Fireplaces Alton

Fireplace Fitter Alton Hampshire (GU34): Re-opening an old disused fireplace to install an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is an excellent way to add a bit of character and a homely feel to your Alton property. The addition of an open fire or wood burning stove for those chilly winters' evenings can even be less expensive than certain central heating systems, so long as you've got a regular source of timber. If combined with a back boiler it can provide you with plenty of hot water in the process.

Before you go prising away at a blocked up chimney there are some things you'll need to consider to ensure you can safely install your new fireplace. Any combustible appliance within the home must comply with Part J of the UK's buildings regulations, and this applies to fireplaces, hearths, chimney breasts and flue linings. If you reside in a designated conservation area or a listed building you have to check with local council to see if planning permission is necessary for a fireplace installation in your property.

PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?

You might be able to do some of the remodeling work on a pre-existing fireplace if you have the ability to do so, but safety and structural issues are often found that need to be resolved professionally. If you're fortunate 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. However, what you will more likely discover is an area of old, crumbling bricks that hides issues such as a lintel that needs replacing or a stopped up chimney.

It is normally advisable to rely on the experience and know-how of a professional fireplace fitter in Alton, due to the severe fire and health risk issues that can result from an incorrectly installed or refurbished fireplace. A key part of the Building Regulations (Part J) for fireplaces is that enough oxygen is available for a fire to burn safely and efficiently. Not enough oxygen means that the fire won't burn effectively, and an accumulation of carbon monoxide could occur, which can lead to injury or death.

To successfully get around any airflow issues, vents might be fitted around the room during a fireplace installation, to guarantee suitable oxygen levels are able to reach the fire. They might have to install vents into unused chimney flues which sometimes trap condensing air and result in damp spots and staining to your chimney breast.

BEFORE WORK STARTS

A large amount of soot and muck can be discharged from an old chimney upon opening it up for restoration. It is sensible to remove any rugs, carpets and furniture from an area where you are going to uncover an old fireplace, to prevent them from being affected by dirt, dust and soot that might be whipped up during the fireplace installation and chimney cleaning work. If you're fortunate enough to be working on a full restoration project then it ought to be one of the very first tasks to work on before you re-plaster or decorate the walls. This stops any discolouring damage to any restored work you might have already done.

CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK

With the fireplace open, it's time to see what is in a fit state to be renovated and give the hearth and chimney an intensive clean. You now need to contact your chimney sweep, if you haven't already done so, to come and look at the old fireplace and chimney. Not only will they ensure that your flue and chimney are clean, but they can also take a look at the state of the flue liner and existing chimney and provide advice if you need to upgrade any part of the chimney structure and flue.

If it is necessary to strengthen the chimney or install a flue lining all Building Regulations must be complied with. A good fireplace installer and builder in Alton will be required to complete this task, and will have the skills and knowledge of construction to follow all building regulations.

If the size of the existing fireplace is greater than your requirements, a concrete supporting lintel will have to be installed. When your new lintel is safely in place you may now press on with the installation, updating and renovation of the fireplace hearth. You may find your existing hearth has been sunken into the floor, however to conform to latest building regulations it is required to be raised above floor level. Off-the-shelf solutions from slate, concrete or marble are available on the market to accomplish this, or your fireplace installer in Alton may be able to provide you with a bespoke, custom-made hearth to match the design of your room.

STYLE OF FIREPLACE

If you visit a fireplace showroom you'll find that you are spoilt for choice with a wide array of different options open to you. The suggestions and advice from your installation team, which will be in line with your particular requirements, will help you to choose a fireplace that is both suitable for your chimney and flue, and suited to your home's decor.

Some homes and rooms will be more suitable for open fireplaces than a wood burner or multi fuel stove and vice versa. For example, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be a perfect backdrop for a classic cast iron wood burning stove, highlighting its character and reflecting heat back into the room.

If your Alton home hasn't got a chimney breast you still have options for a fireplace feature through the installation of a wood burning or multi fuel stove. Providing that you have an outside wall through which a stainless steel flue from the stove can be passed, you do not need an existing chimney structure to enjoy that "real" fire experience.

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

Who doesn't enjoy the flickering of an open fireplace on a cool evening, but if your circumstances do not allow for this, what alternatives are on offer?

Electric Fireplaces - Simple installation and a varied choice of designs make electric fireplaces a popular choice for Alton houses that don't have a chimney breast. Contemporary electric fires can provide "real" looking flame effects and and sometimes even the crackling sound of wood to replicate an open fire when inset into a traditional fireplace.

Multi-Fuel Stoves - Can be fired up with with a variety of fuels, (wood, oil, gas, coal) to create a unique focal point in your house in Alton. The AGA range is well known as being capable of providing heating for an entire home, a supply of hot water and a hob and oven all in one unit.

Wood Burning Stoves - Wood burners have become "the in thing" in a lot of households in Alton, and can have modern or classic styling to suit your decor. A back boiler is an additional benefit and could provide hot water for personal use, or for heating in other rooms via radiators.

Gas Fireplaces - There are many designs to suit all types of house and their effectiveness in warming a room is better than open fireplaces. A Gas Safe registered engineer must fit and maintain any gas fire in your property, (CORGI was replaced by Gas Safe registered qualification in 2009).

Open Fireplaces - A roaring fire is a focus for any room and it has the ability to burn virtually any solid fuel that you can buy. A professionally installed open fire is far from the smoky old fireplace that was bricked up by previous owners, and its glowing elegance is a delightful addition to any property in Alton.

Fireplace installation providers are available in Beech, Oakhanger, Isington, Lasham, Chawton, Golden Pot, Lower Froyle, Bentworth, Binsted, East Worldham, Holybourne, Froyle, Medstead, Lower Farringdon, in these nearby postcodes: GU34 1HB, GU34 1LN, GU34 1BN, GU34 1BW, GU34 1BX, GU34 1LP, GU34 1AU, GU34 1JL, GU34 1HU, and GU34 1NX, and also in Alton itself. If a fireplace fitter has the postcode GU34 and the phone code 01420, it is fairly likely that they come from the Alton area. This is obviously something to verify if you favour hiring a locally based fireplace specialist. Alton householders can use and enjoy these fireplace services. Click on the "QUOTE" banner to get details about the installation of fireplaces in your location.

Flues

A flue liner is an essential part of the chimney system on your home, enabling it to perform more efficiently than it otherwise would, and improving it's overall safety. Fitted to the inside of chimneys to carry fumes to the outside, flue liners are ducts made from ceramic material, clay or metal. Subject to their age and condition, older chimneys in Alton might need to be relined, or may not have a flue liner at all.

Your fireplace flue lining can, in time, be impaired by the hazardous gases which are generated by burning a fire. Your flue must be frequently assessed for damage and possible issues every time it's being swept. You need to prevent those hazardous gases from leaking into your living area, which is what can take place when a flue is faulty. There is an additional hazard with impaired flue liners, in that they might allow intense heat to penetrate into the chimney's structure, which may cause fires. (Tags: Flue Lining Alton, Chimney Lining Alton, Flue Liners Alton).

Practical Ideas On How To Preserve Your Open Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Bills

With all the current ecological problems, the traditional fireplace has lost some of its glamour, but it still is a favourite feature for many in Alton. The natural warmth of a fireplace invokes very special memories for those who've got them. The fireplace offers numerous benefits for your home, but there are also a few significant negative aspects that may need to be fixed. Because of power costs rising so rapidly these days, your fireplace needs to be a source of heat, not one of inefficiency. When a fire is burning, it may possibly provide warmth for people standing immediately in front of it, but it can actually pull warm air out of a room, making your heat source work even more. Anytime there is no fire, a damper should regulate the airflow. However, dampers are generally not very efficient seals, consequently all of the warm air escapes and allows cold air to enter the home.

Many people in Alton who have fireplaces do not realise how it can influence the cost of heating. Instead of preserving resources, and heating costs, it can often be adding hundreds of pounds of energy expense. However it's not all hopeless as there are ways to make your fireplace very economical. Pretty much all you need to do is just four fundamental things to fix your fireplace. You will recognize that these guidelines will help make your fireplace generate quality heat and your current heating bill lower.

The 1st thing that has to be done is to replace the current damper with a top sealing damper. This form of damper is mounted at the top of the chimney, and operates like a storm door. The top sealing damper will keep the air in the home from getting away and operates effectively in cold and warm weather. It isn't that tricky to fit and can be easily bought from a fireplace supplier or on the web. One more thing you will be able to do is fit a fire-back in the back part of your fireplace. A fire-back is made 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 stylish. The fire-back takes the heat from a fire, and radiates it back towards the room, improving the overall performance of the fireplace.

Another method is to obtain a fireplace fan/heater, which draws cool air in and warms it up. These heaters do not release any smoke and can be very successful in keeping your house warm and toasty. The fourth thing you're able to do is to install glass doors, which may be your biggest expense. If you do some groundwork, you can certainly get a great deal on glass doors and they're not too hard to fit yourself. These glass doors help to stop the heat from escaping and additionally it keeps pets and young ones from being burnt.

All of these tips are simple to implement, and the products can be sourced on the internet. Get the best from your fireplace and see your energy bill fall.

Chimney Sweep Alton

Getting the chimney swept is one thing that home owners often put off or forget, but it's essential to get this done frequently if you have an open fire or a wood burning stove in your Alton home. It is advised that you clean and sweep your chimney at least once per year.

In order to get this work done correctly it is best to call in a professional Alton chimney sweep. While the chimney sweep is cleaning your chimney, he will also be on the lookout for any safety issues or problems, so that they can then be promptly resolved.

You may be increasing the risk of a chimney fire if you do not remove the accumulation of ash and soot by sweeping it. Another dangerous situation that you want to avoid at all costs is carbon monoxide fumes flowing back into your home, which can also be caused by a poorly maintained chimney.

All of these factors add up to the importance of picking an experienced Alton chimney sweep, who's also covered by public liability insurance. For chimney sweeping prices in Alton CLICK HERE. (Tags: Chimney Sweeping Alton, Chimney Sweeps Alton, Chimney Sweep Alton).

Searching On the Internet For Fireplace Installation

It is considerably simpler to search for a service or tradesman these days than it used to be, as we have the advantages of technological innovation and can just do a search on the internet. Through the use of Bing, Ask, Google or Yahoo you can receive instant results that will help you in your search, however you need to be careful. What you'll very quickly realise is that such fashionable search engines throw up listings which are quite varied. Most householders, when trying to locate fireplace installers in Alton will type "fireplace installation near me", "fireplace installation Alton", "fireplace installation in Alton" or "Alton fireplace installation" into the search box and read through the listing results.

The page 1 results that you will see however, will mainly be PPC (Pay Per Click) adverts, internet directories like ThreeBestRated, Thomson Local, Yell or Yelp, or entries from major lead creation websites such as Rated People, Quotatis, Checkatrade, My Builder, Bidvine or TrustaTrader. Fireplace installers in Alton don't have large budgets to advance their websites up the rankings, so you are likely to discover these hidden farther down in the search engine results maybe on the second or third pages.

Alton Fireplace Related Tasks

There is a wide range of work that can be conducted by your local Alton fireplace installer including fireplace installation, gas fireplace installations in Alton, double-sided stove installation, fireplace removal, cast iron fireplaces, fireplace design, brick fireplaces Alton, wood burning stove installation, chimney strengthening in Alton, brick fireplace installations, fireplace fitting, oak beam fireplaces, gas fireplaces Alton, Victorian fireplace installations, fire grate conversions Alton, electric fire suites, open fireplaces, stone fireplace installations, electric fireplaces, cast iron fireplace installations Alton, fireplace suites Alton, marble fireplace installation, fireplace mantels in Alton, fake fireplace installations, modern fireplace installations, multifuel stoves Alton, fireplacerates in Alton, inset stove installations, and lots more. These are just an example of the tasks that are accomplished by people fitting fireplaces. Alton professionals will inform you of their entire range of services.

Fireplace Installers Near Alton

Also find: Froyle fireplace installers, Chawton fireplace installers, Medstead fireplace installers, Binsted fireplace installers, Bentworth fireplace installers, Lasham fireplace installers, Isington fireplace installers, Lower Froyle fireplace installers, Holybourne fireplace installers, Golden Pot fireplace installers, East Worldham fireplace installers, Lower Farringdon fireplace installers, Oakhanger fireplace installers, Beech fireplace installers and more. These and other areas are serviced by fireplace installers and related tradespeople. These skilled tradesmen's knowledge and experience make them well-suited for the correct installation of fireplaces in your home. The comfort, ambiance and warmth of a fireplace in their living areas are made possible for residents through the support of these dedicated experts. If you're a local home or business owner looking to obtain competitive and accurate fireplace installation quotes tailored to your specific needs, you just have to click here.

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Fireplace installation in GU34 area, and dialling code 01420.