Fireplaces Southwick

Fireplace Fitter Southwick West Sussex (BN42): Opening up an old disused fireplace to put in an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is a good way to add a bit of character and a homely feel to your Southwick property. If you combine your new fireplace with a back boiler, not only can you enjoy the warmth and ambience of an open fire or stove on those nippy winter evenings, you will also be supplied with plenty of hot water.

. Work that is done on the fireplaces, chimney breasts, hearths and flue linings of any combustible appliances, must abide by Part J of the Building Regulations. If your dwelling in Southwick is listed or is located in a conservation area, planning permission might also be needed before work can commence.

PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?

When restoring an old bricked-up or blocked fireplace, there's a fair chance of running across structural problems, thus even if you are good at do-it-yourself you could struggle with this sort of work. You might discover that the hearth, chimney breast and lintel are in good condition, when you have revealed the old fireplace, and the hidden gem beneath requires barely more than the services of a chimney sweep. What you'll likely find is an area of old bricks that hides problems such as a lintel that needs replacing or a blocked up chimney.

Due to the serious health and fire risk issues that can result from an improperly installed or renovated fireplace, it is better to rely on the experience and knowledge of a competent fireplace installer in Southwick. A key part of the Building Regulations (Part J) for fireplaces is that enough oxygen is available in a room for a fire to burn efficiently and properly. Insufficient oxygen means that the fire won't burn effectively, and a build up of carbon monoxide could occur, which can lead to death.

To guarantee adequate levels of oxygen reach the fire, and to effectively get around any airflow problems, vents may need to be fitted in the room during a fireplace installation. Condensed air can often get trapped inside blocked or unused chimney flues which might also need to have vents installed to enhance air circulation, and avoid issues with dampness and staining inside the chimney breast.

BEFORE WORK STARTS

Large quantities of dirt and soot will enter your home when you're having a disused fireplace opened up. Essentially, this is an exceedingly messy task. So that the rugs, furniture and carpets in a room do not get adversely affected by the soot and grime that is emitted during works by a fireplace installer, it's always a good idea to remove them beforehand. When it is merely part of a more substantial home restoration project, opening up a disused fireplace should be one of the initial things that you do, due to the mess involved. By opening up a fireplace first you will stop any chimney soot causing discolouring damage to other parts of your project, such as fresh plaster or wallpapered walls.

STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK

Once you've opened up your old fireplace you'll have a better understanding of the work that needs to be done, and also be in a position to sweep the chimney and clean up any sections of hearth that may have been left in place. You should now get hold of your chimney sweep, if you haven't already done this, to come and look at the old fireplace and chimney. As well as sweeping and cleaning the chimney and flue, they will also consider the condition of the chimney and flu liner and tell you about any aspect of the chimney structure and flue that needs replacing.

If it is necessary to install a new flue liner or strengthen the chimney all relevant Building Regulations must be complied with. These are jobs that require a competent tradesman with a knowledge of the appropriate regulations and reliable construction skills.

In an older building a supporting concrete lintel may be necessary to adapt the size of the opening, if it's found that the uncovered fireplace is too large. When this step of the project has been accomplished, the repair or upgrading of the hearth can be dealt with. Most old fireplace hearths were set into voids in the floor. If that is the scenario with yours it will need to be raised above the level of the floor if it is going to to comply with the building regs as they stand. There are bespoke options to fit virtually any style and size of fireplace, or you can pick from a range of popular size and shape hearths to fit in with your decor.

FIREPLACE DESIGNS

If you pay a visit to a fireplace outlet you'll find that you have lots of choice with a wide array of different choices available to you. So you can select a fireplace that goes with your home's decor, and is also appropriate for your existing chimney and flue, it's advised that you get the recommendations of the installation team, which will be in accordance with your requirements.

Some rooms and houses will be more suited to open fireplaces than a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner and vice versa. For example, a wood burner looks fantastic set into an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, highlighting the charm and character of the stove and redirecting the heat into the room to good effect.

A wood-burning stove is also a good option if your home doesn't have a chimney breast. Your fireplace specialist can take a stainless steel flue straight from the top or rear of the stove and out through an exterior wall, therefore a chimney breast isn't needed.

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

You cannot really beat a roaring fire on a damp winter evening, to create a distinctive atmosphere and charm in your Southwick home, but what other options exist?

Gas Fireplaces - Gas fireplaces are a lot better than wood burning stoves in relation to thermal efficiency, and you will find a variety of sizes and styles to suit any home in Southwick. You will need a Gas Safe technician to fit one these fireplaces in your house in Southwick.

Wood Burning Stoves - These stoves come in old-fashioned or modern designs to complement the decor of your home, and they have recently become "the in thing" in many households in Southwick. If used alongside a back boiler these are able to provide hot water for radiators or for other use in your house.

Electric Fireplaces - A wide selection of electric fires to complement any house in Southwick, can be easily fitted by any competent individual. Even if your property has a regular fireplace, an electric fire can be installed that looks almost like a "real" fire with an authentic flame effect.

Multi-Fuel Stoves - Using a number of different fuels such as gas, oil, wood or smokeless coal, a multi-fuel stove can become an excellent focal point in your lounge or kitchen. If you go for a multi-fuel stove from AGA, you can do cooking, get supplied with hot water, and when plumbed into your radiator system, heat your whole home.

Open Fireplaces - This is the timeless fireplace, establishing a stunning focal point for your room or living space, and can be used to burn a range of different solid fuels, such as anthracite nuts nuts, coal, briquettes and wood. Being a far cry from the smoky fireplaces of days gone by, an expertly fitted open fire can provide a warm and cosy atmosphere in any Southwick home.

Fireplace installation work can be done in Southwick and also nearby in: Fishergate, Findon, Upper Beeding, Goring, Woodmancote, Fulking, Wiston, Small Dole, Coombes, Broadwater, together with these postcodes BN42 4NJ, BN42 4DQ, BN42 4LG, BN42 4AG, BN42 4DX, BN42 4BS, BN42 4NU, BN42 4BB, BN42 4LA, and BN41 1SX. If a fireplace installer has the telephone code 01273 and the postcode BN42, you can safely presume that they work in the Southwick area. This could be something to check if you want to ensure that you hire a locally based fireplace builder.

Tips On How To Lower Your Heating Bill And Keep Your Open Fireplace In Good Shape

Sparked by worries about the environment, the classic fireplace has lost some of its appeal, although it's still a favourite for many property owners in Southwick. Sitting facing the warmth of a fireplace, brings back many cherished memories for lots of folks. Having a fireplace has its perks but there are several drawbacks that could have an impact on its usefulness. As energy costs climb, you need to make certain that your fireplace is producing heat efficiently. While having a fire blazing in a fireplace keeps those close to it toasty, it actually removes warm air from other parts of the room, causing your heat source to work harder. When there is no fire, a damper should manage the airflow. However, dampers are generally not very efficient seals, so all of the warm air escapes and allows cold air to enter the home.

A great many property owners in Southwick with fireplaces do not understand how it can affect heating costs. Instead of keeping heating costs down, it may actually do the complete reverse if one isn't careful. However, there are several procedures that you can follow that can easily turn your budget smashing fireplace into something much more efficient. All you need to do is just 4 basic things improve the performance of your fireplace. Each of these should make your fireplace very cost effective and more efficient.

The first thing to do is to replace the damper with a new top sealing damper. This type of damper is positioned towards the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain and snow from coming in. It will keep the internal air from coming out, and the outside air from entering, and works in cold or hot weather. It is not very challenging to put in and may also be easily bought on the web. An additional thing you could choose to do is position a fire-back in the back part of your fireplace. This is a cast iron plate that's designed to add to the room design, while shielding the back wall from being damaged due to the fires. The fire-back essentially heats up from the flames and sends the heat back into the room, consequently improving the overall efficiency of the fireplace.

Another way to save money is by using a fireplace fan/heater, which heats the space by drawing the air into a heat chamber and blowing the air back into the room. These fireplace heaters are created as closed systems in order that they do not produce any smoke, but are effective in keeping your house warm. And finally, installing glass doors, even though a bit on the pricey side, can be effective in making your open fire economical to run. If you do your homework, you should be able to get a great deal on glass doors and they are not that hard to install yourself. These doors help to keep the heat from escaping and additionally it keeps pets and young ones from being burned.

These suggestions aren't all that difficult to do and you can purchase everything you need online. Preserve your existing fireplace and reduce heating bills by increasing it's efficiency.

Chimney Sweeping Southwick

If you've got a wood burner or an open fire in your house in Southwick, the routine sweeping of your chimney is essential. At least once annually is the recommendation for chimney sweeping.

In order to get the work done correctly and without lots of mess, the best course of action is to contact a specialist Southwick chimney sweep, who'll be glad to help you. There are additional benefits to calling in a professional, because if there are any problems with your chimney, the chimney sweep is in a good position to spot them.

A chimney fire could easily be caused by a build-up of soot, ash and wood tar if this isn't removed by sweeping. In addition to the risk of a fire, you'll want to avoid at all costs any chances of harmful carbon monoxide fumes being drawn back into your house, another frequent result of poorly maintained chimneys.

Make sure that your chosen Southwick chimney sweep is qualified and is also covered by adequate public liability insurance. To get chimney sweeping prices in Southwick GO HERE. You can also get chimney sweeping done in nearby locations and areas.

Chimney Cowl Installation Southwick

A chimney cowl is a hood-shaped cap for your chimney pot that adds draft and stops backflow. Sitting neatly on top of your chimney pot, and generally manufactured from galvanised iron, it stops the wind from blowing smoke back down your chimney. It can be purchased in a builder's merchants or online. Whether you opt to buy a brand new one or make your current one work better, a cowl will keep your stove or fireplace working effectively.

A chimney cowl can also help protect your home and keep you safe. There are several forms of chimney cowl available, each one has been developed to address different problems. Before you purchase one, consider a few factors to ensure that you get one that will help protect your home. When you know what you need, you can then choose a chimney cowl based on your needs and budget.

Chimney cowls are a simple way to stop birds from nesting in your chimney in Southwick. They are inexpensive and simple to install. You should make sure you have clear access to the area above the chimney to fit one. It can also prevent dirt and debris from building up inside the chimney. Ask your local fireplace installer in Southwick if they can fit a suitable chimney cowl for you.

Southwick Fireplace Related Tasks

Your local Southwick fireplace fitter can provide a whole range of tasks, and together with what has previously been covered here they should be able to do inset stove installations Southwick, fireplace hearths, corner fireplaces Southwick, open fireplaces in Southwick, chimney modifications, outdoor fireplaces Southwick, hearth fireplaces, cast iron fireplace installation in Southwick, flue lining inspections, fireplace restoration, chimney strengthening, gas fireplace installations in Southwick, modern fireplace installation in Southwick, brick fireplaces, wood burning fireplace installation, brick fireplace installation, stone fireplace installations, marble fireplaces, tiled fireplaces Southwick, fire grate conversions Southwick, made-to-measure fireplaces, stone fireplaces, fireplace replacement in Southwick, freestanding stoves, fireplace removal, fireplace mantels, fake fireplaces, two-sided fireplaces, oak beam fireplaces, chimney sweeping, the installation of outdoor fireplaces Southwick, chimney repairs, fireplace packages Southwick, electric fire suites, cast iron fireplaces, and more. This is in no way a comprehensive list of what's offered by a local fireplace installer.

Doing a Search Online

When hunting for any sort of tradesmen or services nowadays, the vast majority of property owners in Southwick seem to head straight for the internet to "Google it". You can receive on the spot results by using Google, Bing, Ask or Yahoo, and without doubt that's the beauty of such search engines. Anomalies do crop up however with the foremost search engines, and you may find that the listings you're presented with are not exactly what you were expecting. Thinking of the best search phrase is important when you are looking to find a specific service, and in this situation it could be something like "fireplace installation in Southwick", "Southwick fireplace installation", "fireplace installation Southwick" or "fireplace installation near me".

Directories such as Hotfrog, ThreeBestRated, Yelp or Yell, or listings from multi-million pound companies like TrustaTrader, My Hammer, Rated People, Bidvine, Checkatrade or Quotatis will more than likely show up highly on the page 1 listings, as will strictly PPC advertisements. For those fireplace installers in Southwick who have a website, it is likely they'll be out-of-the-way on the second or third pages of the search results, and you'll need to look further than the first page. Obtaining client appraisals, free quotations and reviews on a trade vetting site such as Rated People or My Hammer can give you an advantage, because there'll be fireplace fitters working with such websites who have still not got their own websites or social media profiles.

Friends & Family Recommendations

Getting recommendations from family and friends is invariably a great help when searching for a professional contractor for your fireplace installation project or undertaking in Southwick. Personal references are frequently the most effective way identify someone who is perfect for your requirements, and equally can single out a second-rate fireplace contractor or a company with a mediocre service record.

Getting the feedback of a relative or friend also means that you'll be able to discover if anything went pear-shaped, how speedily mistakes were resolved, and what the contractor's attitude was like. Furthermore you can get an insight into the reliability and timekeeping of the fireplace fitter in question. They will be in a position to advise you how the final price when compared with the original estimate they were presented with, or whether the installer offers a guaranteed price promise.

Ultimately, in relation to advice, your friends and family members are folks that you know and trust to be honest. If you find that it's hard to get specifics on a certain contractor or company, it's likely because they've had an unsatisfactory experience in dealing with them. Even though it might not necessarily be true, in many instances people are happier to recommend a decent quality contractor than a poor one, and might even suggest an alternative company instead of 'maligning' one who did not match their requirements.

Skip Hire Southwick

It is very rare that you'll carry out a home renovation project or a garden makeover without generating quite a lot of waste which will have to be removed and responsibly disposed of. Whether or not a lot of waste is created by your fireplace installations will be determined by the particular circumstances of your project, sometimes there will be lots of waste, other times not so much. Now some tradesmen will be prepared to take away this waste for you, and recycle it in an eco-friendly way, while others will simply leave you to dispose of it on your own.

If you are like most homeowners in Southwick, you will hire a skip to get rid of this waste. If you have never hired a skip before, you might not know that skips come in a variety of different sizes and volumes. The various sizes of skip include mini-skips, midi-skips, builders skips and roll-on-roll-off skips, and for different projects skip bags are also available.

GO HERE and enter your requirements to get Southwick skip hire quotes.

Fireplace Installers Near Southwick

Also find: Upper Beeding fireplace installers, Fishergate fireplace installers, Broadwater fireplace installers, Coombes fireplace installers, Small Dole fireplace installers, Fulking fireplace installers, Goring fireplace installers, Woodmancote fireplace installers, Wiston fireplace installers, Findon fireplace installers and more. There are people who install fireplaces in pretty much all of these areas. These seasoned tradespeople possess the experience and know-how necessary to adeptly install fireplaces in your home. Residents, with the help of these committed experts, can experience the warmth, comfort and ambiance a fireplace adds to their living areas. By clicking here, fireplace installation quotes are readily accessible to local homeowners.

More Southwick Tradespeople: Southwick home improvement projects usually require the skills of various different tradespeople, and despite the fact that you're currently interested in fireplace installers in Southwick, a handyman in Southwick, a carpenter and joiner in Southwick, SKIP HIRE in Southwick, a plumber in Southwick, a carpet fitter in Southwick, a roofer in Southwick, metalworkers in Southwick, a damp proofing specialist in Southwick, an electrician in Southwick, pressure washing in Southwick, a bricklayer in Southwick, a painter and decorator in Southwick, a chimney sweep in Southwick, a builder in Southwick, waste removal in Southwick, a plasterer in Southwick, stone cleaning in Southwick, a stonemason in Southwick, could also be needed at some stage of your project.

For local info on Southwick, West Sussex look here

Fireplace installation in BN42 area, 01273.

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