Fireplace Fitter Walmer Kent (CT14): Opening up a disused fireplace to install a wood burner, multi fuel or open fire is a wonderful way to add a homely feel and a bit of character to your Walmer property. The addition of an open fire or multi-fuel stove for those chilly winters' evenings can even prove to be more economical than some central heating systems, so long as you have a regular source of fuel. If combined with a back boiler it can supply you with plentiful steaming hot water in the process.
Before you start prising away at a bricked-up chimney there are a few things you'll need to think about to make sure you can install your new fireplace in a safe and efficient way. All work carried out must comply with Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, which covers the installation and construction of flue linings, hearths, chimney breasts and fireplaces of any combustible appliance. Planning permission may also be needed before work begins if your property is in a conservation area or is listed.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If you are a competent and enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer it might be quite possible to refurbish an existing bricked-up fireplace, however the chances of experiencing structural issues in the majority of cases is regrettably high. If you're fortunate when you open up a blocked up fireplace you may find a decent chimney breast, lintel and hearth that needs little more than the advice and services of a chimney sweep to get it ready for use. What is more typical however is an area of crumbling, old brickwork covering a stopped up flue, and needs some form of structural reinforcement before it can be safely used.
If your dwelling in Walmer has a fireplace installed and it's not fitted correctly, there's not only a fire risk, but also of respiratory health issues. So, using a certified fireplace fitter is highly recommended. There must always be a decent air flow into a room or space where there's a fireplace to ensure sufficient quantities of oxygen enable the fire to burn properly. Not enough oxygen means that the fire will not burn effectively, and a build up of carbon monoxide could occur, which can lead to injury or death.
To overcome this issue a professional fireplace installation team will analyse the circumstances and fit vents in the room, or under the floor, to ensure an adequate air flow for the fire to burn efficiently and safely. Unused and blocked up chimney flues may also need to have air vents installed because they can sometimes trap moist air within them causing damp to build up inside the chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
Having a fireplace opened up can cause huge amounts of soot and muck to enter your home. It is good practice to remove any rugs, carpets and furniture from an area where you're going to open up an old fireplace, to prevent them being damaged by dust, soot and muck that may be disturbed during the fireplace installation and chimney cleaning work. If you're lucky enough to be carrying out a full restoration project then it should be one of the initial jobs to complete before you re-plaster or decorate the walls. This will help to avoid any staining damage by dirt and chimney soot to any completed work.
CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL WORK
Now that you can see the opening of your fireplace it is time to sweep and clean the chimney and hearth and identify what is fit for refurbishment. You now ought to get in touch with your chimney sweep, if you haven't already done this, to come and look at the old fireplace and chimney. They will be willing to provide professional guidance on the chimney and flue after sweeping, concerning the situation with the chimney structure and if you need to exchange the existing flue lining.
It could be vital to fit a new flue liner to conform to the current UK Building Regulations, and construction work may also be required to reinforce the original chimney and chimney breast. This sort of work should be completed by a skilled person with experience of the building regulations and good construction practices.
In older buildings you might find that the original fireplace is too large for your purposes, in which case a concrete supporting lintel will be required to adapt the opening. When you have successfully supported your fireplace with a lintel it will then be time to renovate or update the hearth. You might find your existing hearth has been sunken into the floor, but to abide by current regulations it must be raised above floor level. If your fireplace isn't of a standard size you may have to purchase a tailor-made hearth, however there are a wide variety of "off-the-shelf" hearths in marble, concrete or slate.
STYLE OF FIREPLACE
If you visit a fireplace showroom you will find that you have plenty of choice with the wide range of different choices available to you. Every fireplace may not be appropriate for your existing flue and chimney and it is wise to accept any help and advice offered by your sales and installation team in relation to your specific circumstances.
Whether you decide on an open fireplace, a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner will be based on the overall look that you are trying to create, your existing decor and in some cases, the age of your house. For instance, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be an eye-catching backdrop for a classic cast iron wood-burner stove, which highlights its character and deflects the heat into the room.
Even if you do not have a pre-existing chimney in your Walmer home, it is still possible to install a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner. As long as you have an external wall through which a flue from the top or back of the stove can be passed, you don't need a chimney in place to be able to enjoy that "real" fire experience.
OPEN, MULTI-FUEL, ELECTRIC, WOOD OR GAS FIREPLACE?
Who doesn't enjoy the glow and warmth of an open fireplace on a cool evening, but if your situation doesn't permit this, what are the other available options?
Open Fireplaces - A crackling fire is a focus for any room and it has the capability to burn virtually any solid fuel that you can purchase. In the bad old days an open fire might have had the associations with being smoky, draughty and inefficient, but a skillfully installed contemporary fireplace is a joy to sit in front of and bask in the warm glow it provides.
Wood Burning Stoves - Wood burning stoves have become "the in thing" in many households in Walmer, and can have classic or modern design to suit your decoration. If coupled with a back boiler they can provide steaming hot water to heat radiators or for use around the home.
Electric Fireplaces - Straightforward installation and a diverse choice of designs make electric fires a popular choice for Walmer homes that don't have a chimney. They can be set into conventional fireplaces, and with "real feel" electric fires it can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the genuine thing.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves provide you with options to use coal, gas, wood and oil to deliver a multi-purpose stove for any property in Walmer. The AGA range for instance is well known as being able to provide heating for an entire house, a supply of hot water and an oven and hob for cooking all in one unit.
Gas Fireplaces - Providing instant heat and being more efficient when compared with wood burning stoves, there are a wide range of styles to suit any period of property. A Gas Safe certified engineer must maintain and install any gas fireplace in your property.
Fireplace installation work can be done in Walmer and also in: Great Mongeham, Elvington, Eastry, Sholden, Betteshanger, St Margarets at Cliffe, Eyethorne, Ringwould, Tilmanstone, Worth, Ripple, Kingsdown, Lydden, Guston, and in these postcodes CT14 7ET, CT14 7LH, CT14 7LR, CT14 7HT, CT14 7JZ, CT14 7DE, CT14 7FS, CT14 7DY, CT14 7NZ, and CT14 7HL. If a fireplace installer has the postcode CT14 and the dialling code 01304, it is most likely that they operate in the Walmer area. This is useful to know if you wish to check that you are considering a locally based fireplace installer. Walmer residents have plenty of choices when they're trying to find fireplace services. To find information on fireplaces and fireplace installation in your area click the "QUOTE" banner or form.
Chimney Sweeping Walmer
You need to get the chimney swept on a regular basis, no matter whether you have a wood burning stove or an open fire. To be totally safe, it's wise to clean and sweep your chimney two times per year, particularly if you are burning bituminous coal or wood.
You could perhaps sweep your own chimney, if you've got the right equipment, but this is a dirty job and is best left to a specialist Walmer chimney sweep if you want it done cleanly and correctly. In addition to cleaning your chimney, the chimney sweep will be in a position to identify any problems with your chimney, so that these can be addressed in a timely fashion.
A chimney fire could easily be brought on by a build-up of ash, creosote and soot if this isn't removed by sweeping. An equally hazardous situation that can arise as a result of a poorly maintained chimney is deadly carbon monoxide gas being drawn back into your property.
All of these factors add up to the importance of picking a qualified Walmer chimney sweep, who is also covered by public liability insurance. To check the current chimney sweeping prices in Walmer GO HERE.
Tips To Take Care Of Your Open Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Expenses
Along with worries about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost some of its appeal, although it's still a favourite with many property owners in Walmer. The natural ambiance of a fireplace invokes special remembrances for those who have them. There are many benefits to having a fireplace although there are some negative aspects that might need to be dealt with. With the cost of energy soaring year on year, your fireplace must give out heat in a very cost-effective way. When you've got a fire going in the fireplace, it can literally remove warm air away from the room, making your heater work harder. The hearth damper is supposed to stop cold air from entering your home when you don't have a fire going in the fireplace. Unfortunately, fireplace dampers are renowned for being inefficient in keeping cold air out, and warm air in.
Plenty of people in Walmer with fireplaces do not realise how it can impact the cost of heating their home. Instead of conserving resources, and heating costs, it can often be adding 100s of pounds of energy expense. There's a simple way to take your inefficient fireplace, and make it into a heat producing system that will more closely fit your budget. There are four simple steps that you can take to turn your fireplace into the cost-effective heat sourse you're looking for. You will recognize that these guidelines will help to make your fireplace generate quality heat and your present heating bill lower.
The very first thing that must be done is to replace the existing damper with a new top sealing damper. This form of damper is positioned at the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain from coming in. The top sealing damper will keep the air in the property from getting away and operates very well in both cold and warm weather. It doesn't take lots of time to install and you can find one online. Another thing that you can do would be to place a fire-back at the back of your fireplace. A fire-back consists of cast iron and it is actually meant to shield the back wall from fire damage, while at the same time making your fireplace look more stylish. The fire-back also takes up heat coming from the fire and returns it back inside, making your fireplace more effective.
Another thing that will help is a fireplace heater, which heats the air which is being circulated through an internal chamber, and blows it back into the room. These heaters are sealed systems, hence no smoke is emitted, and they really can make a difference in the temperature of your house. The fourth thing that can be done is to fit glass doors, which might be a bit on the expensive side. If you do a bit of research, you can find glass doors at a good price and install them yourself. These doors form a barrier between your living space and the hearth, not only stopping the air in the room from escaping, but also affording some protection.
The information presented here isn't difficult to implement, and all of the items you need can be readily purchased online, or from your local fireplace stockist. Preserve your current fireplace and reduce heating costs by increasing it's efficiency.
Flue Liners
A flue or chimney liner is a vital part of your chimney structure, enabling it to perform more efficiently than it otherwise would, and improving it's overall safety. With the objective of transporting smoke and fumes safely to the outside of a building, flue liners are ducts made from clay, metal or ceramic material that are fitted to the inside of chimneys. Older chimneys in Walmer may not be fitted with flue linings at all, or will need to be relined subject to their condition and age.
Your fireplace flue can soon be affected by the hazardous gases which are formed by the burning of a fire. Whilst it's being cleaned, get the sweep or fireplace specialist to inspect your flue for any impairment or any prospects of it malfunctioning in the near future. You need to stop those toxic gases from leaking into your home, which is exactly what can come about when a flue lining is damaged. There's furthermore the danger of fires inside the home because an impaired flue liner can let intense heat penetrate the chimney structure.
Chimney Repair Walmer
The safety and efficiency of fireplaces and heating systems hinge on proper chimney repair. Chimneys may encounter issues such as cracks, leaks or blockages as a result of wear and tear over time. Repairs carried out in a timely manner are essential to avoid potential hazards like fire and carbon monoxide exposure. The optimal functioning and adherence to safety standards of the chimney are assured by chimney repair professionals in Walmer. By performing regular inspections and repairs, property owners ensure a prolonged chimney life expectancy and diminish the necessity for expensive future repairs, enjoying peace of mind and a dependable heating source. (39607 - Chimney Repairs Walmer)
Searching For Fireplace Installation On the Web
It's a lot easier to look for services right now than it was in the past, since we now have the advantages of technological innovation and can simply carry out a search online. With widely used search engines such as Yahoo, Ask, Bing or Google, you'll be able to get lots of instant results. Flaws do however crop up with search engines, and you could discover that the listings given are not exactly what you were expecting. When trying to track down fireplace installers in Walmer most people will enter "Walmer fireplace installation", "fireplace installation in Walmer", "fireplace installation near me" or "fireplace installation Walmer", and review the results.
It is best if you bear in mind that the four top listings are often pay per click (PPC) advertising and many of the remaining listings on page one will likely be internet directories like Gumtree, Free Index, Yell or Yelp, or listings from the top trade portals such as Checkatrade, TrustaTrader, Quotatis, Rated People, Bidvine or My Builder. The sites relating to bona fide fireplace installers in Walmer will most likely be hidden away on page 2 or 3 of the results, so you will have to delve deeper if you want to get hold of fireplace installers direct. Rated People, Trustatrader and additional trader vetting websites are still worth using from time to time, because you can never have too much information, their client feedback, free price quotes and reviews can come in handy.
Walmer Fireplace Related Tasks
There is a variety of work that can be carried out by your local Walmer fireplace fitter including modern fireplace installation, marble fireplace installation, Victorian fireplace installation, fireplace replacement, wood burning fireplace installation, fireplace repairs in Walmer, electric fireplaces, inset stove installations Walmer, fireplace surrounds Walmer, double-sided stoves, stone fireplace installations Walmer, fireplaces, stone fireplaces, fireplace packages Walmer, fake fireplace installations, fireplace mantels Walmer, cheap fireplace installation, fireplace inserts Walmer, gas fireplace installations, fireplaceprice quotes, limestone fireplace installations, the installation of chimney cowls, cast iron fireplaces Walmer, brick fireplace installation Walmer, open fireplaces, chimney repairs, fire grate conversions, cast iron fireplace installation, and more. Listed are just a selection of the duties that are handled by those installing fireplaces. Walmer providers will be happy to inform you of their whole range of services.
Help and Guidance
A forum is an excellent place to gather information and facts on fireplace installation, so why don't you pay a visit to the popular Buildhub Forum, topics of discussion include things like stove vents, chimney designs, pellet stoves and boilers, building regulations, widening a fireplace and wood burning stoves. Get the fundamentals on installing a fireplace mantel and hearth by using YouTube here. To see what's happening regarding fireplaces on social media websites, check this out. To learn about 70 fireplace ideas click here. You could have a look at the Wikipedia webpage to read information regarding how fireplaces affect the environment, wood burning fireplaces, the different types of fireplace, the heating efficiency of fireplaces, the health effects of fireplaces and the history of the fireplace.
Fireplace Installers Near Walmer
Also find: Betteshanger fireplace installers, Great Mongeham fireplace installers, Sholden fireplace installers, St Margarets at Cliffe fireplace installers, Ripple fireplace installers, Elvington fireplace installers, Lydden fireplace installers, Tilmanstone fireplace installers, Kingsdown fireplace installers, Ringwould fireplace installers, Eastry fireplace installers, Eyethorne fireplace installers, Guston fireplace installers, Worth fireplace installers and more. People who fit fireplaces can be found in practically all of these villages and towns. The adept installation of a fireplace in your property is well within the skillset of these seasoned tradespeople, given their experience and know-how. With the assistance of these dedicated experts, residents can enjoy the atmosphere, comfort and warmth that a fireplace brings to their living spaces. If you're a local property owner looking to obtain competitive and accurate fireplace installation quotes tailored to your specific needs, you simply have to click here.
Fireplace Services Walmer
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Fireplace installation in CT14 area, (dialling code 01304).