Fireplace Fitter Tunbridge Wells Kent (TN1): Fitting a new fireplace or opening up a disused fireplace in your Tunbridge Wells property is a splendid way to add character and a homely feel to any room. If you decide to add a back boiler to your new fireplace, not only can you enjoy the ambience and warmth of an open fire or stove on those chilly winters' evenings, you will also be supplied with plentiful piping hot water.
However before you start smashing down the walls of a blocked up fireplace there are some crucial things to consider to achieve an efficient and safe fireplace. Work conducted on the fireplaces, flue linings, hearths and chimney breasts of any combustible appliances, must comply with Part J of the Building Regulations. If you are in a building that is listed, or a dwelling that stands in an official conservation, you'll have to find out if you need planning permission for a fireplace installation.
PROFESSIONAL OR DIY FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?
If any building work is necessary in your fireplace installation, safety and structural problems could arise that will need resolving by a specialist, although a skilled do-it-yourselfer might be able to have a bash at a simple renovation on an old or existing fireplace. When you reveal the old fireplace, you may be fortunate and find that to get a roaring fire once again, it needs nothing more than a good clean out of the hearth and a sweep of the chimney. However, a blocked flue and crumbling brickwork that needs to be reinforced structurally is what you're more likely to find.
Because of the serious health and fire risk problems that can be caused by a poorly fitted or renovated fireplace, it is advisable to benefit from the experience and knowledge of an experienced fireplace fitter and builder in Tunbridge Wells. There always has to be a decent air flow into a room or space where there's a fireplace to guarantee adequate quantities of oxygen for the fire to burn properly. If there's not enough airflow then it's possible that a fire will not burn efficiently and cause a build-up of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.
It might be necessary to fit airflow vents in walls and floors to allow the fire to get ample oxygen to burn safely and efficiently all the time. Condensing air can frequently get trapped in blocked chimney flues which may also require improved ventilation, to avoid issues with dampness and staining on the chimney breast.
BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
An enormous amount of grime and soot can be discharged from an old fireplace upon opening it up for renovation. A decent Tunbridge Wells fireplace fitter will bring dust sheets for your home furnishings and supply some form of protection, however it is sensible where feasible to remove furniture and woven floor coverings from the area before work begins. If it's only part of a larger home restoration project, re-opening an old fireplace should be one of the initial things that you do, due to the mess that's involved. This avoids any staining damage to any renovated work you've already completed.
STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION WORK
Once the old fireplace has been successfully opened up, you will have a clearer concept of the sort of refurbishment work that is required. You can then also proceed to sweep the chimney and clean any salvageable portions of the hearth. The very first thing on your checklist should be to contact a competent Tunbridge Wells chimney sweep. As well as cleaning and sweeping the chimney and flue, they will also consider the condition of your chimney and flu liner and advise you about whether any portion of the chimney structure and flue needs replacing.
Following an examination by a professional chimney sweep, and in accordance with the Building Regulations (Part J), work to strengthen the chimney structure and/or install a new liner could be needed. A skilled craftsman with experience of the Building Regs and good working practices will need to complete this kind of work.
In buildings that are older you may find the revealed fireplace is too big for your purposes, in which case a new concrete lintel will be needed to adapt the opening. The renovation, upgrade and installation of the fireplace hearth can proceed as soon as the lintel is in position. You might discover that your existing hearth has been set into the floor, but to be in accordance with current building regs it must be raised slightly above floor level. To achieve this, there are pre-made options in marble, slate or stone, or you may prefer a tailor-made, bespoke hearth to match your room design, which your fireplace builder in Tunbridge Wells will be able to help with.
DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE
If you go to a fireplace outlet you'll find that you have lots of choice with the range of different choices available to you. It is crucial to follow the specialist advice of the installers and the sales team, since all fireplaces will not be suited to your particular chimney, flue and airflow.
The age of your property, and the style you're trying to develop for your room, will all help you decide on the type and design of fireplace that's most suitable for you. For instance, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be a wonderful backdrop to a classic cast iron wood-burner stove, which highlights its character and reflects the heat into the room.
It's still possible to install a wood burner stove, even if there isn't a chimney in your Tunbridge Wells home. Your fireplace technician can take a flue straight from the back or top of the stove and out through an external wall, therefore a chimney isn't necessary.
ELECTRIC, WOOD, OPEN, GAS OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
If this kind of fireplace isn't suitable for your Tunbridge Wells property, what other alternatives are out there?
Multi-Fuel Stoves - As the name implies multi-fuel stoves can be used with various fuels, such as wood, smokeless coal, oil or gas, and become a unique focal point in any kitchen or living room in Tunbridge Wells. If you decide on something like the AGA range, you can do cooking, get hot water, and when plumbed into your radiator system, provide heat for your whole home.
Open Fireplaces - Provides a stunning focal point for a room and can be used with an assortment of solid fuels. An open fire is wonderful to watch and modern fireplaces are no longer the draughty, inefficient and smoky things that they were in the past.
Gas Fireplaces - Gas fireplaces are a lot better than wood burners or multi-fuel stoves with regards to thermal efficiency, and you can find a variety of styles and sizes to suit any property in Tunbridge Wells. Have to be professionally installed and maintained by a Gas Safe certified tradesperson.
Electric Fireplaces - Basic installation and a wide choice of designs make electric fires a popular choice for Tunbridge Wells homes that don't have a chimney breast. When inset into a conventional fireplace, today's electric fires can replicate a genuine fire, with "real" looking flame effects and often even the crackling sound of wood.
Wood Burning Stoves - Even the tiniest room in Tunbridge Wells can be improved by the fitting of a wood burning stove, which are available in a range of styles, and, if needed, can even be fitted as a freestanding feature. A version with an integrated back boiler can deliver supplementary heating capabilities by transferring the piping hot water to radiators in cold rooms in your home.
It isn't just in Tunbridge Wells itself where you're able to get fireplace installers - neighbouring areas like: Speldhurst, Fordcombe, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Bells Yew Green, Groombridge, Ashurst, Penshurst, Matfield, Mark Cross, Rusthall, Bidborough, Tudeley, Frant, Brenchley can also be covered. Local Tunbridge Wells fireplace fitters will most likely have the phone code 01892 and the postcode TN1. You will want to check this if you're focused on hiring a local fireplace installer. To acquire information about the installation of fireplaces in your area click the "QUOTE" banner.
Tips On How To Lower Your Heating Bill And Also Keep Your Open Fireplace In Great Shape
With all the current green problems, the open fireplace has lost some of its former charm, however it still is a favourite feature for many householders in Tunbridge Wells. The natural ambiance of a fireplace triggers special recollections for those who've got them. There are numerous good things about having a fireplace although there are a few negative aspects that could possibly need to be taken care of. With the cost of energy increasing substantially year after year, your fireplace must emit heat in a very cost-effective way. When a fire is burning, it might provide warmth for people standing in close proximity to it, but it can actually pull warm air out of the room, making your heater work even harder. Anytime there's no fire, a damper is supposed to manage the airflow. Often times though, fireplace dampers are renowned for being inefficient in keeping warm air in the dwelling and cold air out.
Many families that currently have fireplaces in their residence in Tunbridge Wells do not realise how the fireplace can cause their utility bills to skyrocket. Instead of managing the heating of a house naturally, a fireplace can essentially add 100s of pounds to your heating expenses. Nevertheless, there are some procedures that can be followed that will be able to turn your budget busting fireplace into something a touch more efficient. There are at least four basic elements that you could certainly do to improve your fireplace. These is going to make your fireplace very affordable and very efficient.
The very first thing that should be done is to replace the current damper with a top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is set up at the top of your chimney that also acts like a storm door. The top sealing damper keeps the air in your home from escaping and operates incredibly well in both cold and hot weather conditions. It doesn't take lots of time to install and you can acquire one online. Next, you should have a fire-back at the back section of your fireplace. This is a cast iron plate that is intended to add to the room decor, while saving the back wall from damage due to the fires. The fire-back takes the heat from a fire, and radiates the heat back towards the room, increasing the efficiency of the fireplace.
The next thing that can help is a fireplace heater/fan, which heats the room air that is being circulated through an internal chamber, and sends it back into the room. These gadgets are set up as closed systems so they do not produce any smoke, but they are extremely effective in keeping your house warm. Last but not least, it is possible to fit glass doors which will likely be the most expensive. Hunting around, you ought to be able to locate a great deal, and with an instruction manual, you can fit them yourself. Glass doors is able to keep the air in your house from escaping up the chimney and also help to safeguard your pets and children from falling into the fire.
All these suggestions are simple to implement, and the required products can be easily sourced online. Try your utmost to keep your fireplace efficient and watch your heating bills go down.
Chimney Cowls Tunbridge Wells
To add draft and help to prevent backflow, a chimney cowl is a hood-shaped covering for your chimney pot. It is often produced from galvanized iron and sits over the chimney pot to keep the wind from blowing smoke back down. For any chimney system in Tunbridge Wells, it is an important component. Chimney cowls can be found online or in a builder's merchants. A chimney cowl will keep your stove or fireplace working efficiently, whether you opt to purchase a new one or improve the performance of an existing one.
There are several kinds of chimney cowl available. There are pot hanging cowls that can be installed without the need to remove the chimney pot. They hook up to the flue liner via three straps, which secure the cowl in place. Another style of cowl is a weathering cap, which is mounted on the end of the flue. It is larger than the chimney pot, which makes sure that it stays in position.
Chimney cowls are also available that are made from commonplace objects, such as a steel bucket or stainless steel colander. Ordinary chicken mesh can also be used to make a fairly effective cowl. Clay flower pots also make good chimney cowls. These products can easily be purchased on the web or at a local hardware store.
One of the most common kinds of chimney cowl is the H-style. This pattern is the most effective at controlling the draught and enables your fireplace to function more efficiently. It is made from a series of H-shaped pipes that isolate the combustion gases from down draughts. It was originally designed for marine applications, but has become popular among property owners because of its energy-saving attributes.
Another kind is the Aerodyne cowl. It works by drawing air into the chimney cowl and reducing downdraught. These are available in an assortment of colours. Its venturi shape draws air into the chimney cowl, creating a drop in air pressure that draws air upward from the stove or fireplace. Other types of chimney cowl include: anti-downdraught chimney cowls, bonnet chimney cowls, birdguards, static chimney cowls, aspirotor chimney cowls and spinning chimney cowls.
Chimney cowls are a quick way to prevent birds building nests in your chimney in Tunbridge Wells. They're comparatively cheap and simple to put in. You should ensure you have clear access to the area above the chimney in order to fit one effectively. It can also stop debris from building up inside the chimney. Ask your local fireplace installer in Tunbridge Wells if they can fit a suitable chimney cowl for you.
Chimney Sweeping Tunbridge Wells
If you've got an open fire or a wood burner in your home, it is best to get your chimney swept regularly. It is generally recommended that at least once annually your chimney should be cleaned and swept.
It's invariably best to call in a professional Tunbridge Wells chimney sweep if you want to get this job done properly. There are additional advantages to calling in a professional, because if there are any safety issues or problems with your chimney, the chimney sweep is in a good position to spot them.
A chimney fire could easily be caused by a build-up of ash and soot if this isn't removed by sweeping. Apart from the risk of fires there are other hazardous situations that can be caused by a blocked or poorly maintained chimney, one example is that of odourless carbon monoxide gas flowing back into your house.
This all adds up to the fact that you should always employ a trustworthy Tunbridge Wells chimney sweep, and one who has decent public liability cover in case any accidents or damages occur. GO HERE to get chimney sweeping quotes for the Tunbridge Wells area. You should also be able to get chimney sweeping done in neabry locations.
Flue Linings
A safety feature that allows your chimney to operate more effectively, a chimney liner or flu liner is an essential component of your chimney structure that should never be omitted. With the purpose of transporting smoke and fumes to the outside of a property, flue liners are conduits fabricated from metal, ceramic material or clay which are installed inside chimneys. If you own an older house in Tunbridge Wells, it may be that you haven't got a flue lining in your chimney at all, or that the old lining is damaged and will need to be replaced.
The burning of fires creates hazardous gases and fumes which can eat away and ruin your chimney's flue. You could either get the chimney sweep to inspect it for damage and possible issues as your chimney is being swept, or alternatively you could ask the fireplace fitter to check it out. A flue that has been damaged may allow those toxic gases to leak into your property, rather than diverting them safely outside. Damaged flues can also lead to house fires - so get them checked out!
More Tunbridge Wells Tradespeople: When your Tunbridge Wells home is in need of improvements or refurbishments, a number of different tradesmen could be necessary to complete the project, and although your current search is for fireplace specialists in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, you may also need the expertise of stone cleaning in Tunbridge Wells, a plumber in Tunbridge Wells, a handyman in Tunbridge Wells, a cleaner in Tunbridge Wells, a painter/decorator in Tunbridge Wells, a building contractor in Tunbridge Wells, a plasterer in Tunbridge Wells, a stonemason in Tunbridge Wells, SKIP HIRE in Tunbridge Wells, waste removal in Tunbridge Wells, a roofing specialist in Tunbridge Wells, a chimney sweep in Tunbridge Wells, a bricklayer in Tunbridge Wells, a damp proofer in Tunbridge Wells, pressure washing in Tunbridge Wells, an electrician in Tunbridge Wells, a carpenter/joiner in Tunbridge Wells, a flooring specialist in Tunbridge Wells, and perhaps others.
Fireplace Installers Near Tunbridge Wells
Also find: Bidborough fireplace installers, Mark Cross fireplace installers, Frant fireplace installers, Brenchley fireplace installers, Ashurst fireplace installers, Tudeley fireplace installers, Fordcombe fireplace installers, Penshurst fireplace installers, Matfield fireplace installers, Bells Yew Green fireplace installers, Rusthall fireplace installers, Royal Tunbridge Wells fireplace installers, Groombridge fireplace installers, Speldhurst fireplace installers and more. It is possible to get fireplaces installed in almost all of these places. The adept installation of a fireplace in your home is well within the capabilities of these professional tradespeople, given their knowledge and experience. With the help of these dedicated specialists, residents can enjoy the ambiance, warmth and comfort that a fireplace brings to their living spaces. Local residents can get fireplace installation quotes by simply clicking here.
Tunbridge Wells Fireplace Related Tasks
Your local Tunbridge Wells fireplace installer can provide a large assortment of tasks and services, and together with what has previously been covered here they can do wood mantels, fireplace surrounds, chimney repairs, fireplace refurbishment in Tunbridge Wells, gas fireplace installation, wood burning fireplace installations, the installation of Regency fireplaces in Tunbridge Wells, the installation of modern fireplaces, fireplace installation Tunbridge Wells, gas stoves, brick fireplaces, oak beam fireplaces Tunbridge Wells, wood & multifuel stove installations Tunbridge Wells, brick fireplace installations, fake fireplace installations, Regency fireplaces Tunbridge Wells, two-sided fireplaces, corner fireplaces, fireplace packages, the installation of chimney cowls Tunbridge Wells, traditional fireplace installations, three-sided fireplaces in Tunbridge Wells, fireplace removal in Tunbridge Wells, chimney sweeping, fireplaceprices, fireplace replacement, fireplace services in Tunbridge Wells, inglenook fireplace installations, chimney modifications, fire grate conversions, elm fireplaces Tunbridge Wells, classic fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces Tunbridge Wells, contemporary fireplaces Tunbridge Wells, electric fireplace installation, and others. Tunbridge Wells companies, when contacted, will be more than happy to inform you of the whole range of fireplace services which are available when needed. If you have fireplace requirements in Tunbridge Wells, that you can't find here here, you could go HERE and submit the quote form provided.
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