Fireplace Fitter Elgin Scotland (IV30): A fabulous way to add more character and a homely feel to any property in Elgin, is to reopen an old unused fireplace to put in a multi-fuel, wood burning or open fire. You won't just delight in the warmth and ambience of an open fire or stove during the cool winter evenings, but if you incorporate a back boiler with your new fireplace, you will also be provided with a constant supply of steaming hot water.
Before you go bashing away at a bricked-up chimney there are some things you will need to consider to ensure you can safely install your new fireplace. For starters, Part J of the UK's Building Regulations will have to be adhered to in relation to the installation and construction of any hearths, chimney breasts, flue linings and fireplaces that are part of a combustible appliance in your home in Elgin. If you reside in a designated conservation area or a listed building you have to check with local authorities if planning permission is necessary for a fireplace installation in your house.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
If any construction work is needed with your fireplace installation project, structural and safety issues may arise that will need resolving professionally, although a keen DIY fanatic may be able to take a shot at a simple refurbishment of an old fireplace. When your boarded fireplace is opened up you might find a sturdy hearth, lintel and chimney breast that needs little more than the services of a chimney sweep to get it all working once again. What's more commonplace however is a patch of old brickwork that hides a stopped up flue, and needs some form of structural reinforcement before it can be used safely.
It is generally recommended to take comfort from the experience and knowledge of a specialist fireplace installer in Elgin, because of the severe health and fire risk problems associated with an incorrectly fitted or refurbished fireplace. There always has to be airflow into a room where there is a fireplace to ensure sufficient amounts of oxygen for the fire to burn effectively. Carbon monoxide gas (which is lethal) can build-up in a poorly ventilated space where an inefficently burning fire is installed.
A professional fireplace installation company will consider the situation at hand and overcome this issue to ensure a sufficient amount of air flow for the fireplace to combust effectively and safely, by installing vents around the room, or under the flooring. To increase air circulation inside unused or blocked chimney flues, your fireplace installation technician might have to fit some vents to prevent moist, condensed air getting trapped and causing stains and damp patches.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
Large quantities of dust and soot will enter a room when you're having a disused fireplace opened up. In essence, this is an enormously messy job. Even with covers and other dust protection for your furniture, the chance of impairment from grime and soot is still likely and it's advisable to remove your belongings and any woven materials before any fireplace renovation work and chimney cleaning starts. If you are engaging in a complete renovation of a property or room, the fireplace should be opened up and worked on before any decoration or plastering works are undertaken. This should help to prevent damage to other elements of your remodelling project (i.e. wallpapered walls or fresh plasterwork), by soot and dirt that's discharged.
CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL WORK
Once you have exposed your old fireplace you'll have a greater idea of what work needs to be done, and also be able to thoroughly sweep the chimney and clean any parts of hearth that may have been left in place. The very first item on your to-do list will be to call in a competent Elgin chimney sweep. In addition to sweeping and cleaning the chimney and flue, they will also assess the condition of your chimney and flu liner and tell you about any element of the flue and chimney structure that needs to be replaced.
If you need to install a new flue liner or strengthen the chimney all Building Regulations must be complied with. Experience in good construction techniques and a knowledge of the relevant Building Regulations will be needed by anyone who attempts this sort of renovation work, so you really need a competent builder and should never try to do it on your own.
In an older building a concrete supporting lintel might be required to adapt the size of the opening, if you find that the uncovered fireplace is too wide. After this step of the work has been accomplished, the updating or refurbishment of the existing hearth can be tackled. If the existing hearth is sunken into the floor you will need to raise it to conform to the latest building regs. Off-the-shelf options from marble, concrete or stone are available on the market to achieve this, or your fireplace installer in Elgin should be able to offer a bespoke, custom-made hearth to match your room style.
FIREPLACE DESIGNS
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be tricky when faced with the various sizes, styles and shapes that are available from an online outlet or fireplace showroom. Not all fireplaces may be suitable for your chimney and flue therefore it is sensible to accept any advice and guidance offered by your installation team regarding your specific situation.
Whether you go with a wood burner, an open fireplace or a multi-fuel stove will hinge on the look that you are attempting to establish, your current decor and perhaps even, the age of your property in Elgin. For example, an inglenook fireplace can be a wonderful backdrop for a classic cast iron wood-burner stove, highlighting its charm and reflecting heat back into the room.
For properties in Elgin that haven't got a chimney breast, a wood burner stove is an excellent solution. A pre-existing chimney is not required because a stainless steel flue is taken directly from the rear or top of the wood burner and channeled through an exterior wall.
ELECTRIC, OPEN, GAS, WOOD OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
If this kind of fireplace cannot be installed within your Elgin property, what other alternatives are there?
Wood Burning Stoves - A wide range of different styles to suit any type of property in Elgin, and can even be a freestanding feature. An integrated back boiler is an additional benefit and can provide hot water for personal use, or for heating for the house via radiators.
Electric Fireplaces - A popular choice for householders in Elgin, these fires can be installed by more or less any competent individual, easily and safely. It can sometimes be hard to tell one from the real thing with with the "real" looking feel of modern electric fires, and they can be installed into traditional fireplaces when required.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Running on a variety of fuels such as wood, gas, oil or smokeless coal, a multi-fuel stove can become a focal point in your living space. The AGA range is well known as being able to provide heat for the entire home, a constant hot water supply and a cooker all in one single appliance.
Open Fireplaces - The traditional fireplace which can be used with various fuels such as coal, wood, briquettes and other burnable materials. Being a far cry from the smoky old fireplaces of bygone times, a modern, professionally installed open fire can provide a warm, toasty atmosphere in any Elgin property.
Gas Fireplaces - There are a variety of different designs to suit all property types and their effectiveness in warming a room is better than open fireplaces or wood burning stoves. Have to be professionally installed and maintained by Gas Safe certified (replaced CORGI register in 2009) engineer.
Fireplace fitters are accessible in Dufftown, Llanbryde, Rothes, Kinloss, Craigellachie, Lossiemouth, Burghead, Fochabers, Huntly, Bishopmill, Buckie, New Elgin, Moss of Barmuckity, Palmerscross, Alves, Findhorn, Hopeman, Keith, in these postcodes: IV30 1HZ, IV30 1PN, IV30 1QG, IV30 1JE, IV30 1EQ, IV30 1LU, IV30 1NP, IV30 1HQ, IV30 1HD, and IV30 1PH, as well as in Elgin itself. Elgin fireplace fitters should have the postcode IV30 and the telephone dialling code 01343. This is useful to know if you want to verify that you are considering a locally based fireplace company. Elgin home and business owners can access these fireplace services at any time necessary. Just click on the "QUOTE" form or banner to get specifics of any aspect of fireplace installation in your location.
Improve the Efficiency of Your Open Fireplace
With all of the current green problems, the open fireplace has lost a little of its former charm, but it's still a favourite feature for many in Elgin. The natural warmth of an open fireplace invokes special recollections for those who have them. Having an open fireplace has its many perks and benefits but there are also a few issues which could affect its usefulness. As energy costs rise, you'll want to make certain that your fireplace is giving off heat efficiently. While having a fire alight in a fireplace keeps those around it cosy, it can actually suck warm air from the rest of the room, causing your heat source to work harder. If you don't have a fire alight, the damper is intended to keep heat in. Nevertheless, dampers are not terribly efficient seals, so a lot of the warm air escapes and enables cold air to enter the room.
Many house owners that have a fireplace in their home in Elgin don't understand how the fireplace can cause their energy bills to skyrocket. Instead of keeping heating charges down, it may actually do the exact opposite if one is not careful. You will find there's a way to take your inefficient fireplace, and make it into a heat generating system that your budget will love. There are at least four easy things that you can do to improve your fireplace. You will appreciate that these tips will help make your fireplace create quality heat and your present heating bill a bit lower.
The initial step is to take away your damper and swap it for a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is fitted at the top of your chimney which also doubles as a storm door. The top sealing damper helps to keep the air in the house from getting away and will work incredibly well in hot and cold weather. This is not going to take lots of time to fit and you can get one online. A second thing you're able to do should be to place a fire-back at the back of your fireplace. It's manufactured from cast iron and it is used to enhance the appearance of your fireplace while shielding the back wall from fire damage. The fire-back absorbs the heat from a fire, and radiates the heat back inside the room, improving the efficiency of your fireplace.
Another thing that will help is a fireplace fan/heater, which heats the air that's being circulated through an internal chamber, and blows it back inside the room. These heating devices are enclosed systems, so no smoke is released, and they can really make a huge difference to the temperature of your home. Last but not least, you may install glass doors which could be the most expensive. If you do your homework, you should be able to get a great deal on glass doors and they're not that challenging to fit yourself. Such doors create a screen between the fireplace and living space, not only making the area less for the fire to heat, but also affording some protection.
These suggestions are not very hard to do and you should be able to obtain most of the items you need from the internet. Keep your current fireplace and lower heating bills by increasing it's efficiency.
Flue Liners
A flue liner is a vital part of the chimney system on your home, enabling it to function far more efficiently than it otherwise would, and improving it's overall safety. Installed inside chimneys to transport fumes to the outside, flue liners are ducts fabricated from ceramic material, clay or metal. There's a reasonable possibility that if your home in Elgin is quite old, the chimney might not even be fitted with a liner, and even if it is it will almost certainly need to be replaced.
Hazardous fumes and gases are generated by burning fires and these could cause damage to the flue of your chimney. Ensure that your fireplace specialist checks the flue lining for potential issues and damage. Rather than expelling those harmful gases outdoors, a busted flue can allow them to seep into your home's living area. When a flue liner is compromised it can also expose the chimney structure to blistering heat, which can in turn increase the chance of a house fire.
Natural Stone Fireplaces
You could always consider bringing the outside in, and build a natural stone fireplace, which is a fantastic way to create a really dramatic look. There may already be some natural stone features on the external areas of your building, a stone boundary wall or facade, for instance? These exterior features could be complemented by your stone fireplace on the inside.
A stone fireplace can be created using either stone cladding or full depth stone. Your taste and budget could determine which one you choose. You will also need to decide what sort of stone you prefer for your fireplace, choose between: granite, limestone, sandstone, marble, quartz or slate.
The exact appearance of your finished fireplace will depend on the building method, the sort of stone used and the methodology used by the stonemason or tradesperson who builds it. You should get some photos prepared of the kind of design you're looking for, and before work begins, you can show them to your fireplace installer.
A lot of modern day dwellings aren't really suited to the look of a natural stone fireplace, mostly because stone has such a striking appearance, and can dominate the look of an area. However, each individual homeowner has their own taste and preferences, hence it is for them to choose.
Brick Fireplaces
Brick fireplaces have been a favourite feature in homes for centuries, and it's hardly surprising. They not only provide warmth and comfort during cold weather but also add a rustic touch to any space they're in. There are some issues that you will need to consider, if you are thinking about installing a brick fireplace in your house in Elgin
Firstly, you'll need to decide on the style of fireplace you prefer. Standard brick fireplaces normally feature a straightforward design with a hearth and mantel. However, you could also opt for a more modern design with a sleek finish and clean lines.
With regards to brick selection, you have plenty of options. Bricks come in a number of textures and colours, so you can pick the perfect brick to complement your home's style. You could even think about mixing and matching different brick styles to create a unique look.
Finally, don't forget about the functional considerations. A brick fireplace can be a source of heat for your home, so you'll want to ensure that it's properly vented and that you're using it safely.
In summary, brick fireplaces are a timeless addition to any home. They're durable, versatile, and can provide warmth and comfort for many years. If you're considering a fireplace for your dwelling in Elgin, a brick fireplace is a good choice.
Fireplace Installers Near Elgin
Also find: Llanbryde fireplace installers, Dufftown fireplace installers, Lossiemouth fireplace installers, Huntly fireplace installers, Hopeman fireplace installers, Findhorn fireplace installers, Alves fireplace installers, New Elgin fireplace installers, Kinloss fireplace installers, Rothes fireplace installers, Moss of Barmuckity fireplace installers, Craigellachie fireplace installers, Palmerscross fireplace installers, Keith fireplace installers, Bishopmill fireplace installers, Fochabers fireplace installers, Buckie fireplace installers, Burghead fireplace installers and more. These and other locations are covered by fireplace installers and comparable tradesmen and women. In your home, these versatile tradesmen can put their expertise and know-how to use for successfully installing fireplaces. Residents can experience the atmosphere, comfort and warmth that a fireplace brings to their homes with the assistance of these dedicated experts. If you're a local property owner looking to obtain competitive and accurate fireplace installation quotes tailored to your specific needs, simply click here.
Elgin Fireplace Related Tasks
Your local fireplace company can undertake a number of different services and tasks including Victorian fireplaces in Elgin, fireplace design, chimney sweeping in Elgin, marble fireplace surrounds in Elgin, fireplace services in Elgin, corner fireplaces, wood burning fireplaces, electric fireplaces in Elgin, electric fireplace installations in Elgin, reclaimed fireplace installations Elgin, traditional fireplace installation, stone fireplaces, fireplace removal, modern fireplace installation, fireplace suites, chimney repairs, fake fireplace installation Elgin, brick fireplaces, classic fireplaces Elgin, fire grate conversions, fireplace hearths in Elgin, wood burning stoves, contemporary fireplaces Elgin, fireplace restoration, limestone fireplace, fireplace surrounds, bespoke fireplaces in Elgin, wood burning fireplace installation in Elgin, tiled fireplaces Elgin, oak beam fireplaces, elm fireplaces Elgin, fireplace installation, cast fireplace installation in Elgin, chimney cowl installation, period fireplaces, and more.
More Elgin Tradespeople: Elgin home improvement projects typically require the skills of many different tradespeople, and even though you're currently interested in fireplace fitters in Elgin, a heating engineer in Elgin, a stonemason in Elgin, metalworkers in Elgin, a chimney sweep in Elgin, a tiling specialist in Elgin, stone cleaning in Elgin, an odd job man in Elgin, a painter/decorator in Elgin, a plasterer in Elgin, a roofer in Elgin, waste removal in Elgin, an electrician in Elgin, a floor specialist in Elgin, jet washing in Elgin, a carpenter/joiner in Elgin, a bricklayer in Elgin, SKIP HIRE in Elgin, a general builder in Elgin, could also be required at some stage during your venture.
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