Fireplaces Barnard Castle

Fireplace Fitter Barnard Castle County Durham (DL12): Re-opening an old 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 charm to any Barnard Castle home. Chilly winters' evenings can become a joy as you sit back in front of your fireplace listening to the crackling of a burning fire, and if your fire is combined with a back boiler you can also benefit from cheap hot water too.

There are some vital considerations you must think of before you start any work, if you are to establish an attractive, efficient and safe fireplace in your home. Any work which is performed on your chimney breast, fireplace, flue lining and hearth must follow the building regs, Part J for combustible appliances. If your home is a listed building you'll also have to find out if planning permission is required from the local authorities before any work commences.

PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?

A basic remodel of a current fireplace can probably be completed by a skilled DIYer, but if any construction work is required there is a chance of running into structural issues that will have to be resolved professionally. It might be that in order to get a fire burning once more you need little more than a good clean of the hearth and a visit from a chimney sweep. However, what you will likely discover is a patch of old bricks that hides issues such as a blocked chimney or a lintel that needs replacing.

It's normally advisable to benefit from the experience and know-how of a certified fireplace installer in Barnard Castle, due to the severe fire and health risks associated with an incorrectly installed or refurbished fireplace. There must always be airflow into a room where there's a fireplace to ensure adequate levels of oxygen for the fire to burn effectively. Carbon monoxide gas (which is poisonous) can accumulate in an inadequately ventilated space where an inefficently burning fire is installed.

To overcome this concern a professional installation team will assess the situation and fit vents around the room, or underneath the flooring, to ensure a satisfactory air flow for the fire to burn safely and efficiently. Blocked off and unused chimney flues may also have to have air vents fitted since they can often trap moist air inside them and cause damp to occur inside the chimney breast.

BEFORE WORK COMMENCES

It's amazing just how much soot and muck can build up inside an old fireplace and you won't know exactly what is there until you open it up. It's advisable to remove any rugs, furniture and carpets from an area where you are going to expose an old fireplace, to prevent them being affected by soot, dust and grime that may be whipped up during the fireplace installation works. If you are installing a fireplace as part of a larger restoration project then it should be one of the first things to be worked on once you've brought the room back to its bare floors and walls. This helps to prevent any staining damage to any renovated work you might have already completed.

STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK

Now you can see the opening of your fireplace it is time to clean and sweep the hearth and chimney and identify what is fit for refurbishment. Contacting a chimney sweep to de-soot your chimney is one of the initial items on your checklist. They'll not only make sure your chimney and flue are completely clean, but they can also assess the state of the chimney and flue liner and offer guidance if you need to replace any part of the chimney and flue.

It may be necessary to put in a new flue lining to observe the current UK Building Regulations, and construction work might also be needed to strengthen the original chimney and chimney breast. These are tasks that should be done by a competent builder with a knowledge of the applicable regulations and quality construction skills.

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 needed to adapt the opening. When your new concrete lintel is in position and secure you may now press on with the installation, renovation and updating of the fireplace hearth. If the existing hearth is sunken into the floor you will have to raise it above floor level to conform to the latest building regulations. Ready-made solutions from slate, concrete or marble are available to accomplish this, or your fireplace fitter in Barnard Castle may be able to offer a bespoke, custom-made hearth to match the design of your room.

DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE

A quick browse online or a trip to a fireplace showroom will demonstrate the options that are available for the different designs and styles of fireplaces. Not all fireplaces might be suitable for your chimney and flue and it's sensible to accept any advice and guidance offered by your fireplace installers regarding your specific situation.

Certain rooms and houses will be more suited to open fireplaces than a wood burner or multi fuel stove and vice versa. If you have an attractive inglenook fireplace, a wood burning stove can look spectacular set inside it, and also has the benefit of effectively deflecting the heat back into the room from the stone or brick walls that surround the stove.

If your Barnard Castle home doesn't have a chimney breast you still have options for a fireplace feature through the installation of a multi-fuel or wood burning stove. Provided that you have an exterior wall through which a flue from the top or back of the stove can be passed, you don't need to have a chimney in place to be able to enjoy that "real" fire experience.

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

A flickering fire on a dark evening creates a charm and ambience that simply cannot be beaten, however what are the other options available to fit in your lovely new fireplace in Barnard Castle?

Gas Fireplaces - Offering instant heat and being more thermally efficient when compared to open fires, there are a wide range of designs and styles to suit any Barnard Castle home. A Gas Safe registered technician must maintain and fit any gas fireplace in your home, (CORGI was replaced by Gas Safe registered qualification in 2009).

Multi-Fuel Stoves - Can be fired up with with various different fuels, including wood, oil, gas or coal, to establish a focal point in your property in Barnard Castle. They can be utilised not just for heating a room, but some styles like the AGA range, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be used to heat the whole home if they're plumbed into an existing radiator system.

Open Fireplaces - Provides a focal point for any room and can use a number of different solid fuels. In the good old days an open fire might have had the reputation of being draughty, smoky and inefficient, however a well installed fireplace is a joy to behold while reclining in the warm glow it provides.

Wood Burning Stoves - A wide selection of styles to suit any kind of property in Barnard Castle, and can even be free standing. A version with a back boiler will provide extra heating capabilities by transferring the heated water to a radiator in a cold room of your property.

Electric Fireplaces - Electric fireplaces can be fitted safely and easily by any competent person and there are styles and designs which are suitable for virtually any room and property in Barnard Castle. Even if your home has a conventional fireplace, an electric fire can be installed that looks almost like a "real" fire with dancing flames.

Fireplace installation providers are available in Barnard Castle itself, in these nearby postcodes: DL12 8HJ, DL12 8GD, DL12 8QJ, DL12 8BD, DL12 8LS, DL12 8QE, DL12 8GP, DL12 8UN, DL12 8JN, and DL12 8BE, plus in adjacent locations like Westwick, Bowes, Woodland, Eggleston, Marwood, Staindrop, Lartington, Cotherstone, Kinnivie, Dalton, Whorlton, Butterknowle, Startforth, Stone Cross. If they have the phone code 01833 and the postcode DL12, it is a good bet that they operate in Barnard Castle or someplace nearby. This is helpful to know if you wish to check that you are dealing with a local fireplace installer. Barnard Castle householders are spoiled for choice when searching for fireplace installers. To find details on fireplaces near you simply click on the "quote" banner.

Chimney Sweep Barnard Castle

If you have a wood burning stove or an open fire in your house in Barnard Castle, the routine sweeping of your chimney is crucial. Chimney sweeping and cleaning should typically be carried out at least once annually.

You should always call in a qualified Barnard Castle chimney sweep, because this is usually a dirty job. If there are any problems or safety issues with your chimney, the chimney sweep will be in a position to spot them and advise you accordingly.

The build-up of ash, soot and wood tar that results from neglecting to sweep a chimney in Barnard Castle, could easily result in a chimney fire. Along with the risk of a fire, you will want to avoid at all costs any chances of carbon monoxide gas being drawn back into your house, another frequent result of blocked chimneys.

The importance of hiring a reliable chimney sweep in Barnard Castle, should now be obvious. To find a price for chimney cleaning in Barnard Castle GO HERE. chimney sweeps are also available in nearby villages and towns.

The Best Way To Lower Your Heating Bill And Keep Your Open Fireplace In Excellent Shape

With all of the current worries about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost a little of its charm, however it's still a favourite feature for many in Barnard Castle. Sitting in front of the comfort of a fireplace, revives many treasured memories for a lot of people. The fireplace has a lot of benefits for your home, but there are also a couple of significant downsides that need to be monitored. With energy costs rising year after year, your fireplace needs to give out heat in a cost-effective way. When a fire is burning, it may possibly warm up people standing close to it, but it can in fact pull warm air out of the room, making your heater work even more. If there is no fire, a damper should control the airflow. Yet, dampers are not very effective seals, so a lot of the warm air escapes and allows cold air to come into the property.

Many homeowners that possess fireplaces in their home in Barnard Castle don't realise how the fireplace can have an effect on their energy bill. Instead of saving resources, and heating costs, it is generally adding hundreds of pounds of energy expense. But it is not all hopeless as there are ways to make your fireplace very cost-effective. Just about all you need to do is only four basic things boost the performance of your fireplace. These will make your fireplace a lot more efficient, and reduce your heating bills.

The first point is to swap your existing fireplace damper with a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is set up toward the top end of your chimney which also acts like a storm door. It does an excellent job of keeping warm air in the home during wintertime and cool air from escaping in the summertime. It's not that difficult to install and can be easily bought on the internet. Another thing that can be done would be to place a fire-back at the rear of your fireplace. It is made of cast iron and it is used to enhance the overall look of your fireplace whilst protecting the back wall from fire damage. The fire-back also absorbs heat right from the fire and channels it back into the room, making the fireplace more effective.

Another means to cut down on fuel bills is to use a fireplace heater/fan, which heats the room by pulling the air into a heat chamber and recycling the air back into the room. These heating devices are closed systems, therefore no smoke is emitted, and they can really make a difference in the temperature of your house. And finally, installing glass doors, while a bit on the costly side, can be helpful in making your fireplace cost efficient. If you do your homework, you should be able to get a great deal on glass doors and they aren't too difficult to fit yourself. Such glass doors create a buffer between the fireplace and living space, not only stopping the heat from escaping, but also affording some protection.

The information presented here isn't that challenging to put into action, and most of the products can be purchased online. Try your very best to keep your fireplace efficient and notice your heating bills plummet.

Information, Help and Social Media

A forum is a fantastic place to gather information on fireplace installation, so why not have a look at a fireplace installation forum, topics under discussion comprise pellet stoves and boilers, stove vents, understanding building regulations, log burners, widening fireplaces and chimney flues. Wikipedia is a great place to head over to if you'd like to get more information about fireplaces, their dedicated page features the different types of fireplaces, fireplace heating efficiency, the health effects of fireplaces, the evolution of fireplaces, the environmental effects of fireplaces and gas fireplaces. If you are interested in reading up on ideas for fireplaces click here. To get the low down on the hottest fireplace developments on social media websites, check this out. By taking a look at You Tube videos like this you can find out how to install a recessed electric wall mounted fireplace.

Barnard Castle Fireplace Related Tasks

There are a whole host of tasks that can be completed by your local Barnard Castle fireplace installer including gas fireplace installation, fire grate conversions, fireplace design, Victorian fireplaces Barnard Castle, outdoor fireplaces Barnard Castle, chimney modifications, fireplace repairs, cast iron fireplaces, inset stoves Barnard Castle, the installation of modern fireplaces in Barnard Castle, contemporary fireplaces Barnard Castle, hearth fireplaces Barnard Castle, fireplace installation, modern fireplace installations Barnard Castle, Victorian fireplace installations Barnard Castle, chimney lining Barnard Castle, fireplace inserts, wood burning stove installations, fireplace cleaning, brick fireplace installations in Barnard Castle, fireplacequotations in Barnard Castle, inglenook fireplace in Barnard Castle, reclaimed fireplaces Barnard Castle, fireplace suites, chimney repairs, oak beam fireplaces, fireplace services, double-sided stove installations Barnard Castle, stone fireplace installations, fireplaces in Barnard Castle, wood burning fireplace installations Barnard Castle, electric fireplace installation, fake fireplaces, bespoke fireplaces, three-sided fireplaces Barnard Castle, and lots more. These are just a few of the tasks that are undertaken by people fitting fireplaces. Barnard Castle companies will be delighted to keep you abreast of their whole range of fireplace services.

Fireplace Installers Near Barnard Castle

Also find: Bowes fireplace installers, Cotherstone fireplace installers, Woodland fireplace installers, Kinnivie fireplace installers, Whorlton fireplace installers, Dalton fireplace installers, Westwick fireplace installers, Butterknowle fireplace installers, Startforth fireplace installers, Stone Cross fireplace installers, Eggleston fireplace installers, Staindrop fireplace installers, Lartington fireplace installers, Marwood fireplace installers and more. Practically all of these towns and localities are catered for by people who fit fireplaces. With the requisite know-how and experience, these skilled tradespeople are adept at successfully installing fireplaces in your property. Residents can enjoy the comfort, ambiance and warmth that a fireplace brings to their homes with the assistance of these dedicated specialists. Local property owners can get estimates by simply going here.

More Barnard Castle Tradespeople: When your Barnard Castle home is in need of refurbishing or improvements, many different tradesmen may be required to successfully complete the work, and even though your current search is for fireplace fitters in Barnard Castle, County Durham, you may also need the skills of waste removal in Barnard Castle, a bricklayer in Barnard Castle, an electrician in Barnard Castle, a stonemason in Barnard Castle, a building contractor in Barnard Castle, a blacksmith in Barnard Castle, a cleaner in Barnard Castle, a painter and decorator in Barnard Castle, an odd job man in Barnard Castle, a chimney sweep in Barnard Castle, a roofing contractor in Barnard Castle, a tiler in Barnard Castle, a carpenter in Barnard Castle, a plumber in Barnard Castle, SKIP HIRE in Barnard Castle, a plasterer in Barnard Castle, and probably others.

To find local Barnard Castle information look here

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Fireplace installation in DL12 area, 01833.