Fireplaces Darwen

Fireplace Fitter Darwen Lancashire (BB3): Opening up a disused fireplace to install an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is a splendid way to add some character and a homely feel to your Darwen home. Provided that there's a regular supply of wood, the addition of a wood burning stove or open fire for those chilly winter days can even be less expensive than traditional central heating systems. Combine your fireplace with a back boiler and you can benefit from constant supplies of hot water to save you even more money.

Before you start prising away at a bricked-up chimney there are some things you will need to consider to ensure you can install your new fireplace in an efficient and safe way. The UK Part J building regs for combustible appliances for starters, which pertains to any work which is carried out on fireplaces, chimney breasts, hearths and flue linings. Planning permission may also be needed before work begins if your property is in a conservation area or is listed.

PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?

If you have the ability needed, and are a competent and enthusiastic do-it-yourself fanatic you may be able to do some of the renovation work on an existing fireplace, but the help of a professional may be required if structural or safety problems arise. It may be your good fortune when you remove the boarding surrounding an old fireplace to discover a hidden treasure that needs nothing more than a quick clear out and a call to a chimney sweep to get a roaring fire going. However, what you will more likely discover is an area of crumbling bricks that hides issues such as a blocked chimney or a lintel that needs replacing.

Due to the severe fire risk and health issues that can result from a poorly installed or restored fireplace, it's best to draw on the experience and knowledge of a skilled fireplace fitter and builder in Darwen. As mentioned in the Building Regulations for fireplaces, the airflow in a room must be adequate where there's a fireplace, because in order for it to burn properly and efficiently, a sufficient amount of oxygen is needed. A build-up of toxic carbon monoxide fumes can be the result in an area where there is inadequate airflow, and even death is a risk when a fire doesn't burn efficiently.

To guarantee suitable levels of oxygen are able to reach the fire, and to safely get over any problems with air flow, vents could be installed in the room during the installation of a fireplace. They might also have to fit air vents into unused chimney flues which can sometimes trap moist air and result in staining and damp spots on your chimney breast.

BEFORE WORK STARTS

A large amount of soot and dust can be released from a blocked up chimney when opening it up for restoration. It's advisable to remove any furniture, rugs and carpets from a room where you are planning to expose an old fireplace, to prevent them being damaged by dust, grime and soot that will be stirred up during the fireplace installation work. If you are performing a complete restoration of a room or house, the fireplace ought to be opened up before any decoration or plastering works are undertaken. The reason behind this is to prevent any discolouration damage to work which has previously been done.

CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL WORK

With your fireplace open, it's time to see what can be renovated or replaced and give the chimney and hearth a good cleaning. Contacting a proper Darwen chimney sweep to clean your chimney is one of the first things on your checklist. They'll be able to offer professional guidance on the chimney and flue after sweeping, concerning the state of the chimney structure and whether it is advisable to exchange the existing liner.

Construction work might be necessary to strengthen the original breast and chimney, and it may also be necessary to install a new flue liner. All of this work will need to abide by the latest UK Building Regulations which are there for your safety. Experience in good working practices and a knowledge of the appropriate Building Regulations will be essential for anyone who carries out this kind of renovation work, so what you really want is a qualified builder or fireplace installer and should not attempt to do this on your own.

If the dimensions of the original fireplace are greater than your requirements, a concrete supporting lintel must be installed. The upgrade, installation and repair of the hearth can commence as soon as the lintel is in position. In the old days the hearth was usually set into a hole in the floor, but the current UK Building Regulations demand that it is raised at least 12.5mm above floor level. You can get made to measure solutions to fit pretty much any style and size of fireplace, or you can choose from a range of common size and shape hearths to match your decor.

DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE

A quick browse online or a visit to a fireplace showroom will demonstrate the options that are available for the different styles and types of fireplaces. It is crucial to ask for the specialist advice of the installation team, because all the available fireplaces won't necessarily be suitable for your particular chimney and flue.

The look you're trying to create, your current decor and in some cases, the age of your home in Darwen, will to some extent affect whether you decide on a multi-fuel stove, an open fireplace or a wood burner. A cast iron wood-burner stove for example, will look awesome when positioned in an inglenook fireplace, which reflects the heat back into the room and draws attention to its elegance and charm.

You still have possibilities for a fireplace feature by by having a multi-fuel or wood burning stove installed, even if your Darwen property hasn't got a chimney. This type of fireplace can be fitted with a stainless steel flue that's passed through an external wall and does not need a chimney, to be installed and work safely.

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

The ambience and feel of a "real" fire cannot be matched, however what alternatives are out there if this sort of fireplace isn't possible in your Darwen property?

Wood Burning Stoves - Wood burning stoves have become "the in thing" in many properties in Darwen, and can have classic or modern design to suit your decoration. These can provide steaming hot water for radiators or for other use in your home, if coupled with a back boiler.

Multi-Fuel Stoves - Running on an assortment of fuels such as oil, gas, wood or coal, a multi-fuel stove can become an attractive focal point in your kitchen or living room. These can be used not just for heating an individual room, but some styles like the AGA collection, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be employed for heating the entire home if they are plumbed into an existing radiator system.

Gas Fireplaces - Offering instant heat and being more efficient when compared to open fireplaces, there are a whole host of designs to suit any period of property. Gas fires can only be fitted and maintained by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer, (Gas Safe replaced CORGI registration in 2009).

Electric Fireplaces - Electric fireplaces can be fitted easily and safely by anybody who's reasonable competent and there are varieties that are appropriate for virtually any room and type of house in Darwen. Today's electric fires can be successfully installed in your house, even if you've got a regular fireplace, and many of them look almost like a "real" fire with dancing flames and even crackling sound effects.

Open Fireplaces - The traditional fireplace that can make use of various fuels such as wood, briquettes, coal and other flammable products. In the past thought of as being smoky, draughty and inefficient, a well-installed modern open fireplace can be a joy to behold.

Fireplace fitters can be found in Baxenden, Ewood, Abbey Village, Guide, Belthorn, Earcroft, Hoddlesden, Blacksnape, Brinscall, Lower Darwen, Hoghton, Grimshaw, Withnell, Feniscowles, Waterside, Tockholes, in these postcodes: BB2 4NN, BB3 0BR, BB3 0ES, BB3 0AZ, BB3 0QU, BB3 0JG, BB3 0HT, BB3 0AX, BB3 0RB, and BB3 0AL, as well as in Darwen itself. Fireplace installers from Darwen should have the postcode BB3 and the telephone code 01254. This is something you can verify if you favour using a local fireplace installer. Darwen property owners are spoilt for choice when searching for fireplace fitters. You can click on the "quote" banner or form to get more specifics on fireplace installation in the local area.

Chimney Sweeping Darwen

You need to get the chimney swept regularly, regardless of whether you have an open fire or a wood burner. Chimneys should be swept and cleaned at least once every year, if not more.

The best course of action to get this done is to contact a qualified Darwen chimney sweep, who'll complete the work correctly and without any mess. While you're getting your chimney cleaned, the sweep will also keep an eye out for any problems or safety issues that there might be with your chimney.

Neglecting to sweep your chimney in Darwen can result in a build-up of soot and ash which can lead to chimney fires. As well as the risk of a fire, you'll want to avoid any possibility of poisonous carbon monoxide fumes being drawn back into your home, another frequent result of blocked or poorly maintained chimneys.

Make sure you hire a reliable chimney sweep in Darwen, and check that they're covered by public liability insurance in case of damages or accidents. To find out what it costs to sweep a chimney in Darwen CLICK HERE.

Darwen Fireplace Related Tasks

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Friends & Family

An excellent idea, whenever you're looking for a contractor or service for your project in Darwen, is to get friends and relations recommendations. When it comes to identifying someone who is perfect for your requirements, person to person referrals are often the preferred solution, and are equally good for pointing a finger at companies with an atrocious track record, and bad contractors.

If you're aware that an acquaintance or family member has used a particular fireplace fitter, you can ask if anything went wrong during the work, if so, how quickly it was rectified, and how the contractor reacted as a consequence. You'll also be able to get an insight into their reliability and timekeeping They should also be able to give you information about the quotation process and how close the initial estimate was when compared with the final price demanded by the installer.

As your family and friends are individuals you know and can depend on in relation to their advice, they should be your first port of call. If they're unwilling to discuss a particular fireplace installer or company it's likely because of a disappointing experience. Most people will be perfectly willing to speak about a good quality contractor, less inclined to talk about an inferior one, and might even offer some alternative company rather than 'slag off' a below par business they've had dealings with previously.

Fireplace Installers Near Darwen

Also find: Waterside fireplace installers, Feniscowles fireplace installers, Brinscall fireplace installers, Grimshaw fireplace installers, Baxenden fireplace installers, Hoghton fireplace installers, Tockholes fireplace installers, Abbey Village fireplace installers, Earcroft fireplace installers, Blacksnape fireplace installers, Hoddlesden fireplace installers, Withnell fireplace installers, Belthorn fireplace installers, Ewood fireplace installers, Guide fireplace installers, Lower Darwen fireplace installers and more. Pretty much all of these towns and localities are catered for by people who install fireplaces. Possessing the necessary know-how and experience, these skilled tradesmen can successfully install fireplaces in your home. The comfort, atmosphere and warmth that a fireplace brings to their living areas can be enjoyed by residents with the help and assistance of these dedicated experts. Local property owners can get fireplace installation quotes by going here. Need a new fireplace? Why not get a quote today?

For local info relating to Darwen, Lancashire go here

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Fireplace installation in BB3 area, 01254.

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