Fireplace Fitter London Colney Hertfordshire (AL4): Opening up an old disused fireplace to fit an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is a great way to add a homely feel and some character to any London Colney home. Nippy winter evenings can become very enjoyable as you sit back in front of your new fireplace surrounded by the crackle of firewood, and if your fire is combined with a back boiler you can also benefit from cheap hot water as well.
However before you begin smashing down the walls of a bricked-up fireplace there are some crucial considerations you must bear in mind to achieve a safe and efficient fireplace. Any work that's undertaken on your hearth, flue lining, fireplace and chimney breast must comply with the Part J building regs for combustible appliances. Planning permission may also be needed before work commences if your home is in a conservation area or is listed.
PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If you are a competent and enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer it may be possible to refurbish an existing blocked or bricked-up fireplace, however the chance of encountering structural problems in the majority of cases is regrettably high. It may be that so as to get a fire roaring in your fireplace once again you will need little more than a good clean up of the hearth and a visit from a chimney sweep. It is much more likely that you'll come across crumbling brickwork that requires structural reinforcement and a stopped up flue.
Because of the serious fire risk and health problems that can result from an incorrectly installed or renovated fireplace, it's best to avail yourself of the experience and knowledge of a professional fireplace fitter in London Colney. So that a fire can burn satisfactorily in a space with a fireplace, there has to be ample airflow to guarantee sufficient amounts of oxygen. A fire will not burn efficiently in a room where there is not enough oxygen, and death can occur if carbon monoxide is produced.
It might be necessary to fit airflow vents in floors and walls to allow the fire to receive enough oxygen to burn effectively and safely at all times. They might have to install air vents into unused chimney flues which can trap moist air and lead to damp spots and staining to your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
It is astonishing how much soot and grime can build up inside an old fireplace and you will not know exactly what is there until you open it up. Even with coverings for your home furnishings, the risk of damage from dirt and soot is still possible and it's advisable to remove your furniture and carpets before any fireplace renovation work and chimney cleaning commences. If your fireplace is being fitted as part of a larger home renovation project then it should be one of the initial things to be done once you have got the room back to bare walls and floors. This should help to avoid any impairment by soot and other chimney dirt to any completed restoration work.
STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION WORK
Now that you can see the fireplace opening it's time to sweep and clean the chimney and hearth and work out what is fit for restoring. The very first item on your to-do list should be to bring in a decent chimney sweep. They will be able to provide expert guidance on the chimney and flue after sweeping, as to the condition of the chimney structure and whether you need to swap the existing lining.
After a chimney sweep examination it may be necessary to strengthen the chimney breast and/or install a new flue liner as demanded by Part J of the Building Regulations. A reputable fireplace installer and builder in London Colney will be required to undertake this task, and will need the skills and knowledge of construction to follow all building regulations.
If it is necessary to modify the size of opening of your original fireplace to something more suitable for your new design, a lintel support will have to be put in. When your concrete lintel is in position and secure you may now press on with the repair, updating and installation of the fireplace hearth. If the current hearth is sunken into the floor you'll need to raise it above floor level to conform to the latest building regs. If your fireplace is of non-standard size you might have to choose a custom-built hearth, but there are a whole host of ready to fit hearths in marble, concrete or slate.
STYLES OF FIREPLACE
A trip to a fireplace showroom or a browse online will demonstrate the choices that are available for the different fireplace designs and styles. Not all fireplaces will be appropriate for your existing chimney and flue therefore it's sensible to accept any advice and help offered by your installation team in relation to your specific circumstances.
Certain rooms and properties will be more suitable for an open fireplace than a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner and vice versa. As an example, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be an eye-catching backdrop for a traditional cast iron wood-burner stove, highlighting its charm and reflecting heat back into the room.
A wood-burning stove is also a good option if you don't have a chimney breast in your London Colney home. Providing that you have an outside wall through which a flue from the stove can be channeled, you don't need to have an existing chimney structure in place to experience a real fire.
ELECTRIC, MULTI-FUEL, GAS, WOOD OR OPEN FIREPLACE?
The ambience and charm of a "real" fire can't be beaten, however what alternatives are out there if this kind of fireplace is not possible within your London Colney home?
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Can be used with various different fuels, (oil, wood, coal, gas) to establish a unique focal point in your home in London Colney. Some styles, such as the multi-fuel stoves from AGA, are also suitable for generating hot water, cooking and heating your whole property.
Wood Burning Stoves - Wood burners have become "the in thing" in many properties in London Colney, and can have modern or classic styling to suit your furnishings. An integrated back boiler is an extra benefit and could provide piping hot water for use around the home, or for heating in another area via a radiator.
Gas Fireplaces - There are many designs to suit all property types and their effectiveness in warming a room is better than wood burning stoves or open fireplaces. A Gas Safe certified technician must maintain and install any gas fireplace in your property, (CORGI was replaced by Gas Safe registered qualification in 2009).
Electric Fireplaces - A wide selection of electric fireplaces to suit any house in London Colney, can be easily fitted by any reasonable competent person. They can be inset into traditional fireplaces, and with "real feel" electric fires it can often be difficult to distinguish from the genuine thing.
Open Fireplaces - The classic fireplace which can be used with different fuels such as briquettes, smokeless coal, wood and other flammable materials. An expertly fitted modern open fire will be no comparison to the smoky old fireplace that was perhaps bricked up by past owners, and its warm charm is a welcome addition to any property in London Colney.
You should be able to find fireplace fitters in London Colney, and neighbouring areas like: Napsbury, Smallford, Sleapshyde, Marshalswick, Chiswell Green, Tyttenhanger, Frogmore, South Mimms, Roestock, Colney Street, Water End. Postcode areas like AL2 1ND, AL2 1QF, AL2 1FG, AL2 1EW, AL2 1NE, AL2 1EP, AL2 1PY, AL2 1EF, AL2 1GQ, and AL2 1EG can also be covered. If a fireplace service has the postcode AL4 and the telephone dialling code 01727, you can assume that they operate in the London Colney area.
Flues
A chimney or flue lining is a crucial addition to your chimney structure, allowing it to perform a lot more efficiently and improving the overall safety of your chimney. Flue liners are conduits made of clay, metal or ceramic material that are fitted to the inside of chimneys to transport smoke and fumes to the outside. An older chimney in London Colney may not have a lining at all, or will need to be relined subject to it's condition and age.
The harmful fumes and gases that are produced when you burn a fire can harm your fireplace's flue lining. Your flue lining needs to be regularly examined for damage and possible issues each time it is being cleaned. Instead of venting those toxic gases outdoors, a compromised flue lining can enable them to leak into your home's interior. There's additionally the risk of fires in the property as a broken flue lining can allow intense heat to penetrate the chimney structure.
Practical Ideas On How To Keep Your Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Bills
The classic open fireplace has lost some of its glamour due to environmental worries but it's still loved by many in London Colney. There's nothing quite like feeling the warmth of a fireplace on a freezing winter's evening. There are lots of benefits to having a fireplace but there are several drawbacks that could possibly need to be dealt with. With the cost of energy increasing each year, your fireplace needs to give out heat in a cost-effective way. When you've got a fire going in the fireplace, it can actually extract warm air out of the room, making your heat source work harder. Anytime there is no fire, a damper ought to control the airflow. Yet, dampers are generally not very successful seals, consequently all of the warm air escapes and permits cold air to enter the property.
Many house owners that possess a fireplace in their residence in London Colney don't understand how the fireplace can cause their utility bills to rise. Instead of keeping the cost of heating down, it may actually do the complete reverse if one isn't careful. There is a way to take your ineffective fireplace, and remake it into a heat producing system that your budget will love. There are at least 4 easy things that you are able to do to fix up your fireplace. These will certainly make your current fireplace a lot more economical, and lower your heating bills.
The first thing to do is to replace the current damper with a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is installed at the top end of your chimney which in turn also doubles as a storm door. It stops the outside air from coming in, and the inside air from getting out, and works in hot or cold weather. The seal is simple to set up, and can be obtained on the internet. A second thing which can be done would be to fit a fire-back at the back of your fireplace. This is a cast iron plate that's created to enhance the room design, while protecting the back wall from damage due to the fires. The fire-back reflects the heat from a fire, and radiates it back into the room, enhancing the efficiency of your fireplace.
The next thing that can help is a fireplace heater/fan, which heats the room air which is being circulated through an internal chamber, and blows it back towards the room. These heaters are closed systems, so no smoke is discharged, and they can really make a difference in the temperature of your home. And finally, adding glass doors, while a bit on the pricey side, can be helpful in making your open fire cost efficient. If you do your research, you can find glass doors at a decent price and fit them on your own. Such glass doors create a screen between the hearth and living space, not only stopping the air in the room from escaping up the flue, but also offering protection to the inhabitants.
All of these tips are straightforward to do, and the required products can be sourced on the internet. Keep your fireplace and reduce heating costs by making it more efficient.
Chimney Sweep London Colney
Regardless whether you've got an open fire or a log burning stove, it is imperative that you get your chimney swept regularly. At least once each year is the recommendation for chimney sweeping.
You could perhaps sweep your own chimney, if you have the right tools, but this is a dirty job and is best left to a qualified London Colney chimney sweep if you want it to be done cleanly and correctly. A competent chimney sweep won't only clean your chimney but additionally keep an eye out for any safety issues.
You might be increasing the risk of a chimney fire if you neglect to remove the build-up of ash, soot and wood tar by sweeping it. As well as preventing fires, you'll also want to prevent the possibility of poisoning by carbon monoxide gas. When a chimney gets blocked this noxious substance can flow back into your house with horrific consequences.
This all adds up to the fact that you should always employ a dependable London Colney chimney sweep, and one who has decent public liability cover in case of any damage or accidents. To get a price for chimney sweeping in London Colney GO HERE.
London Colney Fireplace Related Tasks
There are a wide range of tasks that can be accomplished by your local London Colney fireplace installer including marble fireplace surrounds, fireplace inserts, fireplace design London Colney, wood burning fireplaces in London Colney, Victorian fireplaces, stone fireplaces in London Colney, cheap fireplaces in London Colney, two-sided fireplaces in London Colney, marble fireplaces, freestanding stoves London Colney, fireplace suites in London Colney, fireplace fitting London Colney, stone fireplace installations, fireplace services, electric fire baskets London Colney, fireplace removal in London Colney, 3-sided fireplaces in London Colney, traditional fireplaces, marble fireplace installation, open fireplaces, chimney lining London Colney, fake fireplace installations, inset stove installation, gas fireplaces in London Colney, period fireplaces in London Colney, wood burning fireplace installation in London Colney, cast iron fireplaces, fireplaceprices, fireplaces, fireplace cleaning, inglenook fireplace installations, double-sided stove installation in London Colney, wood burning stove installations, fake fireplaces London Colney, gas fireplace installations, and more. These are just an example of the duties that are performed by tradesmen fitting fireplaces. London Colney providers will inform you of their whole range of fireplace services.
Fireplace Installers Near London Colney
Also find: Colney Street fireplace installers, Tyttenhanger fireplace installers, Chiswell Green fireplace installers, Water End fireplace installers, Napsbury fireplace installers, Sleapshyde fireplace installers, Smallford fireplace installers, Roestock fireplace installers, Marshalswick fireplace installers, South Mimms fireplace installers, Frogmore fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installers are ready and able to serve people living in pretty much all of these towns and localities. Possessing the necessary experience and know-how, these seasoned tradespeople can successfully install fireplaces in your home. The assistance of these dedicated professionals allows residents to enjoy the warmth, comfort, and inviting atmosphere of a fireplace in their living spaces. By simply clicking here, fireplace installation quotes are available to local residents.
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Fireplace installation in AL4 area, telephone code 01727.