Fireplace Fitter Tonbridge Kent (TN9): Opening up a disused fireplace to put in an open fire, a gas fire or a wood burner is a good way to add a bit of character and a homely feel to any Tonbridge home. Chilly winters' evenings can become a pleasure as you sit back beside your new fireplace listening to the crackling of firewood, and if your fire is used in combination with a back boiler you can also enjoy a plentiful supply of hot water too.
Before you start prising away at a bricked-up chimney there are some things you'll need to think about to make certain you can install your new fireplace in an efficient and safe way. All work must observe Part J of the UK's Building Regulations, which covers the construction and installation of hearths, flue linings, chimney breasts and fireplaces of any combustible appliance. Planning permission may also be needed before work commences if your home is listed or in a conservation area.
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If you're a competent and enthusiastic DIY'er it might be possible to renovate an existing bricked-up or closed-off fireplace, however the chance of encountering structural problems in most cases is regrettably high. It may be your good fortune when you pull back the boarding surrounding a disused fireplace to discover a hidden gem that needs nothing more than a good clear out and a call to a chimney sweep to get a fire roaring once again. What you'll likely discover is a wall of old bricks that hides problems such as a lintel that needs to be replaced or a stopped up chimney.
If your property in Tonbridge has a fireplace installed and it is not fitted correctly, there isn't only a severe fire risk, but also of respiratory health issues. Therefore, using a professional fireplace fitter is widely recommended in most cases. As stated in the Building Regulations (Part J) for fireplaces, the airflow in a room must be adequate where a fireplace is installed, because in order for it to burn efficiently, a sufficient amount of oxygen is required. A fire that is burning inefficiently in a poorly ventilated area can lead to a build-up of lethal carbon monoxide.
To get past this problem a professional installation team will consider the situation and install vents in the room, or beneath the flooring, to ensure a satisfactory airflow for the fire to burn safely and properly. Blocked off and unused chimney flues might also have to have air vents fitted because they can sometimes trap moist air causing damp to develop inside the chimney.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
It's amazing just how much soot and muck can build up inside an old fireplace and you'll not know exactly what is there until you proceed to open it up. Even with coverings for your home furnishings, the risk of impairment from grime and soot is still possible and it is advised to remove your furniture, rugs and carpets before any fireplace restoration work and chimney cleaning begins. If you're fortunate enough to be working on a complete restoration project then it ought to be one of the very first tasks to work on before re-plastering and decorating the walls. By opening up a fireplace first you'll stop any soot from the chimney causing damage to other phases of your renovation project, such as fresh plasterwork or paint on walls.
CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL WORK
Now that you can see the fireplace opening it is time to sweep and clean the chimney and hearth and identify what is fit for restoring. Contacting a proper chimney sweep to clean your chimney will be one of the first things on your checklist. A chimney sweep will first clean the flue and whilst doing so will inspect the structural condition of the chimney and offer guidance on whether a new flue liner is required.
If it is necessary to install a new flue liner or strengthen the chimney all UK Building Regulations must be complied with. This sort of work must be accomplished by a qualified craftsman who is acquainted with the current building regulations and decent working practices.
If the dimensions of the existing fireplace are larger than your requirements, a supporting concrete lintel should be installed. When your new concrete lintel is safely in position you may now press on with the installation, upgrade and repair of the fireplace hearth. In earlier times the hearth was sunken into a void in the floor, however the latest regulations require it to be raised above floor level. Pre-made options from marble, slate or concrete are available on the market to achieve this, or your fireplace fitter in Tonbridge may be able to provide you with a bespoke, made to measure hearth to complement your room style.
DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE
Choosing your ideal fireplace can be challenging amongst the many designs and styles available from an online dealer or fireplace showroom. The recommendations and advice from your installation team, which will be based on your particular requirements, will enable you to pick a fireplace which is both perfect for your chimney and flue, and suited to your decor.
Certain homes and rooms will look better with an open fireplace than a wood burner or multi fuel stove and vice versa. For example, a cast iron wood burner looks great set into an inglenook fireplace, which highlights the charm and character of the stove and also deflects the heat back into the room effectively.
A wood-burning stove is also a great option if your home hasn't got a chimney breast. An existing chimney is not needed as the flue is taken directly from the top or rear of the stove and routed through an external wall.
OPEN, WOOD, GAS, ELECTRIC OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
A crackling fire on a dark evening creates a charm and ambience that simply cannot be beaten, however what other options are available to put into in your brand new fireplace in Tonbridge?
Open Fireplaces - The classic fireplace which can use different fuels such as smokeless coal, briquettes, wood and other combustive materials. In earlier times an open fire might have had a reputation of being smoky, inefficient and draughty, but a professionally fitted fireplace is wonderful to watch while basking in the warmth it provides.
Electric Fireplaces - A wide selection of electric fireplaces to complement pretty much any home in Tonbridge, can be easily fitted by anybody who is reasonable competent. Even if your property has a traditional fireplace, an electric fire can be fitted that looks almost like a real fire with multi-coloured flames.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Provides you with the option of using gas, coal, wood and oil to furnish you with a multipurpose stove for any property in Tonbridge. They can be used not merely for heating a single room, but some designs such as the AGA collection, can provide useful cooking areas, supply hot water and can be used to heat the complete house if plumbed into a radiator system.
Gas Fireplaces - Offering instant heat and more efficient when compared with wood burning stoves, there are a multitude of styles to suit any period of property. Gas fires must only be maintained and installed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer, (formerly CORGI registered).
Wood Burning Stoves - A whole host of different styles to suit any type of property in Tonbridge, and can even be a free standing feature. An integrated back boiler is an additional benefit and could provide piping hot water for personal use, or for heating for the house via radiators.
It's not only in Tonbridge itself that you can find fireplace installation companies - neighbouring areas like: Golden Green, Penshurst, Speldhurst, Shipbourne, Crockhurst Street, Parkers Green, Dunk's Green, Colts Hill, Barden Park, Upper Haysden, Bidborough, Higham Wood, Hilden Park, Nizels, Five Oak Green, Hildenborough, Branbridges, Tudeley, Whetsted can also be covered. Tonbridge fireplace builders will normally have the postcode TN9 and the dialling code 01732. This is handy to know if you want to confirm that you are considering a local fireplace company.
Flues
An important part of your chimney structure, a chimney liner or flu liner improves the safety of your chimney whilst enabling it to function more effectively than it would if it didn't have one. Crafted from clay, metal or ceramic material, flue liners are conduits that are fitted to the inside of chimneys to carry fumes to the outside. Some older chimneys in Tonbridge may not even be fitted with a liner, or if the current lining is defective, may need to be re-lined.
Your fireplace flue lining can soon be damaged by the hazardous gases that are generated by the burning of a fire. Make certain that your fireplace specialist inspects the flue lining for damage and potential problems. You must prevent those toxic gases from leaking into your living area, which is exactly what can happen when a flue is impaired. There's likewise the danger of fires inside the home because an impaired flue can allow extreme heat to penetrate the chimney structure.
Chimney Sweeping Tonbridge
If you have an open fire or a stove in your property in Tonbridge, the routine sweeping of your chimney is essential. Chimneys need to be swept and cleaned at least once each year, if not more.
To ensure that the job is being done correctly, it is always a wise idea to call in a specialist Tonbridge chimney sweep. While you are getting your chimney cleaned, the chimney sweep will also keep an eye out for any safety issues or problems that there may be with your chimney.
Neglecting to sweep your chimney in Tonbridge can result in a build-up of soot and ash which can lead to chimney fires. Poisonous carbon monoxide gas can also flow back into your home if you allow your chimney to become badly maintained.
In the unlikely event that any damages or accidents occur while you're having your chimney cleaned, make certain your chosen Tonbridge chimney sweep has public liability cover. To book your chimney sweep in Tonbridge CLICK HERE.
Doing a Search On the Internet
Nowadays almost all people in Tonbridge who are looking for services and tradesmen of any kind are likely to "Google it", or in other words do a search for them online. When you use Yahoo, Ask, Bing or Google you can get on the spot results that will make your search simpler, although you need to be careful. One difficulty is usually that the first page results dished up the prominent search engines might not exactly be what you were anticipating. Most property owners in Tonbridge, when looking for fireplace installers will head to a search engine like Google and key in "fireplace installation in Tonbridge", "Tonbridge fireplace installation", "fireplace installation Tonbridge" or "fireplace installation near me".
All the same, many of the consequential page 1 listings on those search engines, as you will quickly realise, are either going to be PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising or listings from the top trade portals like Rated People, Local Heroes, TrustaTrader, My Hammer, Quotatis or Checkatrade or business directories such as Yell, Cyclex, Gumtree or Yelp. Without having substantial budgets for search engine optimization in order to advance their sites farther up the rankings, most fireplace installers will be out-of-the-way on the second or third pages of the listing results. It isn't every fireplace fitter that's actually got a business website, therefore it is still wise to use a trade portal like Checkatrade or Rated People to discover who's currently operating in your area.
Fireplace Installation Information and Advice
Forums exist on many topics, and fireplace installation is not an exception, therefore take a peek at the Buildhub Forum, topics under discussion include things like understanding building regulations, pellet stoves and boilers, wood burning stoves, chimney design, trims for stoves and widening a fireplace. Take a look at Wikipedia to get more information about fireplaces. There are plenty of exceptional guides about fireplace installation on the web, subsequently if you're keen on learning about fireplace mantels check this out. Learn the fundamentals on installing a fireplace mantel and hearth by using YouTube here. To discover fireplace photos and related social media promotion, check this out.
Tonbridge Fireplace Related Tasks
Stuff like fake fireplace installation, marble fireplace surrounds, elm fireplaces, freestanding stoves, corner fireplaces, carbon monoxide detector installation, chimney repairs, fireplace packages, the installation of modern fireplaces, brick fireplace installations, chimney modifications, chimney lining, fireplace refurbishment, built-in electric fires, fireplace replacement, traditional fireplaces, fireplace suites, 2-sided fireplaces, fireplace inserts, flue lining inspections, fireplace services, electric fireplace installations, outdoor fireplaces, hearth fireplaces, wood burning fireplace installation, chimney sweeping in Tonbridge, designer fireplaces, fireplaces, fireplace design, marble fireplace installations are just some of the medley of tasks and services that your local Tonbridge fireplace fitter can offer. This is simply a taste of what can be expected from your local fireplace fitter.
Fireplace Installers Near Tonbridge
Also find: Bidborough fireplace installers, Whetsted fireplace installers, Hildenborough fireplace installers, Nizels fireplace installers, Upper Haysden fireplace installers, Five Oak Green fireplace installers, Colts Hill fireplace installers, Hilden Park fireplace installers, Speldhurst fireplace installers, Branbridges fireplace installers, Tudeley fireplace installers, Shipbourne fireplace installers, Parkers Green fireplace installers, Penshurst fireplace installers, Barden Park fireplace installers, Higham Wood fireplace installers, Golden Green fireplace installers, Dunk's Green fireplace installers, Crockhurst Street fireplace installers and more. Fireplace installers are ready and able to serve folks living in almost all of these locations. These seasoned tradespeople possess the know-how and experience necessary to successfully install fireplaces in your home. These dedicated experts can help residents experience the warmth, atmosphere and comfort that a fireplace brings to their living areas. To get fireplace installation price quotes, local property owners can simply click here.
More Tonbridge Tradespeople: Undoubtedly, whenever you're doing home repairs and improvements in Tonbridge, Kent, you'll likely be in need of all kinds of different tradesmen and aside from fireplace installers in Tonbridge, Kent, you might additionally need a plumber in Tonbridge, a stonemason in Tonbridge, a carpenter in Tonbridge, a building contractor in Tonbridge, a painter and decorator in Tonbridge, a bricklayer in Tonbridge, a tiler in Tonbridge, a carpet fitter in Tonbridge, an odd job man in Tonbridge, an electrician in Tonbridge, a roofing contractor in Tonbridge, a cleaner in Tonbridge, SKIP HIRE in Tonbridge, waste removal in Tonbridge, a chimney sweep in Tonbridge, a plasterer in Tonbridge, and several other different Tonbridge tradesmen.
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Fireplace installation in TN9 area, and dialling code 01732.