Fireplaces Shaftesbury

Fireplace Fitter Shaftesbury Dorset (SP7): Fitting a new fireplace or re-opening an old disused fireplace in your Shaftesbury property is a wonderful way to add character and a homely feel to any room. Nippy winters' evenings can become very enjoyable as you sit beside your new fireplace surrounded by the crackle of a burning fire, and if your fire is used in combination with a back boiler you can even benefit from cheap hot water as well.

But before you begin bashing down the walls of a blocked up fireplace there are some essential things to consider to achieve a safe and efficient fireplace. Any work that's carried out on your fireplace, chimney breast, hearth and flue lining must adhere to the Part J Building Regs for combustible appliances. If you live in a listed building or are in a designated conservation area you should check with local authorities to find out if planning permission is needed for a fireplace installation in your house.

PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?

A basic remodeling of a current fireplace can be achieved by a competent DIY enthusiast, but if any building work is needed there is the chance of running into structural issues that need to be dealt with by a professional. If you are lucky when you open up a boarded fireplace you might find a decent hearth, chimney breast and lintel that needs nothing other than the services and advice of a chimney sweep to get it ready for a fire once more. What is more commonplace however is a jumble of crumbling brickwork that hides a stopped up flue, and needs some degree of structural modification before it can be safely used.

Due to the serious fire risk and health issues that can be caused by an improperly installed or restored fireplace, it's best to avail yourself of the knowledge and experience of a competent fireplace installer in Shaftesbury. There always has to be airflow into a room where a fireplace is installed to ensure sufficient levels of oxygen allow the fire to burn safely. If there is not enough airflow then it is quite possible that a fire will not burn efficiently and cause carbon monoxide to build up, which can be lethal.

It may be necessary to install airflow vents in floors and walls to enable the fire to receive enough oxygen to burn efficiently and safely at all times. To avoid condensed air becoming trapped in unused or blocked off chimney flues and producing staining and damp spots, vents may have to be fitted by the fireplace installation team to introduce more airflow.

BEFORE WORK STARTS

Having a fireplace opened up can create large amounts of soot and dirt. A fireplace installer will bring coverings for your furniture and supply a bit of protection, but it is wise when possible to remove furniture and carpets from the area before any work starts in earnest. If you're performing a full renovation of a property or room, the fireplace ought to be opened up and worked on before any decoration or plastering works are dealt with. This should help to avoid any harm by dirt and chimney soot to any completed work.

STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK

Once you've revealed your old fireplace you will have a better idea of the work that needs to be done, and also be able to thoroughly sweep the chimney and clean up any hearth that may have been left in place. Contacting a chimney sweep to de-soot your chimney will be one of the very first things on your agenda. Not only will they make sure your chimney and flue are clean, but they can additionally investigate the state of the chimney and flue liner and provide advice if you need to replace any section of the chimney and flue.

It may be essential to fit a new flue liner to conform to the Building Regulations, and construction might also be needed to reinforce the existing chimney and chimney breast. This sort of work should be tackled by a competent tradesman with experience of the appropriate building regulations and decent working practices.

If you need to modify the size of opening of your original fireplace to something more suitable for your new design, a supporting concrete lintel must be put in. When you've supported the fireplace with your lintel it will then be time to repair or upgrade the hearth. In earlier times the hearth would be set into a hole in the floor, however the current regulations require it to be raised above floor level. Off-the-shelf options from concrete, marble or slate are available on the market to achieve this, or your fireplace installer in Shaftesbury may be able to offer a bespoke, custom-made hearth to match your room style.

STYLE OF FIREPLACE

A trip to a fireplace showroom or a browse online will illustrate the choices available for the different styles and designs of fireplaces. It is entirely possible that owing to your existing flue, chimney and airflow to the room, that certain fireplace designs might not be appropriate, therefore it's advisable to follow the the recommendations and advice of the fireplace installation company in this respect.

You property's age, and the theme that you're trying to develop for your room, will all help you to decide on the design and type of fireplace that's best for you. If you have an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, a wood burning stove can look amazing in this surrounding, and also has the benefit of reflecting heat into the room from the brick or stone walls that surround the stove.

A cast iron wood burner is also an effective option if you don't have a chimney breast in your Shaftesbury home. As long as you have an outside wall through which a flue from the stove can be channeled, you don't need a pre-existing chimney in place to enjoy that "real" fire experience.

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

A crackling fire on a cold evening creates a charm and ambience that can't be matched, but what are the other options available to fit in your lovely new fireplace in Shaftesbury?

Multi-Fuel Stoves - As the name suggests they can be used with different fuels, such as oil, wood, smokeless coal or gas, and become a unique focal point in any living room or kitchen in Shaftesbury. Some designs, such as the AGA range, can also be used for generating hot water, cooking and heating your whole house.

Electric Fireplaces - Simple installation and a varied choice of styles make electric fireplaces the obvious choice for Shaftesbury properties without a chimney. Even if your home has a conventional fireplace, an electric fire which looks almost like a "real" fire can be installed.

Gas Fireplaces - Gas fireplaces are available in a multitude of designs to suit any property and are generally more thermally efficient than open fireplaces. Gas fireplaces can only be installed and maintained by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer, (previously CORGI registered).

Open Fireplaces - Provides a stunning focal point for any room and can use an assortment of solid fuels. In past times an open fire might have been associated with being inefficient, smoky and draughty, however a professionally fitted fireplace is a joy to behold while reclining in the warm glow it provides.

Wood Burning Stoves - These have become "the in thing" in a lot of households in Shaftesbury, and can have modern or classic design to complement your decor. A model with an integrated back boiler will provide supplementary heating by transferring the piping hot water to a radiator in a cold room of your property.

It is not just in Shaftesbury itself that you can access fireplace installers - surrounding places like: Donhead St Andrew, East Stour, Cherry Orchard, Stour Provost, Stour, Motcombe, Semley, West Melbury, Stour Row, Cann, East Melbury, Melbury Abbas, Sedgehill, Ivy Cross can also be covered. Locally based Shaftesbury fireplace services will most likely have the phone code 01747 and the postcode SP7.

Chimney Sweeping Shaftesbury

If you have a wood burner or an open fire in your house, it's essential to get your chimney swept on a regular basis. To be totally safe, it is wise to sweep and clean your chimney once or twice a year, particularly if you're burning wood or bituminous coal.

So as to get this done properly you should always bring in a professional Shaftesbury chimney sweep. A skilled chimney sweep won't only clean your chimney but also be on the lookout for safety issues and other problems.

Chimney fires can easily be the result of a build-up of soot and ash if you forget to sweep your chimney. Carbon monoxide fumes can also be drawn back into your property if you allow your chimney to become blocked or poorly maintained.

Check that your chosen chimney sweep in Shaftesbury is properly covered by public liability insurance, and is qualified in this field. CLICK HERE to get chimney sweeping quotes for the Shaftesbury area. chimney sweeps are also available in nearby areas.

Ways To Lower Your Heating Bill Plus Keep Your Open Fireplace In Great Shape

Along with worries about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost some of its appeal, but it is still a favourite for many homeowners in Shaftesbury. Sitting in front of the warmth of a fireplace, revives many treasured memories for lots of people. Having a fireplace has its advantages but there are also a handful of downsides that could affect its usefulness. Due to energy costs increasing so swiftly nowadays, your fireplace must be a source of heat, not one of inefficiency. When a fire is burning, it may provide warmth for those standing immediately in front of it, but it can actually pull warm air out of your room, making your heater work even more. The fireplace damper is meant to stop cold air from coming in to your home when you haven't got a fire in the fireplace. Unfortunately, fireplace dampers are renowned for being inefficient in keeping warm air in the dwelling and cold air out.

Many householders in Shaftesbury who have fireplaces don't understand how it can impact the cost of heating. As opposed to saving resources, and heating costs, it can often be adding 100s of pounds of energy expense. Just consider that it's not all hopeless as there are ways to make your fireplace more economical. There tend to be four simple steps that you can take to make your fireplace into the cost-effective heat sourse you are searching for. These will make your present fireplace much more effective, and reduce your energy bills.

The 1st thing to do is to replace the damper with a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is set up at the top end of your chimney which also behaves the same as a storm door. It does a good job of retaining warm air in the property during winter months and cool air from getting out in the summer months. The seal is straightforward to install, and can be bought online. An additional thing you will be able to do is place a fire-back in the back of your fireplace. A fire-back consists of cast iron and it is actually meant to shield the wall behind from fire damage, whilst making your fireplace look classy. The fire-back also absorbs heat coming from the fire and returns it back into the room, making the fireplace more effective.

Another cost saver is a fireplace heater, which heats the area by drawing the air into a heat chamber and returning the air back into the room. These fireplace heaters are put in place as closed systems so they don't give off any smoke, but are quite effective at warming your house. The last and final thing that you can do is to fix glass doors, which may be your biggest expense. If you do some groundwork, you can definitely get an excellent deal on glass doors and they are not that difficult to put in yourself. These glass doors form a barrier between the chimney and living space, not only stopping the heat from escaping, but also offering protection.

The information we've just given isn't all that hard to put into action, and all of the items can be purchased on the internet. Make the most of your fireplace and observe your energy costs tumble.

Flue Linings

A chimney or flue liner is an important part of your chimney system, allowing it to function a lot more effectively and improving the safety of your chimney. With the purpose of transporting fumes to the outside of a property, flue liners are ducts fabricated from clay, metal or ceramic material that are installed inside chimneys. A chimney on an older structure in Shaftesbury may in fact not have a lining at all, or will need to be relined subject to it's condition and age.

Your fireplace flue can easily be damaged by the harmful gases and fumes which are created by burning a fire. Your flue lining should be routinely inspected for damage and possible issues every time it is being cleaned. You must stop those dangerous gases from seeping into your living area, which is what can take place when a flue lining is damaged. There is an added risk with impaired flue linings, in that they might enable extreme heat to penetrate into the chimney's structure, which might result in fires.

Fireplace Installation Information and Advice

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Shaftesbury Fireplace Related Tasks

There is a wide range of work that can be accomplished by your local Shaftesbury fireplace fitter including fireplace installation Shaftesbury, fireplace services, chimney sweeping in Shaftesbury, chimney strengthening in Shaftesbury, wood burning fireplace installations in Shaftesbury, brick fireplaces in Shaftesbury, freestanding stoves in Shaftesbury, Victorian fireplace installation, limestone fireplace installation, stone fireplace installations, fireplace suites Shaftesbury, chimney repairs, electric fireplace installations in Shaftesbury, Victorian fireplaces, cast iron fireplace installations Shaftesbury, fake fireplaces, the installation of chimney cowls, bespoke fireplaces in Shaftesbury, electric fire baskets, chimney modifications in Shaftesbury, chimney lining, oak beam fireplaces Shaftesbury, double-sided stove installation Shaftesbury, fireplacequotations, fireplace refurbishment, cast iron fireplaces, inglenook fireplace installations Shaftesbury, marble fireplace installations, and lots more. These are just a handful of the tasks that are conducted by tradesmen installing fireplaces. Shaftesbury specialists will inform you of their full range of services.

Shaftesbury Skip Hire

The amount of waste which is produced when doing home refurbishments or improvements in Shaftesbury is one of the major drawbacks of these types of projects. Whether or not a lot of waste is created by your fireplace installations will depend on the specifics of your particular project, sometimes there will be lots of waste, other times not so much. Some tradespeople make allowances for waste removal in their quotes, and if this is not itemised ask if it's included, if not you will have to sort it out.

The easiest way to dispose of this waste is to hire a skip. You'll need to choose the right size of skip, since there are many different sizes available. You can choose from a mini-skip, a midi-skip, a builders skip or a roll-on roll-off skip, or for small home projects you can even hire a skip bag.

For skip hire prices in Shaftesbury CLICK HERE.

Fireplace Installers Near Shaftesbury

Also find: Donhead St Andrew fireplace installers, West Melbury fireplace installers, Stour fireplace installers, Cann fireplace installers, Motcombe fireplace installers, East Stour fireplace installers, Cherry Orchard fireplace installers, Stour Provost fireplace installers, Stour Row fireplace installers, Ivy Cross fireplace installers, Semley fireplace installers, Melbury Abbas fireplace installers, Sedgehill fireplace installers, East Melbury fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installation services are available in almost all of these locations. With the requisite knowledge and experience, these seasoned tradespeople are adept at successfully installing fireplaces in your property. Residents can experience the comfort, ambiance and warmth that a fireplace brings to their living spaces with the help and assistance of these dedicated professionals. Local homeowners can get fireplace installation price quotes by simply clicking here. So, why not get cracking with your fireplace installation right away!

For local info relating to Shaftesbury, Dorset check here

Fireplace installation in SP7 area, telephone code 01747.