Fireplace Fitter Minehead Somerset (TA24): Re-opening a disused fireplace to fit an open fire, a wood burner or a gas fire is a splendid way to add a homely feel and a bit of character to your Minehead property. If you opt to combine a new fireplace with a back boiler, you can not only enjoy the warmth and ambience of an open fire or stove on those nippy winters' evenings, you will also be supplied with a plentiful supply of boiling hot water.
Before you begin chipping away at a bricked-up chimney there are some things you'll need to do to make certain you can install your new fireplace in a safe and efficient way. Any combustible appliance installed within residential homes in Minehead must conform to Part J of the UK's buildings regs, and this covers chimney breasts, flue linings, hearths and fireplaces. If you are living in a designated conservation area or a listed building you have to check with local authorities to find out if planning permission is necessary for installing a fireplace in your property.
PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
You may be able to do some of the work in restoring a pre-existing fireplace if you have the skills needed, however structural and safety issues are often found which need to be resolved by a professional. You could be fortunate when you uncover the old fireplace and find out you need nothing more than a good clean up of the hearth and a chimney sweep to get a fire roaring once more. However, what you'll most likely find is a pile of old bricks that conceals issues such as a lintel that needs to be replaced or a stopped up chimney.
If fireplaces are installed improperly there's not only a fire risk to your property, but there can also be health hazards, which is why it's best to hire a specialist Minehead installation company for fireplaces. Airflow must be adequate in any room that a fireplace is to be installed; in fact it's a requirement in the Building Regulations (Part J) that this is the case. Insufficient oxygen means the fire will not burn effectively, and carbon monoxide fumes could build up, which can cause injury or death.
To successfully get around any airflow problems, vents might be fitted in the room during a fireplace installation, to guarantee suitable oxygen levels reach the fire. They may have to install air vents in unused chimney flues which can trap condensing air and cause staining and damp spots on your chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
It's astonishing just how much soot and dirt can build up inside an old fireplace and chimney and you will not know exactly what is there until you open it up. It is sensible to remove any rugs, furniture and carpets from an area where you are planning to uncover an old fireplace, to prevent them being affected by grime, soot and dust that may be disturbed during the fireplace installation and chimney cleaning works. If you are installing a fireplace as part of an overall restoration project then it should be one of the first things to be worked on once you've taken the room back to bare walls and floors. By opening a fireplace first you will prevent any soot from the chimney causing discolouring damage to other parts of your project, such as fresh plasterwork or paint on walls.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
With your fireplace open, it is time to see what needs to be restored and to give the hearth and chimney a thorough cleaning. You now ought to speak to your chimney sweep, if you've not already done so, to come and clean the old chimney and fireplace. Not only will they make sure that your flue and chimney are clean, but they can also take a look at the state of the flue liner and existing chimney and provide guidance about whether you need to upgrade any section of the chimney and flu, such as the flue liner.
It could be vital to install a new flue liner to comply with the UK Building Regulations, and construction might also be required to reinforce the existing chimney and chimney breast. This sort of work should be accomplished by a skilled tradesperson with experience of the building regulations and good working practices.
If it is necessary to modify the width of opening of your original fireplace to a more suitable size for your new design, a concrete supporting lintel must be installed. When you have successfully supported your fireplace with a lintel it will then be necessary to renovate or update the hearth. You might discover that your existing hearth has been set into the floor, however to conform to current building regulations it must be raised above floor level. Off-the-shelf solutions from slate, marble or concrete are available to achieve this, or your fireplace builder in Minehead may be able to offer a bespoke, custom-made hearth to complement the style of your room.
DESIGNS AND STYLES OF FIREPLACE
If you visit a fireplace showroom you'll find that you are spoilt for choice with the array of different options open to you. The suggestions and advice from your fireplace installers, which will be specific to your requirements, will enable you to choose a fireplace that's both appropriate for your existing chimney and flue, and suited to your decor.
Whether you opt for an open fireplace, a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner will be based on the all round style you're trying to develop, your current decor and maybe, your property's age. For example, a cast iron wood burning stove looks fantastic set into an inglenook fireplace, highlighting the charm and character of the stove and deflecting the heat back into the room effectively.
Even if you haven't got a pre-existing chimney breast in your Minehead property, it is still entirely possible to install a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner. A chimney isn't required because a stainless steel flue is fitted to the top or rear of the stove and taken out through an outside wall.
OPEN, WOOD, ELECTRIC, GAS OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
Who doesn't enjoy the flickering of an open fireplace on a cool evening, but if your situation doesn't allow for this, what alternatives are available?
Open Fireplaces - Provides a stunning focal point for a room and can utilise a number of different solid fuels. An open fire is lovely to see and contemporary fireplaces are no longer the draughty, inefficient and smoky items they were in the past.
Wood Burning Stoves - Even the smallest room in Minehead can be improved by the fitting of a wood burning stove, which can be found in an array of styles, and can even be fitted as a free standing feature. If fitted with a back boiler they can provide piping hot water for radiators or for use in your house.
Gas Fireplaces - Come in a variety of designs to suit any home and are generally more efficient (thermally) than open fireplaces. Must be professionally maintained and fitted by a Gas Safe certified tradesman.
Electric Fireplaces - A wide variety of electric fireplaces to suit any property in Minehead, can easily be fitted by any reasonable competent person. Can be inset into conventional fireplaces, and with the "real" looking feel of modern electric fires it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish one from the genuine thing.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves can be used with various different fuels, (wood, oil, gas, coal) to generate a unique focal point in your home in Minehead. They can be used not just for heating a single room, but some designs like the AGA range, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be used to heat the entire house if plumbed into a radiator system.
It is not only in Minehead itself that you can get fireplace installers - neighbouring places like: Hindon, Porlock, Marsh Street, Woodcombe, Wootton Courtenay, Dunster, Blue Anchor, Alcombe, Bratton, Washford, Ellicombe, Carhampton, Wydon, Rodhuish, Timberscombe can also be covered. Fireplace companies from Minehead should have the dialling code 01643 and the postcode TA24. Checking this out will make sure that you access a local fireplace builder. You can simply click the "quote" banner or form to get more info on fireplaces in the local area.
The Best Way To Keep Your Open Fireplace And Reduce Your Heating Bills
With all of the current worries about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost some of its glamour, however it's still a favourite feature for many property owners in Minehead. The natural comfort of a fireplace invokes very special recollections for those who have them. There are lots of benefits to having a fireplace although there are some drawbacks that could possibly need to be taken care of. With energy costs rising significantly year on year, your fireplace needs to give out heat in a cost-effective way. When you have a fire going in the fireplace, it can actually extract warm air away from the room, making your heat source work harder. Anytime there is no fire, a damper is supposed to regulate the airflow. Yet, dampers are usually not particularly successful seals, consequently all the warm air escapes and permits cold air to come into the home.
Many people in Minehead with a fireplace do not know how it can impact the cost of heating. Rather than keeping the cost of heating down, it could actually do the precise opposite if one isn't careful. There is a way to take your less than efficient fireplace, and make it into a heat producing system that your budget will love. There are at least four basic points that you could certainly do to fix up your fireplace. You will see that these guidelines will help to make your fireplace generate quality heat and your present heating bill smaller.
The first point is to replace your existing fireplace damper with a new top sealing damper. This kind of damper is positioned near the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain from entering. The top sealing damper keeps the air in the house from escaping and works effectively in both cold and hot weather. The seal is simple to set up, and can be purchased on the web. Next, you ought to have a fire-back at the back part of your fireplace. A fire-back is constructed of cast iron and it really is meant to protect the back wall from fire damage, while making your fireplace look classy. The fire-back takes the heat from a fire, and sends it back inside the room, enhancing the overall performance of your fireplace.
The next thing that could also help is a fireplace heater, which heats the air that is being circulated through an internal chamber, and blows it back inside the room. These devices are set up as closed systems so they do not emit any smoke, but they're effective at keeping your house warm. The last and final thing that can be done is to fix glass doors, which could be your biggest expense. If you do your research, you can find glass doors at a decent price and install them on your own. Glass fireplace doors is able to keep the air in your house from escaping and it also helps to protect your children and pets from fires.
Every one of these ideas are easy to implement, and the required products can easily be sourced online. Retain your existing fireplace and cut heating bills by making it more efficient.
Chimney Sweep Minehead
Getting the chimney swept is something that householders often put off or forget, but it is essential to get this done on a regular basis if you've got a stove or an open fire in your Minehead home. Chimney cleaning and sweeping should typically be done at least once every twelve months.
It's always better to call in a professional Minehead chimney sweep if you want to get this job done correctly. A skilled chimney sweep won't only clean your chimney but additionally be on the lookout for any safety issues and other problems.
A build-up of ash, soot and wood tar can cause chimney fires if you neglect to sweep your chimney. Badly maintained chimneys can also cause another hazardous situation by drawing toxic carbon monoxide fumes back into your house.
The importance of hiring a reliable chimney sweep in Minehead, should now be obvious. CLICK HERE to get a chimney sweeps quote in Minehead. chimney sweeping services are also available in nearby areas.
Flues
A vital element of the chimney structure on your house, a flue or chimney liner improves the safety of your chimney while at the same time enabling it to perform more efficiently than it would if it didn't have one. Flue liners are conduits manufactured from ceramic material, clay or metal which are installed inside chimneys to transport toxic fumes to the outside. Some chimneys in older homes in Minehead might not even have a flue liner, or if the existing lining is impaired, may need to be re-lined.
Hazardous gases and fumes are formed by the burning of fires and these gases can quickly cause damage to the flue of your fireplace. Whilst it is being cleaned, get the chimney sweep or fireplace specialist to examine your flue for any damages or any chances of it failing in the near future. You must prevent those toxic gases from leaking into your living area, which is what can come about when a flue is faulty. There's an added hazard with defective flue liners, in that they may enable intense heat to penetrate the structure of the chimney, which could lead to fires.
Minehead Fireplace Related Tasks
There are a wide array of tasks that can be conducted by your local Minehead fireplace specialist including Victorian fireplaces Minehead, modern fireplaces, fireplace fitting, 3-sided fireplaces Minehead, electric fireplaces in Minehead, marble fireplace surrounds, fireplace refurbishment Minehead, wood burning fireplace installation, inglenook fireplace installation, brick fireplaces Minehead, chimney strengthening, chimney repairs, freestanding stoves in Minehead, fire grate conversions Minehead, chimney cowl installations, multifuel stove installation Minehead, corner fireplaces Minehead, fireplace removal, fireplace installation Minehead, wood burning stove installations, made-to-measure fireplaces, hearth fireplaces Minehead, electric fireplace installations, marble fireplaces, electric fire suites Minehead, two-sided fireplaces Minehead, wood burning fireplaces Minehead, designer fireplaces Minehead, fireplace cleaning in Minehead, fireplace services Minehead, stone fireplaces Minehead, fireplace inserts, fireplacequotations, Regency fireplaces Minehead, chimney sweeping Minehead, tiled fireplaces Minehead, and more. Listed are just a few of the duties that are conducted by those installing fireplaces. Minehead providers will be happy to inform you of their whole range of services.
Fireplace Installers Near Minehead
Also find: Dunster fireplace installers, Porlock fireplace installers, Rodhuish fireplace installers, Wydon fireplace installers, Marsh Street fireplace installers, Hindon fireplace installers, Wootton Courtenay fireplace installers, Blue Anchor fireplace installers, Woodcombe fireplace installers, Ellicombe fireplace installers, Timberscombe fireplace installers, Carhampton fireplace installers, Bratton fireplace installers, Washford fireplace installers, Alcombe fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installers are ready and able to serve folks living in all of these towns and villages. The adept installation of a fireplace in your property is well within the capabilities of these seasoned tradespeople, given their experience and know-how. With these dedicated experts at their service, residents can bask in the warmth and comforting ambiance a fireplace brings to their living spaces. By going here, local householders can obtain fireplace installation estimates. Need a new fireplace? Get a quote today, and don't delay!
More Minehead Tradespeople: Okay, so you're presently looking for fireplace specialists in Minehead, but you might also need a chimney sweep in Minehead, a cleaner in Minehead, a bricklayer in Minehead, a plumber in Minehead, a general builder in Minehead, a tiler in Minehead, a roofing contractor in Minehead, an electrician in Minehead, a stonemason in Minehead, a painter and decorator in Minehead, a handyman in Minehead, a carpenter and joiner in Minehead, a plasterer in Minehead, a blacksmith in Minehead, waste removal in Minehead, SKIP HIRE in Minehead, when carrying out any home improvement work in Minehead, Somerset.
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Fireplace installation in TA24 area, (dialling code 01643).