Fireplace Fitter Slough Berkshire (SL1): If you're frustrated with high energy prices and want to find an alternative way to heat your house in Slough, why not open up that disused fireplace and put in a budget friendly open, multi-fuel or wood burning fire? So long as you've got a ready supply of timber, adding a wood burning stove or open fire for those freezing winter evenings could even be more economical than a regular central heating system. Combine a back boiler with your fireplace and you will be able to benefit from supplies of endless hot water to save you even more cash.
Before any real work proceeds, for instance prising away at a blocked chimney or smashing down the walls of a boarded up fireplace, there are some vital things you need to consider. The United Kingdom's Part J building regulations for heating appliances for starters, which applies to any work that is conducted on hearths, chimney breasts, flue linings and fireplaces. For a fireplace installation in a building that is listed, or one which is positioned in a designated conservation area, you will have to find out from you local planning office if planning permission is necessary.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
When refurbishing an existing bricked-up fireplace, there is a fair chance of running across structural problems, so even if you are an accomplished do-it-yourselfer you may struggle to complete this sort of work. When your boarded up fireplace is exposed you may find a stable chimney breast, lintel and hearth which needs little more than a clean by a chimney sweep to get it all working again. What you will more likely discover is an area of crumbling, old bricks that conceals problems such as a lintel that needs replacing or a stopped up chimney.
Employing a professional fireplace fitter in Slough is generally recommended, as a poorly installed fireplace can can cause a fire risk and respiratory health conditions. There must always be airflow into a room where there's a fireplace to guarantee adequate amounts of oxygen enable the fire to burn properly. A build-up of deadly carbon monoxide can be the result in a space where there is inadequate airflow, and death is possible where a fire is burning inefficiently.
To safely get over any airflow problems, vents might be fitted around the room during a fireplace installation, to guarantee suitable oxygen levels reach the fireplace. To avoid condensed air from becoming trapped in unused chimney flues and causing staining and damp spots, vents may need to be installed by the fireplace installation team to increase the airflow.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
When you are re-opening a disused fireplace for a restoration project, you may be amazed at the amount of soot and dirt that has built-up in your chimney. It's advised to remove your your furniture, rugs and carpets before any fireplace refurbishment work and chimney cleaning commences, as even with covers and other dust protection for your belongings, the risk of impairment from dirt and soot is still likely. If you're carrying out a full renovation of a room or house, the fireplace ought to be opened up and worked on before any decoration or plastering works are dealt with. The reason behind this is to lower the chances of any discolouring damage to restoration work which has recently been accomplished.
STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION WORK
It will be time to clean and sweep the hearth and chimney and determine what can and cannot be repaired, as soon as the fireplace has been opened up. This will be the perfect time to call a local Slough chimney sweep to find out whether they're able to come and have a look at your chimney and fireplace. Apart from cleaning the chimney and flue, they will also assess the condition of your flue liner and chimney and tell you about any part of the chimney structure and flue that needs replacing.
If you need 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 skilled tradesperson who is acquainted with the appropriate Building Regulations and good construction practices.
If your home is quite old a new concrete lintel might be required to modify the opening, if it is found that the exposed fireplace is too large. The upgrade, installation and repair of the hearth can proceed once the supporting lintel is in place. The legislation regarding hearths has changed somewhat down the years, and whilst in the past they were often set into floor voids, they now must be set at least 12.5mm above floor level if you are to abide by the current Building Regulations. You can get bespoke solutions to fit pretty much any design and size of fireplace, or you can select from a range of common size and shape hearths to match your decor.
FIREPLACE STYLES AND DESIGNS
Deciding on your choice of fireplace can be difficult when faced with the different styles and designs available from a fireplace showroom or online shop. So you can choose a fireplace that complements your home's decor, and is also suited to your existing flue and chimney, it's recommended that you follow the guidance and advice of the sales team, which will be in accord with your needs.
Some properties and rooms will be more suited to open fireplaces than a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner and vice versa. A cast iron wood burning stove for instance, will look fabulous when positioned in an inglenook fireplace, which reflects the heat back into the room and perfectly emphasises its elegance and charm.
Even if you don't have an existing chimney in your Slough home, it's still entirely possible to install a wood burner. As long as you have an external wall through which a stainless steel flue from the top or back of the stove can be routed, you don't need a pre-existing chimney structure to benefit from that "real" fire experience.
MULTI-FUEL, ELECTRIC, GAS, WOOD OR OPEN FIREPLACE?
Who can deny that they enjoy the warmth and glow of a natural fire on a cold evening, but if your situation doesn't allow for this, what alternatives are available?
Electric Fireplaces - Any person who is relatively competent can safely and easily put in one of these fires, and the broad range of styles make these an extremely popular choice for property owners in Slough. Can be set into conventional fireplaces, and with the "real" looking feel of some electric fires it can often be hard to distinguish them from the genuine article.
Wood Burning Stoves - Available in a whole host of sizes and designs that can be freestanding if required, these ever-popular stoves can can benefit even the tiniest of rooms. An added advantage of these devices is that they can provide steaming hot water for use around the home, or supply heating to another room by means of a radiator, when coupled with a back boiler.
Gas Fireplaces - There are a whole host of designs to suit any home in Slough, and they provide instantaneous heat which is more thermally efficient than a wood burning or multi-fuel stove. The maintenance and installation of gas fireplaces should only be conducted by a Gas Safe contractor in Slough.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Can be fired up with with a range of fuels, including wood, oil, coal or gas, to create an eye-catching focal point in your property in Slough. If linked up to your central heating system, some multi-fuel stoves (such as AGA) can provide you with heating for your entire home, as well as cooking facilities, hot water and even outdoor grills.
Open Fireplaces - An open fireplace can be used with an array of solid fuels, and establishes a focal point for your living space. An open fire is a sight to behold and contemporary fireplaces are no longer the inefficient, smoky and draughty objects that they used to be.
Fireplace installation work can be carried out in Slough and also nearby in: Stanwell, Dorney, Chalvey, Manor Park, Wexham, Fulmer, Yiewsley, Harmondsworth, Middle Green, Colnbrook, Stoke Green, Stanwell Moor, Cippenham, Longford, Lent, Britwell, Hedgerley, Lynch Hill, Upton, Harlington, Langley, George Green, together with these postcodes SL1 0PR, SL1 0RF, SL1 0SE, SL1 0EZ, SL1 0FB, SL1 0SN, SL1 0UD, SL1 0WU, SL0 9DX, and SL1 0TX. It is very likely that any fireplace companies from the Slough area is going to have the postcode SL1 and the telephone code 01753. You can just click the "quote" banner to get more details on any aspect of fireplace installation in the local area.
Chimney Sweeping Slough
Regardless whether you have a wood burning stove or an open fire, you need to get your chimney swept on a regular basis. Chimneys should be swept and cleaned at least once each year to keep them safe and working correctly.
You could perhaps sweep your own chimney, if you've got the appropriate tools, but this is a messy job and is best left to a professional Slough chimney sweep if you want it done correctly and cleanly. Bringing in a chimney sweep not only keeps your chimney clean but also highlights any issues that there may be with your chimney.
A chimney fire could easily be caused by a build-up of ash and soot if this is not removed by sweeping. As well as stopping fires, you will also want to avoid the chance of poisoning by carbon monoxide fumes. When a chimney gets blocked this noxious substance can seep back into your property with horrific consequences.
Make sure that your chosen Slough chimney sweep is experienced and is also covered by adequate public liability insurance. GO HERE to get chimney sweeping quotes for the Slough area. You should also be able to get chimney sweeping done in nearby locations and areas.
Flue Linings
Allowing your chimney to perform far more effectively, a chimney or flue lining is a vital addition to your chimney system. Crafted from metal, clay or ceramic material, flue liners are ducts that are installed inside chimneys to transport fumes to the outside. Subject to their condition and age, older chimneys in Slough may have to be relined, or might not be fitted with a liner at all.
The hazardous gases which are formed when burning a fire can cause damage to your chimney's flue. Whilst it is being cleaned, get the chimney sweep or fireplace specialist to check your flue for any damage or any risks of it failing in the future. A flue that has been compromised could allow those harmful gases to penetrate your dwelling, rather than chanelling them out into the atmosphere. There can be an increased potential for house fires when flu linings are impaired, because intense heat is able to reach the chimney structure, sometimes with serious consequences.
Suggestions To Maintain Your Open Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Bill
The classic fireplace may have lost a little bit of of its allure because of concerns for the environment but it is still loved by many in Slough. The natural comfort of an open fireplace invokes special memories for those who have them. There are lots of good things about having a fireplace but there are some downsides that might need to be dealt with. Because of power costs going up so quickly nowadays, your fireplace needs to be a good source of heat, not one of inefficiency. When you've got a fire roaring in the fireplace, it can actually remove warm air away from the room, making your heat source work harder. Anytime there's no fire, a damper is supposed to regulate the airflow. Often times though, fireplace dampers can often be inefficient in keeping cold air out, and warm air in.
A great many householders in Slough who have a fireplace do not understand how it can influence heating costs. Instead of conserving resources, and heating costs, it can often be adding hundreds of pounds of energy costs. There's a simple way to take your ineffective fireplace, and turn it into a heat generating system that will more closely fit your budget. There tend to be 4 simple things that you can do to make your fireplace into a cost-effective heat resource. You will recognize that these tips will help make your fireplace create quality heat and your current heating bill smaller.
The very first thing that should be done is to replace the current damper with a top sealing damper. This form of damper is located near the top of your chimney and helps to stop rain and snow from entering. The top sealing damper helps to keep the air in the house from getting away and works remarkably well in hot and cold weather. It doesn't take a lot of time to fit and you can acquire one online. Next, you should fit a fire-back in the rear area of your open fireplace. A fire-back is made of cast iron and it is meant to shield the back wall from fire damage, while making your fireplace look stylish. The fire-back will take the heat from a fire, and radiates it back inside the room, increasing the efficiency of the fireplace.
The next thing that is going to help is a fireplace heater, which heats the room air which is being circulated through an internal chamber, and sends it back towards the room. These heaters are closed systems, so no smoke is discharged, and they really can make a difference in the temperature of your house. Lastly, it is possible to put in glass doors which could be the most costly option. Hunting around, you ought to be able to locate a good deal, and with instructions, you could possibly install them yourself. Such doors form a screen between the chimney and living space, not only stopping the air in the room from escaping up the chimney, but also affording some protection to the inhabitants.
The guidance presented here isn't difficult to put into action, and most of the products can be readily purchased online. Take care of your fireplace and observe your energy bills drop.
Stone Fireplaces
Why not bring the outside in and build a spectacular looking natural stone fireplace? Maybe your property's exterior already has some natural features, such as stone boundary walls or a stone facade. These exterior features could be coordinated with your fireplace indoors.
It's possible to create a stone fireplace with either full-depth stone or stone cladding, subject to your taste and price range. The kinds of natural stone that can be used are many and varied. Pick from sandstone, slate, granite, marble, quartz or limestone.
The appearance of your fireplace will depend on the method of building, the methodology used by the stonemason or tradesperson who builds it and the kind of stone used. Choose a design that you like, and show the fireplace installer some images before they start the job.
Although some modern properties may not suit the look of a stone fireplace, there are plenty of stylish designs using a mixture of metal, stone and wood, that can be particularly striking.
Friends & Family Recommendations
It is invariably a great help to ask if friends and relatives have any recommendations when searching for a professional contractor for your project or undertaking in Slough. In your efforts to choose someone who's ideal for your requirements, word of mouth referrals are usually preferable, and can frequently enable you to single out a substandard fireplace contractor or a company that has a terrible reputation.
Getting feedback from a relative or friend also means that you can get an insight into the reliability and time keeping of the contractor, and if anything went wrong, what the contractor's attitude was like and how quickly were the errors rectified. They'll be in a position to tell you if the contractor offers a guaranteed price promise for their work, and if not, how precise the eventual price was when compared with the original quote.
Ultimately, the folks that who you know and can depend on are your friends and relations, so when it comes to advice, go to them. If they have had a poor experience with a certain contractor or fireplace installer, they may be unwilling to chat about them in any great detail. Many people will be more than happy to talk about a good contractor, but less inclined to discuss a poor one, and might suggest an alternative company rather than 'slag off' a far from ideal business they've had dealings with in the past.
Searching Online For Fireplace Installation
In these high-tech, modern days, the initial thinking when looking to find tradesmen in Slough is to grab the mobile and conduct a search on the web. With prominent search engines like Yahoo, Bing, Google or Ask, you'll be able to get lots of instantaneous results. At first glance it may appear that the listings shown on the first page are exactly what you need, but that's not invariably the truth. When looking around for fireplace installers in Slough, you'll very likely enter "fireplace installation Slough", "Slough fireplace installation", "fireplace installation near me" or "fireplace installation in Slough" into the search engine and see what results this brings up.
It is good to understand that the top 4 results are all too often PPC (Pay Per Click) advertisements and many of the remaining results on page one are going to be internet directories like Scoot, Yelp, Gumtree or Yell, or entries from large trade portals such as Bidvine, Quotatis, My Builder, Rated People, Checkatrade or TrustaTrader. For those fireplace installers in Slough who have got their own website, it is likely that they will be out-of-the-way on page 2 or 3 of the listings, and you will need to look past the first page alone.
Slough Skip Hire
Handling the waste that is created when engaged in home improvements or refurbishments in Slough, is one of the biggest downsides to undertaking this sort of project. For your fireplace installations, different quantities of waste will be generated, subject to your specific circumstances, and the size of your project. Some tradespeople make allowances for waste removal when they prepare their quotes, and if this isn't listed ask if it's included, if not you'll need to sort it out.
Hiring a skip is the easiest way to get rid of this waste. Various skip sizes are available to suit the amount of waste that you have. The various sizes of skip include mini-skips, midi-skips, builders skips and roll-on-roll-off skips, and for different projects skip bags are also available.
To hire a skip for your project in Slough, CLICK HERE for a quote.
Advice and Guidance
If you're curious to read up on ideas for fireplaces head here. You can take a look at the Wikipedia webpage to learn information regarding the environmental effects of fireplaces, gas fireplaces, the heating efficiency of fireplaces, the health effects of fireplaces, the evolution of fireplaces and the different types of fireplaces. Go here to find out how to install a fireplace. To get clued up on the hottest fireplace developments on social media, check this out. To ask or answer questions concerning fireplace installation check out the Buildhub Forum, discussion topics include things like pellet stoves and boilers, widening fireplaces, wood burners, trims for stoves, building regulations and chimney flues.
Slough Fireplace Related Tasks
There is a variety of work that can be conducted by your local Slough fireplace fitter including fireplace replacement in Slough, fireplace design, fake fireplaces, gas fireplaces, marble fireplaces, chimney repairs, fireplaces, electric fireplace installations, open fireplaces in Slough, reclaimed fireplaces Slough, cheap fireplace installation, fireplace surrounds in Slough, cast iron fireplace installations in Slough, classic fireplaces Slough, tiled fireplaces Slough, designer fireplaces Slough, stone fireplace installation Slough, traditional fireplaces Slough, corner fireplaces Slough, fireplace removal, fireplace hearths, Regency fireplaces Slough, chimney strengthening, Victorian fireplace installation Slough, flue liners, brick fireplaces, inset stove installation, chimney sweeping in Slough, made-to-measure fireplaces Slough, the installation of chimney cowls, two-sided fireplaces, fireplace installation in Slough, contemporary fireplaces Slough, Victorian fireplaces, fireplace packages in Slough, and more. In terms of what is available, this is not in any way a comprehensive list of the services that are provided by a local fireplace fitter. Slough specialists will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of fireplace services if you contact them.
Fireplace Installers Near Slough
Also find: Stoke Green fireplace installers, Cippenham fireplace installers, Harlington fireplace installers, Wexham fireplace installers, Britwell fireplace installers, George Green fireplace installers, Lynch Hill fireplace installers, Longford fireplace installers, Lent fireplace installers, Manor Park fireplace installers, Colnbrook fireplace installers, Langley fireplace installers, Yiewsley fireplace installers, Dorney fireplace installers, Hedgerley fireplace installers, Harmondsworth fireplace installers, Stanwell Moor fireplace installers, Stanwell fireplace installers, Fulmer fireplace installers, Middle Green fireplace installers, Upton fireplace installers, Chalvey fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installation services are widely available in pretty much all of these places. In your home, these seasoned tradespeople can put their knowledge and expertise to use for successfully installing fireplaces. Thanks to the support from these dedicated experts, residents can relish the warmth and cosy atmosphere a fireplace provides in their living environments. Local home and property owners can get quotes by simply clicking here. Today is the ideal time to begin your fireplace installation.
Fireplace Services Slough
- Cast Iron Fireplaces
- Fireplace Installation Services
- Electric Fireplaces
- Gas Fireplaces
- Fireplace Repairs
- Wood Burning Stove Installation
- Fireplace Mantels
- Fireplace Estimates
- Fireplace Surrounds
- Fireplace Refurbishment
- Open Fireplace Restoration
- Corner Fireplaces
- Fireplace Installation
- Natural Stone Fireplaces
More Slough Tradespeople: Slough home improvements usually require the skills of many different tradesmen, and although you're currently interested in fireplace fitters in Slough, a bricklayer in Slough, a handyperson in Slough, metalworkers in Slough, a damp proofer in Slough, a builder in Slough, a chimney sweep in Slough, a painter/decorator in Slough, SKIP HIRE in Slough, brick cleaning in Slough, a stonemason in Slough, a plasterer in Slough, an electrician in Slough, a carpenter and joiner in Slough, a plumber in Slough, a roofer in Slough, power washing in Slough, waste removal in Slough, a floor specialist in Slough, might also be needed at some stage during your venture.
If you need local Slough information take a look here
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Fireplace installation in SL1 area, phone code 01753.
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