it can in fact take away warm air away from the room, making your heater work harder. When there's no fire, a damper should regulate the airflow. The thing is, fireplace dampers can often be inefficient in keeping warm air in the dwelling and cold air out.

What the majority of homeowners in Okehampton may not understand about their fireplace is that it does not necessarily do exactly what they think it is doing. Instead of saving resources, and heating costs, it's typically adding 100s of pounds of energy expense. However it's not all gloom and doom because there are options for making your fireplace very economical. There are at least 4 simple elements that you could certainly do to improve your fireplace. These definitely will make your fireplace a lot more efficient, and reduce your heating bills.

Step one is to take out your current damper and change it for a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is set up right at the top of your chimney which in turn also behaves the same as a storm door. It does a superb job of retaining warm air in the house during wintertime and cool air from escaping in the warmer months. The seal is easy to install, and can be bought on the web. Another thing you could choose to do is fit a fire-back in the back of your fireplace. It's made of cast iron and it is used to enhance the look of your fireplace while at the same time shielding the back wall from heat damage. The fire-back takes the heat from a fire, and radiates the heat back into the room, increasing the efficiency of the fireplace.

Another cost saver is a fireplace heater, which heats the area by drawing the air into a chamber and returning the air back into the room. These gadgets are created as closed systems so they do not give off any smoke, but they are very effective at warming your home. Last but not least, you can install glass doors which will likely be the most expensive. Hunting around, you should be able to find a bargain, and with an instruction manual, you can even put them in on your own. These glass doors help to stop the heat from leaking out plus it keeps children and pets from getting burned.

The suggestions presented here aren't all that hard to do and you should be able to order everything you need online. Look after your fireplace and watch your energy bill tumble.

Leaving a Review

When all is said and done, reviews and testimonials are the lifeblood of any Okehampton business, and having favourable reviews can be the difference between attracting a prospective consumer or seeing them go somewhere else for their services. If you're pleased about the performance of someone you have used, why don't you take some time to thank them by leaving a positive review. Potential future customers can benefit from learning of your first hand experience, and there are naturally benefits for the business as well. When you were first trying to find somebody to do your work, you might think about how your decision was ultimately swayed by positive reviews. Even if you looked at a company with an impressive looking website, you would possibly have looked someplace else if these promising signs weren't supported by some meaningful customer reviews.

But, how much trust can be put on reviews which are displayed on the website of a business? Did actual people write these glowing reviews or did a member of the company, looking to create leads, make them up?

An effective way to discover sincere and genuine reviews of any specific company or service in Okehampton is to check out the reviews on Google My Business listings, which are far more likely to be trustworthy. Trusted, since this also affects a business's ranking in search engines, this is THE go-to review website to determine any company's reputation. Bing Places for Business is another review site that you could try when leaving reviews for local businesses in Okehampton, and is the main rival to Google My Business, holding second place in the reviews sector. Your review left here can help enhance the local profile of the company that worked on your fireplace project and provide a summary of their reliability and working standards.

Reviews and feedback can also be posted on Facebook and Twitter pages, which are excellent and instantly visible ways to compliment a local business. The media marketing promotions of any small business in Okehampton will rely heavily on these social media giants. Adding your own positive review will go some way to strengthening their marketing message, and can help other individuals who are looking for similar services.

If you are not all that computer savvy you can always just send in a hand-written thankyou letter to the company in question. Such letters can be gathered together to create a review portfolio which is useful in face to face meetings with prospective customers, photographed and published on the company website, or framed for display in offices or reception areas. Whichever approach you use to create a review, it's pleasing to feel that you have helped a small business get a foothold in the local marketplace.

Okehampton Fireplace Related Tasks

Your local Okehampton fireplace fitter can deliver a whole range of tasks and services, and along with what has already been covered here they will be able to do period fireplaces Okehampton, flue lining inspections, the installation of modern fireplaces in Okehampton, chimney strengthening Okehampton, fireplace surrounds in Okehampton, stone fireplaces, fireplace suites, tiled fireplaces Okehampton, made-to-measure fireplaces, electric fire suites, gas fireplaces Okehampton, Regency fireplaces Okehampton, fake fireplaces, modern fireplace installations, Victorian fireplaces Okehampton, electric fireplaces, fireplace design, brick fireplaces, the installation of disigner fireplaces in Okehampton, fireplaceestimates, elm fireplaces Okehampton, fireplace repairs in Okehampton, traditional fireplaces Okehampton, fire grate conversions, outdoor fireplaces Okehampton, cast iron fireplaces, wood burning stove installations, chimney sweeping Okehampton, fireplaces, chimney cowl installation, stone fireplace installations in Okehampton, open fireplaces in Okehampton, Victorian fireplace installations, inset stove installation, chimney repairs, to mention a few. This is just an illustration of what you can expect from the local fireplace fitter. Okehampton companies, when asked, will be happy to inform you of the full range of fireplace services which can be accessed.

Advice and Guidance

You could check out the Wikipedia webpage to learn about the heating efficiency of fireplaces, the history of the fireplace, the types of fireplace, the health effects of fireplaces, electric fireplaces and how fireplaces affect the environment. To find out what is happening in the world of fireplace installation visit the Buildhub Forum, threads include things like building regulations, widening a fireplace, chimney design, trims for stoves, log burners and pellet stoves and boilers. To see what's happening regarding fireplaces on social media websites, check this out. Discover the fundamentals on installing a fireplace mantel and hearth by watching You Tube here. If you happen to be curious to read up on ideas for fireplaces click here.

Okehampton Skip Hire

While it's great to do home renovations or improvements on your property in Okehampton, a major downside can be having to get rid of the waste that's generated after the job is finished. When it comes to fireplace installations in Okehampton, it will depend on the extent and specifics of your project. Sometimes there'll be a great deal of waste, other times very little. It may be the case that waste removal is listed in your quote, since some tradesmen are happy to remove waste as an integral part of the process. Make sure you ascertain this, as you may well be stuck with handling your own waste removal.

When there is a substantial amount of waste, most householders in Okehampton tend to hire a skip. You will need to choose the correct size skip, as there are many different sizes on offer. Skips come in the following sizes: skip bags (1-1.5 yards), mini-skips (2-3 yards), midi-skips (4-5 yards), builders skips (6-8 yards), roll-on roll-off skips (20-25 yards).

CLICK HERE to get a skip hire quote in Okehampton.

Fireplace Installers Near Okehampton

Also find: Chichacott fireplace installers, Graddon Cross fireplace installers, Folly Gate fireplace installers, Northlew fireplace installers, Sticklepath fireplace installers, Exbourne fireplace installers, Belstone Corner fireplace installers, Stockley Hamlet fireplace installers, Thorndon Cross fireplace installers, Coombe Head fireplace installers, Bridestowe fireplace installers, Inwardleigh fireplace installers, Sourton fireplace installers, Sampford Courtenay fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installers are ready and able to serve those living in the majority of these towns and locations. The adept installation of a fireplace in your home is well within the skillset of these versatile tradesmen, given their knowledge and experience. With the assistance of these dedicated professionals, residents can enjoy the comfort, warmth and ambiance that a fireplace brings to their living spaces. Local residents can obtain fireplace installation quotes by clicking here.

To obtain local info regarding Okehampton, Devon check here

Fireplace installation in EX20 area, (dialling code 01837).

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