Fireplace Fitter Abbots Langley Hertfordshire (WD5): A splendid way to add some charm to any Abbots Langley home is by the installation of a brand new fireplace, or the restoration of an existing one. Adding an open fire or multi-fuel stove for those cold winters' evenings can even be more cost effective than some central heating systems, providing that you have a regular source of wood. If used in combination with a back boiler it can provide you with plentiful hot water at the same time.
Before you go prising away at a blocked up chimney there are some things you will need to do to make sure you can safely install and use your new fireplace. All work must observe Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, which addresses the construction and installation of fireplaces, flue linings, chimney breasts and hearths of any combustible appliance. If you live in a listed building you'll also have to find out if planning permission is necessary from the local council before any work is started.
PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
A basic renovation of a current fireplace can generally be completed by a keen DIY person, but if any building work is required there is a chance of encountering structural problems that have to be handled by a professional. If you're lucky when you expose a blocked up fireplace you may find a decent hearth, lintel and chimney breast that requires nothing other than the services and advice of a chimney sweep to get it ready for use. What you'll likely discover is an area of crumbling, old bricks that hides issues such as a blocked chimney or a lintel that requires replacement.
If fireplaces are installed incorrectly there is not only a risk of fire to your property, but there can be associated respiratory health hazards, which is why it is advisable to employ an experienced Abbots Langley installation team for fireplaces. According to Part J of the Building Regulations, a room with a fireplace must have adequate airflow and oxygen to allow the fire to burn properly. Carbon monoxide gas can accumulate in a poorly ventilated area where a fire that is burning inefficiently is installed.
To overcome this problem a professional installation team will evaluate the circumstances and install vents in the room, or underneath the floors, to guarantee an adequate amount of air flow for the fire to burn safely and effectively. They might have to fit vents into unused chimney flues which can trap moist air and result in staining and damp spots on your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
A large amount of soot and other dirt can be discharged from a bricked up fireplace upon opening it up for renovation. A fireplace installer will bring coverings for your furniture and provide some form of protection, however it's sensible where feasible to remove furniture and woven floor coverings from the room before work starts. If you are conducting a full restoration of a house or room, the fireplace ought to be opened up before any plastering or decorating is dealt with. This will help to prevent any impairment by soot and dirt to any completed renovation work.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
Once you've opened up your old fireplace you'll have a better idea of the work that needs to be done, and also be able to rigorously sweep the chimney and clear out any sections of hearth that may have been left in place. Contacting a proper chimney sweep to de-soot your chimney will be one of the first things on your checklist. They'll not only ensure that your chimney and flue are nice and clean, but they can additionally investigate the condition of the chimney and flue liner and offer guidance about whether you need to upgrade any section of the chimney and flue.
Following a chimney sweep's examination it may be necessary to install a new liner and/or strengthen the chimney breast as demanded by Part J of the Building Regulations. A reputable fireplace installer and builder in Abbots Langley will be required to undertake this work, and will have the skills and knowledge of construction to closely follow all regulations.
In buildings that are older you may find the original fireplace is too wide for your needs, in which case a supporting concrete lintel will be required to adapt the opening. When you have supported your fireplace with a lintel it will then be possible to renovate or update the hearth. In the old days the hearth would be sunken into the floor, however the latest building regs demand that it is raised above floor level. If your fireplace is not a standard size you may have to purchase a custom-built hearth, however there are also a wide range of ready-made hearths in slate, marble or concrete.
DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE
Choosing your perfect fireplace can be challenging when faced with the different styles and designs that are available from a fireplace showroom or online retailer. It's possible that due to your current flue and chimney, that some fireplaces may not be appropriate, therefore it's a good idea to follow the the recommendations and advice of your fireplace installation company in this respect.
Some homes and rooms will be more suitable for an open fireplace than a wood burner or multi fuel stove and vice versa. If you have an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, a cast iron wood burning stove can look amazing in this surrounding, and also has the benefit of effectively reflecting the heat back into the room from the brick or stone walls that surround the stove.
A wood-burning stove is also a great choice if your home hasn't got a chimney breast. A chimney is not needed in this instance since a stainless steel flue is taken directly from the rear or top of the stove and routed through an external wall.
OPEN, WOOD, MULTI-FUEL, ELECTRIC OR GAS FIREPLACE?
A crackling fire on a cold evening creates an ambience and charm that cannot be beaten, but what are the other options available to install in your new fireplace in Abbots Langley?
Wood Burning Stoves - These have become very popular in a lot of households in Abbots Langley, and can have classic or modern styling to suit your decoration. An integrated back boiler is an added benefit and can provide piping hot water for personal use, or for heating in other rooms via radiators.
Electric Fireplaces - Basic installation and a diverse choice of styles make electric fires a popular choice for Abbots Langley homes that don't have a chimney. Modern electric fires can deliver "real" looking flame effects and and sometimes even the crackling sound of wood to replicate an open fire when set into into an old fashioned fireplace.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - As the name indicates multi-fuel stoves can be fired up with with different fuels, such as wood, oil, gas or coal, and become a unique focal point in any kitchen or living room in Abbots Langley. They can be utilised not merely for heating a 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 property if they are plumbed into a radiator system.
Open Fireplaces - Provides a stunning focal point for a room and can be used with a variety of solid fuels. An open fire is a sight to behold and contemporary fireplaces are no longer the smoky, draughty and inefficient items they were in the past.
Gas Fireplaces - Gas fireplaces come in a wide range of designs to suit your home and are usually more thermally efficient than wood burning stoves. Gas fireplaces must only be maintained and fitted by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered technician, (Gas Safe replaced CORGI registration in 2009).
Fireplace installers are accessible in Abbots Langley itself, in these nearby postcodes: WD5 0EL, WD5 0BT, WD5 0EB, WD5 0DQ, WD5 0EY, WD5 0DE, WD5 0JG, WD5 0AX, WD4 8PH, and WD5 0JJ, and in proximate places like Cassiobury, Garston, Park Street, Chiswell Green, Pimlico, Frogmore, Leavesden, Bedmont, Chipperfield, Nash Mills, Hunton Bridge. Two pointers which indicate that a fireplace fitter comes in the Abbots Langley area is if they've got the telephone code 01923 and the postcode WD5. Confirming that this is the case will ensure that you're considering a locally based fireplace builder. Click on the "QUOTE" form or banner to get info on the installation of fireplaces in your area.
Chimney Sweeping Abbots Langley
If you have an open fire or a wood burning stove in your home in Abbots Langley, the routine sweeping of your chimney is imperative. Chimney cleaning and sweeping should typically be done at least once annually.
It is always wise to bring in a specialist Abbots Langley chimney sweep if you want to get this work done properly. There are additional benefits to calling in a professional, because if there are any safety issues or problems with your chimney, the chimney sweep is trained to spot them.
Chimney fires can easily be the result of a build-up of ash, soot and wood tar if you forget to sweep your chimney. Poorly maintained chimneys can also cause another dangerous situation by drawing carbon monoxide fumes back into your home.
Check that your chosen chimney sweep in Abbots Langley is properly covered by public liability insurance, and is knowledgeable in this field. GO HERE to get chimney sweeping quotes for the Abbots Langley area.
Flue Linings
A vital element of the chimney system on your property, a flue or chimney liner improves the safety of your chimney while allowing it to function more efficiently than it otherwise would. Fitted to the inside of chimneys to transport fumes to the outside, flue liners are conduits made from ceramic material, clay or metal. A chimney on an older building in Abbots Langley may not have a flue lining at all, or will need to be relined in accordance with it's age and condition.
Your fireplace flue can, in time, be weakened by the hazardous gases and fumes which are produced by the burning of a fire. While it is being cleaned, get the chimney sweep or fireplace specialist to inspect your flue for any damage or chances of it malfunctioning in the future. If it is compromised, those toxic gases may be able to seep into your living area rather than being safely expelled outdoors. There is an added risk with busted flue liners, in that they might allow intense heat to penetrate the chimney's structure, which might lead to fires.
Improve the Efficiency of Your Fireplace in Abbots Langley
With all of the current ecological problems, the fireplace has lost a little of its allure, but it still is a favourite feature for many people in Abbots Langley. There's nothing quite like feeling the warmth of a fireplace throughout a cold winter evening. Having a fireplace has its advantages but there are a handful of downsides that could affect its usefulness. As energy costs climb, you'll want to ensure that your fireplace is giving you heat efficiently. When a fire is burning, it might warm up those who are standing close to it, but it can in fact pull warm air out of the room, making your heat source work even harder. If you do not have a fire, the damper is intended to keep heat in. Nevertheless, dampers are not terribly efficient seals, therefore all the warm air escapes and enables cold air to enter the home.
Plenty of householders in Abbots Langley who have a fireplace do not realise how it can influence the cost of heating. Rather than keeping the cost of heating down, it may actually do the complete opposite if one isn't careful. There's a simple way to take your inefficient fireplace, and remake it into a heat producing system that will more closely fit your budget. All you need to do is just four basic things to fix your fireplace. These will make your present fireplace more effective, and reduce your heating bills.
The 1st thing to do is to replace the damper with a top sealing damper. This form of damper is mounted at the top end of the chimney, and works like a storm door. The top sealing damper helps to keep the air in the house from getting away and operates remarkably well in both warm and cold weather conditions. Its not very difficult to fit and may be easily bought on the internet. An additional thing you will be able to do is position a fire-back in the back of your fireplace. A fire-back is constructed of cast iron and it is actually meant to protect the wall behind from fire damage, whilst making your fireplace look more elegant. The fire-back also soaks up heat coming from the fire and redirects it back inside, making the fireplace more efficient.
The next thing that could also help is a fireplace heater, which heats the room air that is being circulated through an internal chamber, and sends it back into the room. These fireplace heaters are created as closed systems to make sure they do not produce any smoke, but they're effective in warming your house. Lastly, it is possible to fit glass doors which will likely be the most costly option. If you do a bit of homework, you can get a good price on glass doors and install them on your own. These doors create a screen between the fireplace and living space, not only stopping the heat from escaping, but also offering protection to the inhabitants.
Every one of these tips are simple to do, and the required products can be sourced online. Try your best to keep your fireplace efficient and watch your heating bills plummet.
Skip Hire Abbots Langley
When you're making plans for any home improvements or renovations in Abbots Langley, you will want to make provision for any waste that's produced. Some fireplace installations will generate hardly any waste, while others could result in quite a lot - it just depends on the individual circumstances of your particular project. You might need to make your own arrangements for waste removal, because a lot of tradesmen don't include this in the quote.
Regardless of whether the tradesman is sorting this out or you're doing it yourself, hiring a skip will frequently be the best solution for waste removal. You will need to choose the right size of skip, as there are many different sizes available. Skip sizes include skip bags to mini-skips, midi-skips to builders skips, and for really large projects or commercial use - roll-on roll-off skips.
If you would like a skip hire quote for your current project in Abbots Langley, you can do this by CLICKING HERE.
Abbots Langley Fireplace Related Tasks
There are a wide range of tasks that can be accomplished by your local Abbots Langley fireplace specialist including inset stoves, fireplace hearths, brick fireplace installation, fake fireplace installations, fireplace removal Abbots Langley, marble fireplace installations, fireplace packages, chimney modifications, fireplace services in Abbots Langley, cheap fireplaces, limestone fireplace, chimney lining in Abbots Langley, Victorian fireplaces Abbots Langley, gas fireplace installation in Abbots Langley, Victorian fireplace installation, wood burning stove installations in Abbots Langley, chimney sweeping, marble fireplaces, chimney strengthening, fireplacerates, electric fireplace installations Abbots Langley, electric fire baskets in Abbots Langley, fireplace mantels Abbots Langley, fireplace inserts, wood burning fireplace installation, fireplace design, fireplace repairs Abbots Langley, cast iron fireplace installation in Abbots Langley, and more. Listed are just a selection of the duties that are accomplished by tradesmen fitting fireplaces. Abbots Langley providers will be happy to inform you of their entire range of fireplace services.
Fireplace Installers Near Abbots Langley
Also find: Nash Mills fireplace installers, Garston fireplace installers, Cassiobury fireplace installers, Leavesden fireplace installers, Chipperfield fireplace installers, Chiswell Green fireplace installers, Pimlico fireplace installers, Frogmore fireplace installers, Park Street fireplace installers, Hunton Bridge fireplace installers, Bedmont fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installers are available to serve people living in all of these towns and villages. These tradesmen, with their expertise and know-how, are well-equipped to perform precise fireplace installations in your property. With the assistance of these dedicated professionals, residents can enjoy the warmth, atmosphere and comfort that a fireplace brings to their living areas. If you're a local householder looking to obtain competitive and accurate fireplace installation quotes tailored to your particular needs, you just have to click here.
Fireplaces Abbots Langley
Fireplace Fitter Near Abbots Langley
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