Fireplace Fitter Rowley Regis West Midlands (B64): Re-opening an old disused fireplace to install an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is a great way to add a bit of character and a homely feel to any Rowley Regis property. If you decide to combine your new fireplace with a back boiler, you can not only enjoy the warmth and ambience of an open fire during the nippy winters' evenings, you will also be supplied with plentiful boiling hot water.
Before you go bashing away at a blocked up chimney there are some things you'll need to think about to make certain you can install your new fireplace in a safe and efficient way. All work carried out must adhere to Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, which covers the construction and installation of flue linings, hearths, chimney breasts and fireplaces of any combustible appliance. Planning permission may also have to be sought before work begins if your property is listed or in a conservation area.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
You might be able to do some of the work in restoring a pre-existing fireplace if you have the ability to do so, however structural and safety problems are often discovered that need to be resolved by a professional. It might be your good fortune when you remove the boarding surrounding a disused fireplace to discover a hidden treasure that needs little more than a good clear out and a visit from a chimney sweep to get a roaring fire going. What is more common however is a patch of crumbling, old brickwork that conceals a stopped up flue, and needs some degree of structural reinforcement before it can be safely used.
An incorrectly installed fireplace can cause severe respiratory health problems and fire risk and, as such, should only be put in by a professional fireplace specialist in Rowley Regis with the experience and knowledge to install it safely. Airflow must be adequate in any room that a fireplace is to be installed; in fact it is a key requirement of the Building Regulations (Part J) that this is the case. If the airflow is not sufficient then it's quite possible that a fire will burn inefficiently and cause carbon monoxide to build up, which can be lethal.
To effectively overcome any airflow problems, vents could be installed in the room during a fireplace installation, to guarantee suitable levels of oxygen reach the fire. To avoid condensed air becoming trapped in blocked off or unused chimney flues and producing staining and damp spots, vents may have to be fitted by the fireplace installation team to enhance the airflow.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
It's surprising how much soot and muck can build up inside an old chimney and fireplace and you will not know precisely what's there until you open it up. A thoughtful Rowley Regis fireplace fitter will bring dust sheets to cover up your furniture and supply a bit of protection, but it is sensible where feasible to remove rugs, carpets and furniture from the area before work starts in earnest. If you are lucky enough to be carrying out a full restoration project then it ought to be one of the first tasks to work on before you re-plaster or decorate the walls. By opening up a fireplace first you'll avoid any chimney soot causing discolouration damage to other stages of your restoration project, such as fresh plasterwork or paint on walls.
STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION WORK
With your fireplace uncovered, it's time to see what can be renovated or replaced and to give the hearth and chimney a comprehensive cleaning. Bringing in a chimney sweep to clean your chimney is one of the very first items on your checklist. A chimney sweep will first of all clean the flue and whilst doing this will inspect the structural condition of the chimney and provide you with guidance on whether a new flue liner is necessary.
If it is necessary to strengthen the chimney or install a flue lining all relevant UK Building Regulations must be followed. This type of work must be tackled by a competent tradesman who is acquainted with the appropriate building regulations and decent working practices.
If the dimensions of the original fireplace are greater than your needs, a supporting concrete lintel must be put in. When you have supported the fireplace with your lintel it is now time to renovate or update the hearth. In earlier times the hearth was normally sunken into a hole in the floor, however the current building regulations demand that it's raised above floor level. There are made to measure solutions to fit pretty much any style and size of fireplace, or you can choose from a variety of popular sized hearths to match your decor.
DESIGNS AND STYLES OF FIREPLACE
If you pay a visit to a fireplace showroom you'll find that you have lots of choice with the wide range of different options open to you. Not all fireplaces might be suitable for your existing flue and chimney therefore it's sensible to accept any guidance and advice offered by your fireplace installers regarding your specific circumstances.
Some rooms and houses will be more suitable for an open fireplace than a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner and vice versa. For instance, a cast iron wood burning stove looks splendid set back in an inglenook fireplace, which highlights the character and charm of the stove and also deflects the heat into the room effectively.
Even if your Rowley Regis property hasn't got a chimney breast you still have options for a fireplace feature by putting in a multi-fuel or wood burning stove. A pre-existing chimney isn't required because the flue is taken straight from the top or rear of the stove and taken out through an external wall.
WOOD, OPEN, GAS, ELECTRIC OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
The ambience and feel of an open fireplace cannot be matched, however what alternatives are out there if this style of fireplace isn't possible in your Rowley Regis home?
Multi-Fuel Stoves - As the name implies they can be fired up with with various fuels, such as oil, coal, wood or gas, and become an attractive focal point in any living room or kitchen in Rowley Regis. Some styles, like the multi-fuel stoves from AGA, are also suitable for cooking, providing hot water and heating your entire home.
Open Fireplaces - A roaring fire is a focus for any room in your home and it has the ability to burn almost any solid fuel that you can buy. A skillfully fitted open fire is a far cry from the smoky old fireplace that was boarded up by past owners, and its glowing elegance is a welcome addition to any property in Rowley Regis.
Electric Fireplaces - Electric fireplaces can be fitted safely and easily by any competent individual and there are styles and varieties that are suitable for virtually any room and type of house in Rowley Regis. Modern electric fires can provide authentic looking flame effects and and sometimes even the sound of crackling wood to replicate an open fire when inset into an old fashioned fireplace.
Wood Burning Stoves - Even the smallest room in Rowley Regis can be improved by the installment of a wood burner, which are available in an array of styles, and can even be installed freestanding. If coupled with a back boiler can provide piping hot water for radiators or for use around the house.
Gas Fireplaces - Gas fireplaces come in a variety of designs to suit your home and are usually more efficient than wood burners. Gas fireplaces can only be fitted and maintained by a qualified Gas Safe registered technician, (Gas Safe replaced CORGI registration in 2009).
Fireplace installation companies can be found in the Rowley Regis area, and in: Quinton, Springfield, Wollescote, Causeway Green, Gornalwood, Darby End, Combeswood, Haden Cross, Primrose Hill, Quarry Bank, Hurst Green, Old Hill, Bristnall Fields, Bearwood, in addition to these postcode areas: B65 0SH, B65 0JN, B65 0QE, B65 0RF, B65 0BU, B64 5QT, B65 0EB, B65 0AL, B65 0HF, and B65 0PS. A couple of pointers which suggest that a fireplace service comes in the Rowley Regis area is if they've got the phone code 0121 and the postcode B64. You will need to check this if you are passionate about hiring a locally based fireplace builder. Rowley Regis property owners have lots of choices when they are searching for fireplace services. You can simply click on the "quote" banner or form to get more information on fireplaces in the surrounding areas.
Chimney Sweep Rowley Regis
If you have a wood burner or an open fire in your home in Rowley Regis, the regular sweeping of your chimney is imperative. To be completely safe, it is wise to sweep your chimney twice each year, particularly if you are burning coal or wood.
You could perhaps sweep your own chimney, if you've got the right equipment, but this is a filthy job and is best left to a professional Rowley Regis chimney sweep if you want it to be done correctly and cleanly. While the chimney sweep is cleaning your chimney, he'll also be on the lookout for any safety issues, so that they can then be dealt with.
If you don't regularly sweep your chimney in Rowley Regis, the resulting build-up of soot and creosote can quite easily lead to a chimney fire. Another dangerous situation that you want to avoid at all costs is carbon monoxide fumes flowing back into your property, which can also be caused by a badly maintained chimney.
This all adds up to the fact that you should always employ a professional Rowley Regis chimney sweep, and one who has decent public liability cover in case any damages or accidents occur. GO HERE to get chimney sweeping quotes for the Rowley Regis area.
Flue Liners
Enabling your chimney to perform far more effectively, a flue lining is an important part of your chimney system. Flue liners are ducts made of metal, ceramic material or clay which are fitted to the inside of chimneys to carry smoke and fumes to the outside. A chimney on an older house in Rowley Regis might not have a flue liner at all, or will need to be relined based on it's age and condition.
The dangerous fumes and gases that are produced when you burn a fire can damage your fireplace's flue lining. Be certain that your fireplace specialist assesses the flue for damage and potential issues. If it is compromised, those toxic gases may be able to seep into your home rather than being properly vented outdoors. Intense heat could also be permitted to penetrate into the chimney's structure, generating the potential for fires.
Tips On How To Lower Your Heating Bill Plus Keep Your Fireplace In Excellent Shape
Along with concerns over the environment, the iconic fireplace is missing some of its charm, but it's still a favourite with many householders in Rowley Regis. The natural ambiance of a fireplace invokes very special memories for those who have them. The fireplace provides many benefits for your home, but there are also a couple of major downsides that may need to be monitored. As power costs rise, you need to ensure that your fireplace is giving off heat efficiently. Although having a fire alight in a fireplace keeps those around it warm, it actually removes warm air from the rest of the space, causing your heater to work harder. In the event you do not have a fire, the damper is designed to keep heat in. However, dampers have a very inefficient seal, so cold air gets in, and warm air goes out.
Many homeowners that currently have fireplaces in their property in Rowley Regis don't understand how the fireplace can cause their utility bills to skyrocket. Rather than keeping heating expenses down, it can actually do the complete reverse if one is not careful. Nevertheless, there are several procedures that you can follow that can turn your budget busting fireplace into something more efficient. There happen to be four simple steps that you can take to change your fireplace into a cost-effective heat resource. These will make your present fireplace more economical, and reduce your energy bills.
The first suggestion is to swap your fireplace damper with a new top sealing damper. This type of damper is set up at the top of the chimney, and operates like a storm door. It stops the outside air from coming in, and the internal air from getting out, and works in hot or cold weather. The damper is easy to install, and can be purchased on the internet. Another thing that can be done is to fit a fire-back at the back of your fireplace. A fire-back is constructed of cast iron and it is meant to protect the back wall from fire damage, while at the same time making your fireplace look classy. The fire-back will take the heat from a fire, and radiates the heat back towards the room, increasing the overall efficiency of the fireplace.
Another way to save money is by using a fireplace fan/heater, which heats the space by drawing the air into a chamber and returning the air back into the room. These heaters are sealed systems, hence no smoke is discharged, and they really can make a difference in the temperature of your home. The final thing you're able to do is to fit glass doors, which may be a bit on the expensive side. If you do your groundwork, you can get a good price on glass doors and fit them yourself. Glass fireplace doors can keep the air in your home from escaping up the chimney and it also helps to protect your family from accidentally falling into the fire.
All these tips are straightforward to do, and the products can be sourced online. Try your best to make sure your fireplace is efficient and notice your heating bills go down.
Rowley Regis Fireplace Related Tasks
There are a number of different tasks that can be completed by your local Rowley Regis fireplace installer including gas fireplaces, Victorian fireplaces, fake fireplace installations, wood burning stoves, double-sided stove installations in Rowley Regis, electric fireplace installation, chimney strengthening, oak beam fireplaces, fireplace refurbishment, cheap fireplaces, wood burning fireplace installation Rowley Regis, fireplace hearths, bespoke fireplaces, modern fireplace installations, inset stove installations, Victorian fireplace installation, fireplace repairs in Rowley Regis, fireplace services, chimney sweeping in Rowley Regis, marble fireplaces, fireplace design in Rowley Regis, fireplaces in Rowley Regis, fireplacerates in Rowley Regis, open fireplaces Rowley Regis, chimney lining, fireplace packages, multifuel stove installation, fireplace installation, and lots more. These are just some of the duties that are performed by tradesmen installing fireplaces. Rowley Regis specialists will tell you about their whole range of services.
Searching Online
When you are trying to find a service or tradesman in Rowley Regis, you'll very likely go online initially to check out what's currently available. By using Bing, Yahoo, Ask or Google you can receive on the spot results which will help you in your search, though you need to be cautious. Imperfections do however exist with the search engines, and you may find that the listings provided are not precisely what you had anticipated. When you're trying to identify fireplace installers for example, you will browse to a search engine and key in "Rowley Regis fireplace installation", "fireplace installation in Rowley Regis", "fireplace installation near me" or "fireplace installation Rowley Regis".
Corporate lead Generation sites like My Hammer, Local Heroes, TrustaTrader, Rated People, Checkatrade or Quotatis, and online directories such as Foursquare, Yelp, Gumtree or Yell will show up highly on the page 1 results, as will strictly paid advertising (usually the top four listings). If you wish to get hold of fireplace installers in Rowley Regis directly, you will need to look lower down the results pages, probably the second or third pages. My Builder, Rated People and additional trader vetting portals are still worth trying on occasion, as you can never have an excess of information, and their reviews, customer feedback and free estimates can prove useful.
More Advice and Guidance
If you'd like to learn more details on fireplaces, you'll find details on the various types of fireplaces, the health effects of fireplaces, the heating efficiency of fireplaces, gas fireplaces, the environmental effects of fireplaces and the evolution of fireplaces, by going to Wikipedia. To find out how to install a wood burning stove you could study YouTube tutorials like this. To ask or respond to questions pertaining to fireplace installation check out the Buildhub Forum (here), subjects include wood burning stoves, widening fireplaces, pellet boilers and stoves, chimney design, trims for stoves and building regulations. To learn the kind of social media marketing that's being done on fireplaces, check this out. If you are eager to read up on ideas for fireplaces head here.
Fireplace Installers Near Rowley Regis
Also find: Haden Cross fireplace installers, Wollescote fireplace installers, Bristnall Fields fireplace installers, Causeway Green fireplace installers, Darby End fireplace installers, Hurst Green fireplace installers, Old Hill fireplace installers, Primrose Hill fireplace installers, Combeswood fireplace installers, Springfield fireplace installers, Bearwood fireplace installers, Quarry Bank fireplace installers, Quinton fireplace installers, Gornalwood fireplace installers and more. It is possible to get fireplaces installed in all of these places. In your property, these skilled tradesmen can put their knowledge and expertise to use for successfully installing fireplaces. With the help of these dedicated experts, residents can enjoy the ambiance, comfort and warmth that a fireplace brings to their living spaces. To obtain fireplace installation quotations, local home and property owners can go here. Does your house need a fireplace? Why not get a quote today?
Fireplaces Rowley Regis
Fireplace Installers Near Me
Fireplace Installation Rowley RegisFor the latest local info about Rowley Regis, West Midlands click here
More: Bespoke Fireplaces, Fireplace Installers, Custom Fireplaces, Fireplace Fitters, Stone Fireplaces, Electric Fireplaces, Stone Fireplaces, Fireplace Installation, Fireplaces, Gas Fireplaces, Fireplace Restoration, Fireplace Installation, Log Burner Installation, Open Fireplaces, Log Burners, Fireplace Restoration, Fireplace Installers, Gas Fireplaces, Gas Fireplaces, Fireplace Replacement, Cheap Fireplaces, Custom Fireplaces, Bespoke Fireplaces, Fireplace Replacement, Bespoke Fireplaces, Fireplaces, Fireplace Fitters, Stone Fireplaces, Stone Fireplaces, Brick Fireplaces.
Fireplace installation in B64 area, and dialling code 0121.