Fireplace Fitter Southborough Kent (TN4): A great way to add some charm to any Southborough property is by the installation of a new fireplace, or the renovation of an existing one. You won't just delight in the ambience and warmth of an open fire or stove during the chilly winter days, but if you combine a new fireplace with a back boiler, you will also be supplied with plenty of piping hot water.
There are some important things that you will have to do to make sure you can safely install and use your new fireplace, before you start to prise away at a blocked up chimney breast. The United Kingdom's Building Regulations, Part J for heating appliances for example, which deals with any work conducted on flue linings, hearths, fireplaces and chimney breasts. If you live in a listed building or are in a designated conservation area you have to check with local council if planning permission is needed for a fireplace installation in your house.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
When renovating an old blocked or bricked-up fireplace, there's a high probability of running across structural issues, so even if you are fairly good at do-it-yourself you could easily struggle to complete this sort of work. When your boarded fireplace is opened up you may be lucky and find a stable hearth, lintel and chimney breast which requires little more than a chimney sweep to get it working once again. If you aren't so blessed, you will discover a wall of crumbling, old bricks that is covering a series of problems, like a broken old lintel or a stopped-up chimney.
If your house in Southborough has a fireplace installed and it is not correctly put in, there's not just a risk or fire, but also of respiratory health problems. So, using a certified fireplace fitter is widely recommended in most cases. So that a fire can burn efficiently in a space where a fireplace is installed, there has to be enough airflow to ensure sufficient amounts of oxygen. If the airflow is not sufficient then it's possible that a fire will burn inefficiently and cause carbon monoxide to build up, which can be lethal.
It may be necessary to install airflow vents in walls and floors to enable the fireplace to get sufficient oxygen to burn safely and properly all the time. Moist, condensed air can get trapped inside blocked chimney flues which may also require improved ventilation, to avoid issues with dampness inside the chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
Large amounts of soot and muck will enter your home when you're having an unused fireplace opened up. It's a good idea to remove your your furniture, rugs and carpets before any fireplace renovation work and chimney sweeping starts, as even with dust sheets for your furniture, the chance of damage from dust and soot is still possible. If you're lucky enough to be carrying out a full room renovation then it should be one of the very first tasks to work on before re-plastering and decorating the walls. The explanation for this is to avoid any staining damage to any work that's previously been finished.
CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL WORK
As soon as the old fireplace has been opened up and revealed, you will have a far clearer picture of the sort of restoration work that needs to be done. You can also then proceed with sweeping the chimney and cleaning any remaining elements of the hearth and back panel. You should now speak to your chimney sweep, if you haven't already done this, to come and look at the old chimney and fireplace. They will not only ensure your flue and chimney are completely clean, but they can also investigate the condition of the flue liner and existing chimney and provide guidance about whether you need to upgrade any section of the flue and chimney.
After a chimney sweeps assessment it may be necessary to install a new liner and/or strengthen the chimney breast in keeping with Part J of the Building Regulations. This kind of work should be accomplished by a competent tradesperson with experience of the appropriate Building Regulations and decent working practices.
If it is necessary to change the size of opening of your existing fireplace to something more suitable for your design, a supporting lintel must be installed. Once this has been completed the next phase of your Southborough fireplace installation should be to modernise the existing hearth. The circumstances with hearths has changed down the years, and whilst in the old days they were frequently set into floor voids, they must now be set slightly above floor level if the current UK Building Regulations are to be followed. You'll find that there's a wide range of pre-made hearths in slate, marble or stone, but if your fireplace is of non-standard size you may have to go with a custom-built hearth, which you should ask your Southborough fireplace builder about.
STYLES AND DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be tricky amongst the various styles and designs available from an online store or fireplace showroom. It is quite possible that owing to your existing chimney and flue, that some fireplaces may not be appropriate, therefore it's a good idea to follow the the recommendations and advice of the fireplace installation company with respect to this.
The look you're seeking to create, your existing decor and maybe, the age of your home in Southborough, will determine if you opt for a wood burner, an open fireplace or a multi-fuel stove. If you're fortunate enough to have a house with an inglenook fireplace for example, this is an ideal position for an old-fashioned cast iron wood-burner stove. This won't just reflect any heat that is generated back into the room effectively, but will also put the focus on the elegance and charm of the stove.
For properties in Southborough that do not have an existing chimney, a multi-fuel or wood burning stove is a terrific solution. A chimney isn't needed in this instance as the flue is fitted to the top or rear of the wood burner and routed through an external wall.
GAS, OPEN, WOOD, ELECTRIC OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
You simply can't beat a crackling fire on a damp winter evening, to create a unique ambience and charm in your Southborough property, but what are the alternatives?
Wood Burning Stoves - These can even be freestanding where needed, and there is a huge variety available to complement any kind of property in Southborough. When used in combination with a back boiler, these can provide additional heating functionality by transferring the hot water to a colder area of your house by means of a radiator.
Electric Fireplaces - Simple installation and a varied choice of designs make electric fireplaces an extremely popular choice for Southborough houses without a chimney breast. Modern electric fires can deliver convincing looking flames and even the crackling sound of wood to replicate an open fire when set into into an old fashioned fireplace.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves can be used with a variety of fuels, (oil, coal, gas, wood) to generate a great focal point in your property in Southborough. These stoves can be utilised not just for heating a single room, but some designs like the AGA range, can supply hot water, provide a useful cooking area and can be used to heat the entire home if they're plumbed into a system of radiators.
Gas Fireplaces - There are a range of different styles to suit all types of property and their efficiency to warm a room is better than wood burning stoves or open fireplaces. Any gas fireplace in your Southborough home must be installed and maintained by a certified Gas Safe technician.
Open Fireplaces - A flickering fire is a focal point for any room and it has the capacity to burn virtually any solid fuel that is available. A skillfully installed open fire will be nothing like the smoky old fireplace that was perhaps boarded up by earlier owners, and its glowing elegance is a delightful addition to any property in Southborough.
Fireplace installation providers can be located in the Southborough area, together with: Brenchley, Bidborough, Groombridge, High Brooms, Speldhurst, Penshurst, Matfield, Fordcombe, Blackham, Rusthall, Langton Green, in addition to these postcode areas: TN4 0QD, TN4 0AB, TN11 0NF, TN4 0NH, TN4 0PE, TN4 0SA, TN4 0LY, TN4 0PQ, TN4 0SL, and TN4 0TN. Locally based Southborough fireplace installers will likely have the postcode TN4 and the telephone code 01892. Southborough property owners have access to these and other fireplace services as and when they need to. To get information on the installation of fireplaces in your area simply click on the "quote" banner or form.
Chimney Sweep Southborough
If you have a log burning stove or an open fire in your property, it is advisable to get the chimney swept frequently. Chimneys ought to be cleaned and swept at least once every year to keep them safe and working correctly.
You should always bring in a professional Southborough chimney sweep, as this is a dirty job. Bringing in a chimney sweep not only keeps your chimney clean but also highlights any problems that there may be with your chimney.
The build-up of soot, ash and wood tar that results from neglecting to sweep a chimney in Southborough, could easily cause a chimney fire. As well as preventing fires, you will also want to avoid the chance of poisoning by carbon monoxide fumes. When a chimney gets blocked this noxious substance can seep back into your house with dreadful consequences.
All of these factors add up to the importance of choosing a reliable Southborough chimney sweep, who is also covered by public liability insurance. To book your chimney sweep in Southborough CLICK HERE. You can also get chimney sweeping done in nearby locations and areas.
Improve the Cost-Efficiency of Your Open Fireplace
The age-old open fireplace seems to have lost a little bit of of its allure due to worries about the environment but it is still favoured by many in Southborough. There's nothing quite like feeling the natural warmth of a fireplace during a chilly winter's evening. The open fireplace provides numerous benefits for your home, but there are several significant drawbacks that may need to be monitored. Due to power costs increasing so swiftly these days, your open fireplace needs to be a sound source of heat, not one of inefficiency. When a fire is burning, it may give warmth to those who are standing close to it, but it can in fact pull warm air out of a room, making your heat source work even harder. If there's no fire, a damper should regulate the airflow. Unfortunately, dampers have a very ineffective seal, so cold air gets in, and warmer air will go out.
Many homeowners that possess fireplaces in their property in Southborough don't realise how the fireplace can have an effect on their energy bill. Instead of managing the heating of a house naturally, a fireplace can essentially add hundreds of pounds to your heating bills. Nevertheless, there are a number of techniques that you can do that can easily turn your budget busting fireplace into something a touch more efficient. There tend to be 4 simple things that you can do to turn your fireplace into the cost-effective heat sourse you're looking for. You will see that these guidelines will help make your fireplace produce quality heat and your current energy bill smaller.
The initial step is to remove your current fireplace damper and swap it for a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is fitted right at the top end of your chimney which also doubles as a storm door. It stops the inside air from getting out, and the outside air from coming into the house, and functions in hot weather or cold. This does not take lots of time to install and you can acquire one online. An additional thing you could choose to do is install a fire-back in the back of your fireplace. A fire-back is made of cast iron and it is actually meant to protect the back wall from fire damage, while making your fireplace look elegant. The fire-back absorbs the heat from a fire, and radiates the heat back into the room, improving the overall performance of your fireplace.
Another way to save money is by using a fireplace fan/heater, which heats the room by drawing the air into a chamber and returning the air back into the room. These devices don't produce any smoke and should be extremely effective in keeping your family home warm. And finally, adding glass doors, although a bit on the pricey side, can be beneficial in making your open fire cost efficient. If you do some groundwork, you should be able to get a good deal on glass doors and they're not that difficult to put in yourself. These glass doors help to stop the heat from leaking out and additionally it keeps children and pets from getting burned.
These suggestions are not terribly hard to accomplish and you should be able to purchase everything you need online. Look after your fireplace and watch your energy bill fall.
Flue Linings
Installed to boost the safety and efficiency of your chimney system, a flue liner (or chimney liner) is important and should not be left out whatever the circumstances. Carrying toxic fumes to the outside of your home, a flue liner runs the entire length of your chimney, and can be made from a variety of materials including such things as clay, ceramics or metal. There is a fair chance that if your house in Southborough is really old, the chimney may not even have a lining, and even if it does it will almost certainly need replacing.
Your fireplace flue can, over time, be compromised by the dangerous fumes and gases which are created by burning a fire. You can either ask the chimney sweep to examine it for damage and possible problems while your chimney is being swept and cleaned, or you could ask the fireplace technician to check it. If there is damage, those dangerous gases might be able to seep into your home rather than being properly expelled outside. Excessive heat could also be permitted to penetrate the chimney's structure, generating the potential for fires.
Southborough Fireplace Related Tasks
Your local Southborough fireplace fitter can provide an extensive assortment of services, and on top of what has already been covered here they should be able to do fire grate conversions, limestone fireplace installation, Victorian fireplaces Southborough, cheap fireplaces, 2-sided fireplaces, Victorian fireplace installation, oak beam fireplaces in Southborough, fake fireplace installation, brick fireplaces, electric fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces Southborough, fireplace fitting, fireplace inserts in Southborough, wood burning stoves, elm fireplaces Southborough, open fireplaces Southborough, freestanding stoves, wood burning fireplace installation in Southborough, tiled fireplaces Southborough, chimney strengthening Southborough, multifuel stove installations, electric fireplace installations, fake fireplaces, classic fireplaces, fireplaces, chimney modifications in Southborough, fireplace installation, electric fire suites, period fireplaces, wood burning fireplaces, reclaimed fireplaces Southborough, modern fireplace installation, Victorian fireplaces, fireplace mantels, the installation of tiled fireplaces, and others. This is merely a hint of the services that may be on offer from the local fireplace installer. You could always click HERE and enter your details on our simple quote form, if you have fireplace requirements in Southborough, that you do not see here.
Fireplace Installation Help and Guidance
Fireplace Installation advice and guidance is available from online forums, so to take advantage of this fact you should pop along to the Buildhub Forum, discussion threads comprise building regulations, pellet boilers and stoves, chimney design, widening fireplaces, log burning stoves and trims for stoves. By taking a look at You Tube videos like this you are able to find out how to install a recessed electric fireplace. If you wish to read more about fireplaces, you'll find details about the health effects of fireplaces, wood burning fireplaces, the environmental effects of fireplaces, the types of fireplaces, the evolution of fireplaces and the heating efficiency of fireplaces, by heading to Wikipedia. If you are interested in reading up on ideas for fireplaces click here. To learn how freplace fitters are promoting themselves on social media, check this out.
Friends & Family
Family and friends are a great source of recommendations, when you're trying to find a contractor in Southborough for your project or undertaking. So as to find someone who is perfect for your needs, personal references are usually best, and can frequently enable you to point a finger at a cowboy fireplace contractor or a company that has a dissatisfactory level of performance.
If you're aware that a family member or friend has used a particular company, you can ask whether things went pear-shaped during the work, if so, how quickly it was rectified, and what the attitude of the contractor was like as a consequence. You'll also get an insight into their reliability and timekeeping You can also get a notion of how the final price for the work when compared with the initial quote they were given, which, unless they've got a price guarantee, is sometimes hard to obtain directly from the contractors.
Finally, in regards to advice, your friends and family members are people you know and trust to be truthful and honest. If you find that they're not wanting to talk about a particular contractor or fireplace installer, it is likely because they have had a poor experience. It is frequently the case that a lot of people will be more than willing to talk about a good quality contractor and less inclined to mention a mediocre one. They may even offer some alternative company, rather than 'malign' a far from ideal one that they've previously dealt with.
Fireplace Installers Near Southborough
Also find: Rusthall fireplace installers, Bidborough fireplace installers, Blackham fireplace installers, Brenchley fireplace installers, Langton Green fireplace installers, Penshurst fireplace installers, Matfield fireplace installers, Speldhurst fireplace installers, Groombridge fireplace installers, High Brooms fireplace installers, Fordcombe fireplace installers and more. People who install fireplaces can be found in practically all of these places. These skilled tradesmen's knowledge and experience make them well-suited for the precise installation of fireplaces in your home. The atmosphere, warmth and comfort of a fireplace in their living areas are made possible for residents through the support of these dedicated professionals. By simply clicking here, local homeowners can get fireplace installation quotes.
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Fireplace installation in TN4 area, (dialling code 01892).
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