Fireplace Fitter Greenhithe Kent (DA9): Installing a brand new fireplace or opening up a disused fireplace in your Greenhithe home is a wonderful way to add a homely feel and a bit of charm to any room. The addition of a wood burning stove or open fire for those chilly winters' evenings can even prove more cost effective than a conventional central heating system, providing that you've got a regular source of timber. If combined with a back boiler it can provide you with plenty of steaming hot water at the same time.
There are a few crucial considerations to make before you commence any work, in order to create an efficient, safe and attractive fireplace in your home. Work that is carried out on the fireplaces, hearths, flue linings and chimney breasts of any heat producing appliances, must abide by Part J of the UK's Building Regulations. If you are living in a designated conservation area or a listed building you have to check with local council to find out if planning permission is needed for installing a fireplace in your house.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
If you've got the ability that are necessary, and are a competent and keen DIYer you may be able to do some of the renovation work on an old or existing fireplace, but the help of a tradesman might be needed if structural problems arise. It may be that in order to get a fire burning in your fireplace once more you will need nothing more than a quick clean of the hearth and a sweeping of the chimney. What's more commonplace however is a swathe of crumbling brickwork covering a stopped up flue, and also requires some degree of structural modification before it can be used safely.
It's usually advisable to draw on the knowledge and experience of a specialist fireplace installer in Greenhithe, because of the severe fire and health risk issues that can be caused by an incorrectly fitted or refurbished fireplace. Airflow must be adequate in any room which has a fireplace; in fact it is a requirement in the Building Regulations (Part J) that this is the case. Not enough oxygen means the fire won't burn properly, and a build up of carbon monoxide fumes could occur, which can cause injury or death.
To enable the fireplace to get ample oxygen to combust properly and safely at all times, it might be necessary for an experienced fireplace installation team to fit walls and floors with airflow vents. They may have to fit vents into unused chimney flues which can sometimes trap moist air and result in damp spots and staining to your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
Chimney breasts are renowned for the quantity of soot and dust that can accumulate within them, thus when you set out to open up an unused fireplace you should anticipate that it will be an exceptionally messy operation. A fireplace installer will bring dust sheets to cover up your home furnishings and provide some form of protection, however it is wise when possible to remove furniture and carpets from the room before work begins. Because of the mess involved, if your fireplace installation is just a part of a more substantial renovation project, it ought to be one of the very first things that you do after the room has been brought back to bare walls and floors in preparation. This should help to avoid any impairment by soot and other chimney dirt to any previously completed renovation work.
CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL WORK
You can sweep and clean the chimney and hearth and identify what can and cannot be repaired, as soon as the opening up of the fireplace has been done. Bringing in a proper Greenhithe chimney sweep to de-soot your chimney is one of the initial things on the checklist. After sweeping, they will offer specialist advice about the state of your flue and chimney structure, and let you know whether there are components that need replacing.
Following an evaluation by a competent chimney sweep, and in line with the UK Building Regulations, work to install a new flue liner and/or strengthen the chimney structure might be necessary. Experience in the right construction practices and a knowledge of the Building Regs will be required by anyone who undertakes this type of work, so you really need a competent builder and should not try to do this on your own.
If it is necessary to adjust the size of opening of your existing fireplace to something smaller and more suitable for your design, a supporting lintel should be installed. After this step of the work has been completed, the restoration or upgrading of the hearth can be undertaken. The current Building Regulations advise that the fireplace hearth must be set above the normal floor level, although in the old days it would usually have been sunk into a void in the floor. Pre-made solutions from marble, concrete or stone are available to achieve this, or your fireplace builder in Greenhithe may be able to offer you a bespoke, custom-made hearth to complement the style of your room.
FIREPLACE STYLE
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be challenging when faced with the different styles available from a fireplace showroom or online shop. It is entirely possible that due to your current flue, chimney and airflow to the room, that certain fireplace designs may not be suitable, and it's advisable to follow the the advice and recommendations of your fireplace company with respect to this.
The age of your house, and the theme that you're trying to establish for your room, will all help you determine the design and type of fireplace that's most suitable for you. For instance, the most perfect backdrop to a cast iron wood burning stove is an inglenook fireplace, which not only draws attention to its charm and character but is also fantastic at reflecting the heat back into the room.
You've still got options for a fireplace feature by by having a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner installed, even if your Greenhithe property doesn't have an existing chimney. You do not have to have a chimney breast to benefit from a real fire, so long as you've got an exterior wall through which a flue from the stove can be channelled.
ELECTRIC, OPEN, GAS, WOOD OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
Who doesn't enjoy the glow and warmth of an open fireplace on a dark winters' evening, but if your situation doesn't allow for this, what other options are on offer?
Open Fireplaces - This kind of fireplace can be used with a selection of different solid fuels, and creates an interesting focal point for your room. An open fire is wonderful to watch and contemporary fireplaces are no longer the smoky, draughty and inefficient objects they once were.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Burning a number of different fuels such as wood, gas, coal or oil, a multi-fuel stove can be made into an interesting focal point in your living space. If you pick a multi-fuel stove from AGA for example, you can get supplied with hot water, do cooking, and when linked up to your central heating system, heat the whole house.
Wood Burning Stoves - These stoves come in classic or modern designs to go with the decor of your property, and they have become "the in thing" in many households in Greenhithe. If coupled with a back boiler they are able to provide hot water for radiators or for other use around the house.
Gas Fireplaces - Their efficiency to heat a room is much better than wood burning stoves, and there numerous designs to suit all property types. Have to be professionally maintained and fitted by Gas Safe certified (previously CORGI registered) engineer.
Electric Fireplaces - A wide selection of electric fires to suit any house in Greenhithe, can easily be fitted by any reasonable competent person. Even if your property has a conventional fireplace, an electric fire that appears almost like a "real" fire can be fitted.
Fireplace installers can be located in Greenhithe itself, in these nearby postcodes: DA9, DA9 9QY, DA9 9RH, DA9 9PY, DA9 9UR, DA9 9XG, DA9 9HR, DA9 9HD, DA9 9XE, and DA9 9EP, plus in adjacent locations like Darenth, Southfleet, Perry Street, Bean, Swanscome, Istead Rise, Crayford, Luddesdown, Higham, Singlewell, Cliffe Woods, Shorne, Milton. Greenhithe fireplace installers will typically have the postcode DA9 and the dialling code 01322. Verifying that this is so should ensure you are hiring a locally based fireplace specialist.
The Best Way To Keep Your Fireplace And Bring Down Your Heating Bills
Along with concerns over the environment, the iconic fireplace has lost some of its appeal, but it is still a favourite with many people in Greenhithe. The natural ambiance of an open fireplace invokes special memories for those who have them. There are countless perks and benefits to having a fireplace although there are a few downsides that may need to be dealt with. As power costs go up, you should make certain that your fireplace is producing heat efficiently. When you've got a fire going in the fireplace, it can in fact remove warm air out of the room, making your heat source work harder. If you do not have a fire burning, the damper is supposed to keep heat in. However, dampers are generally not terribly efficient seals, so all of the warm air escapes and enables cold air to come into the room.
Many families that currently have a fireplace in their property in Greenhithe do not realize how the fireplace can cause their utility bills to skyrocket. As opposed to saving resources, and heating costs, it's usually adding 100s of pounds of energy expenditure. There is a way to take your ineffective fireplace, and turn it into a heat producing system that your budget will love. There are at least four easy elements that you could certainly do to improve your fireplace. All of these is going to make your fireplace very economical and more efficient.
The first suggestion is to replace your existing fireplace damper with a new top sealing damper. This form of damper is positioned towards the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain from entering. The top sealing damper helps to keep the air in the property from leaking out and operates effectively in both cold and warm weather conditions. The product is easy to set up, and can be bought on the internet. Next, you will need to have a fire-back at the back part of your hearth. It is manufactured from cast iron and is used to help the overall look of your fireplace while at the same time protecting the back wall from heat damage. The fire-back also absorbs heat right from the fire and radiates it back inside, making the fireplace more efficient.
Another method is to buy a fireplace fan/heater, which draws in air in a room and warms it up. These gadgets are created as closed systems so they don't produce any smoke, but they're extremely effective at keeping your house warm. The fourth thing you're able to do is to fit glass doors, which may be your biggest expense. If you do your research, you can secure a good price on glass doors and fit them yourself. These doors help to stop the heat from escaping and additionally it keeps pets and young ones from getting burned.
These suggestions are not that difficult to do and you should be able to order all of the items you need from the internet. Look after your fireplace and see your energy costs drop.
Flue Liners
A safety feature that allows your chimney to work more effectively, a flue liner or chimney liner is an essential element of your chimney structure that should not be overlooked. Channelling smoke and fumes to the outside of your home, a flue liner runs the complete length of a chimney, and can be manufactured from various different materials including ceramics, clay or stainless steel. If you reside in an older home in Greenhithe, it could be that you do not have a flue liner in your chimney at all, or that the old lining is compromised and will need to be replaced with a new one.
The flue inside your chimney can be damaged and impaired and eaten away by the harmful fumes and gases that develop while a fire is burning. When you are having your chimney swept, it's advisable to get the chimney sweep to look around for any damage and possible issues. Instead of venting those harmful gases outdoors, a damaged flue lining can permit them to leak into your home's living area. When a flue liner is defective it can also expose the chimney structure to excessive heat, which can in turn increase the potential risk of a house fire.
Stone Fireplaces
Why not bring the outside in and build a dramatic looking natural stone fireplace? It's possible your property's exterior already has some natural features, such as a stone facade or boundary walls. These exterior features could be matched with your fireplace indoors.
It's possible to build a stone fireplace by using either stone cladding or full depth stone, depending on your budget and taste. There's also a wide selection of stone that you can select from, including: sandstone, slate, granite, marble, quartz or limestone.
Exactly how your stone fireplace looks when it's complete will be affected by the building method (dry stone or mortar jointed), the methodology used by the tradesperson or stonemason who builds it and the type of stone that is used. Choose a design that you would like to end up with, and show the fireplace company some pictures before they begin the job.
A lot of modern day homes aren't really suited to the look of a stone fireplace, mostly because stone has got such a striking appearance, and can dominate the look of an area. However, each individual property owner has their own taste and preferences, so it is for them to choose.
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of fireplaces and heating systems. The wear and tear that chimneys undergo over time can give rise to various issues, including leaks, blockages or cracks. To prevent potential threats like fire and exposure to carbon monoxide, repairs must be carried out swiftly. In Greenhithe, chimney repair specialists tackle these issues, guaranteeing that the chimney operates optimally and complies with the appropriate safety specifications. Regular repairs and inspections also prolong the chimney's longevity and reduce the need for expensive repairs in the future, offering home and property owners peace of mind and a dependable heating source. (71372 - Chimney Repairs Greenhithe)
Fireplace Installers Near Greenhithe
Also find: Higham fireplace installers, Singlewell fireplace installers, Shorne fireplace installers, Bean fireplace installers, Crayford fireplace installers, Perry Street fireplace installers, Swanscome fireplace installers, Luddesdown fireplace installers, Milton fireplace installers, Darenth fireplace installers, Southfleet fireplace installers, Cliffe Woods fireplace installers, Istead Rise fireplace installers and more. There are people who install fireplaces in all of these towns and localities. In your property, these skilled tradesmen can put their knowledge and expertise to use for adeptly installing fireplaces. These dedicated specialists can assist residents in experiencing the comfort, ambiance and warmth that a fireplace brings to their homes. Local home and property owners can get fireplace installation estimates by simply going here. So, why not get started on your fireplace installation right away!
Greenhithe Fireplace Related Tasks
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