Fireplaces Wallingford

Fireplace Fitter Wallingford Oxfordshire (OX10): Installing a new fireplace or re-opening an old disused fireplace in your Wallingford home is a wonderful way to add a homely feel and some character to any room. Adding a wood burning stove or open fire for those cold winters' evenings can even prove more economical than some central heating systems, providing that you have a good source of fuel. If used in combination with a back boiler it can supply you with a plentiful supply of hot water at the same time.

However before you start bashing down the walls of a blocked up fireplace there are some essential things to consider if you are to end up with an efficient and safe fireplace. Any work that's done on your flue lining, fireplace, hearth and chimney breast must conform to the Part J building regulations for combustible appliances. If you own a listed building you'll also have to find out if planning permission is necessary from the local authorities before any work is started.

DIY OR PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION?

You may be able to do some of the work in remodeling a pre-existing fireplace if you've got the ability to do so, but there is always a problem in finding structural and safety issues which need to be resolved by a professional tradesperson. It could be that in order to get a fire roaring once more you will need little more than a quick clean up of the hearth and a sweeping of the chimney. What is more typical however is a jumble of old brickwork covering a blocked flue, and needs some degree of structural reinforcement before it can be safely used.

If fireplaces are installed improperly there's not just a fire risk to your home, but there can be associated health hazards, which is why it is advisable to employ a specialist Wallingford installation company for a fireplace. Airflow has to be sufficient in any room which has a fireplace; and it's a requirement in the Building Regulations (Part J) that this is so. If the airflow is not good enough then it's possible that a fire will not burn efficiently and cause carbon monoxide to build up, which can be lethal.

To successfully get around any airflow problems, vents may need to be installed around the room as part of a fireplace installation, to ensure suitable oxygen levels are able to reach the fire. They might have to fit vents into unused chimney flues which sometimes trap moist air and cause damp spots and staining to your chimney breast.

BEFORE WORK STARTS

Opening up an old fireplace can cause large amounts of soot and dust to enter your home. It's advisable to remove any rugs, carpets and furniture from an area where you are planning to expose an old fireplace, to prevent them from being affected by grime, soot and dust that will be disturbed during the fireplace installation and chimney cleaning work. If you are lucky enough to be working on a full renovation project then it should be one of the initial jobs to concentrate on before re-plastering and decorating the walls. This should help to avoid any staining damage by dirt and chimney soot to any previously completed work.

STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK

With your fireplace opened up, it's time to see what is in a fit state to be restored and give the hearth and chimney a good cleaning. Contacting a chimney sweep to de-soot your chimney will be one of the first items on your agenda. A chimney sweep will first clean the flue and whilst doing so will be able to check the structural condition of the chimney and provide you with advice on whether a new flue liner is required.

Following a chimney sweep's examination it may be required to install a new liner and/or strengthen the chimney breast in accordance with Part J of the Building Regulations. These are projects that need to be done by a competent builder with a good understanding of the appropriate regulations and reliable construction skills.

If the dimensions of the existing fireplace are larger than your requirements, a supporting concrete lintel will need to be put in. As soon as this has been done the next step of your Wallingford fireplace installation will be to update the hearth. If the current hearth is sunken into the floor you'll have to raise it to comply with the latest regulations. There are bespoke options to fit pretty much any design and size of fireplace, or you can pick from a range of popular size and shape hearths to fit in with your decor.

DESIGNS AND STYLES OF FIREPLACE

If you pay a visit to a fireplace showroom you'll find that you are spoilt for choice with the wide range of different choices open to you. It is entirely possible that because of your current flue, chimney and airflow to the room, that some fireplace designs may not be suitable, therefore it pays to follow the the recommendations and advice of the fireplace installation company with respect to this.

You home's age, and the style that you're trying to create for your room, should all help you determine the type and design of fireplace which is best for you. For instance, an attractive inglenook fireplace can be an ideal backdrop for an old-fashioned cast iron wood-burner stove, highlighting its charm and deflecting heat back into the room.

Even if your Wallingford home hasn't got a chimney you still have options for a fireplace feature by installing a wood burning or multi fuel stove. Provided that you've got an external wall through which a flue from the back or top of the stove can be passed, you do not need an existing chimney structure in place to enjoy a "real" fire.

ELECTRIC, MULTI-FUEL, OPEN, GAS OR WOOD FIREPLACE?

The charm and look of an open fire can't be beaten, however what alternatives are out there if this form of fireplace is not possible in your Wallingford home?

Open Fireplaces - A crackling fire is a focal point for any room and it has the capability to burn virtually any solid fuel that is available. An open fire is a sight to behold and modern fireplaces are no more the inefficient, smoky and draughty things they were in the past.

Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves provide you with options to use coal, oil, gas and wood to furnish you with a multipurpose stove for any house in Wallingford. Some types, such as the multi-fuel stoves from AGA, can also be used for generating hot water, cooking and heating your entire home.

Wood Burning Stoves - Even the tiniest room in Wallingford can benefit from the fitting of a wood burner, which come in a range of designs, and can even be installed freestanding. If coupled with a back boiler they can provide steaming hot water to heat radiators or for other use around the home.

Gas Fireplaces - Delivering instant heat and being more efficient than wood burners, there are a wide selection of designs to suit any period of property. Must be professionally maintained and fitted by a Gas Safe registered technician.

Electric Fireplaces - Basic installation and a diverse choice of designs make electric fires the obvious choice for Wallingford homes without a chimney breast. Can be inset into conventional fireplaces, and with "real feel" electric fires it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish them from the genuine article.

Fireplace fitters can be located in the Wallingford area, and in: Cholsey, Shillingford, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Mongewell, North Stoke, Crowmarsh Gifford, Winterbrook, South Moreton, Berrick Salome, North Moreton, Moulsford, Aston Tirrold, Ewelme, Ipsden, in addition to these postcode areas: OX10 0EF, OX10 8DR, OX10 0BE, OX10 0LH, OX10 8AD, OX10 0AR, OX10 0DN, OX10 0TG, OX10 0EZ, and OX10 1AS. If they've got the postcode OX10 and the dialling code 01491, it's likely that they hail from Wallingford or somewhere close by. This is something that you can verify if you favour using a local fireplace specialist. Wallingford home and business owners are able to benefit from these and many other fireplace services.

Chimney Sweep Wallingford

If you have a log burning stove or an open fire in your property in Wallingford, the regular sweeping of your chimney is essential. To keep the chimney safe and working correctly, it should be swept at least once every twelve months.

You could sweep your own chimney, if you've got the right equipment, but this is a filthy job and is best left to a professional Wallingford chimney sweep if you want it to be done correctly and cleanly. As well as cleaning your chimney, the chimney sweep will be able to identify any problems that exist with your chimney, so that these can be dealt with quickly.

The build-up of soot and ash that results from failure to sweep a chimney in Wallingford, can easily cause a chimney fire. A badly maintained chimney can also cause harmful carbon monoxide gas to be drawn back into your property, a dangerous situation that you want to avoid.

Check that your chosen chimney sweep in Wallingford is properly covered by public liability insurance, and is skilled in this field. GO HERE to get a chimney sweeps quote in Wallingford. chimney sweeping services are also available in nearby areas.

Suggestions To Take Care Of Your Open Fireplace And Lower Your Heating Bill

Along with concerns over the environment, the classic fireplace is missing some of its charm, but it's still a favourite with many folks in Wallingford. There's nothing quite like feeling the real warmth of a fireplace on a cold winter evening. The fireplace offers a lot of benefits for your property, but there are several significant drawbacks that need to be fixed. With energy costs increasing year after year, your fireplace needs to give out heat in a very cost-effective way. Whilst having a fire blazing in a fireplace keeps those around it toasty, it can actually suck warm air from the rest of the space, causing your heater to work harder. In the event you don't have a fire, the damper is supposed to keep heat in. However, dampers often have an inefficient seal, so cold air gets in, and warmer air can get out.

What most folks in Wallingford usually do not understand about their fireplace is that it doesn't do what they assume it is doing. Rather than preserving resources, and heating costs, it's generally adding hundreds of pounds of energy expense. You will find there's a way to take your inefficient fireplace, and make it into a heat producing system that your budget will love. There are at least 4 simple elements that you can do to fix up your fireplace. You will recognize that these tips will help to make your fireplace generate quality heat and your present heating bill smaller.

The first thing that should be done is to replace the existing damper with a top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is installed toward the top end of your chimney that also behaves the same as a storm door. It does a good job of keeping warm air in the home during wintertime and cool air from getting out in the warmer months. This does not take much time to install and you can order one online. One more thing you will be able to do is place a fire-back in the back of your fireplace. A fire-back consists of cast iron and it is meant to protect the back wall from fire damage, while at the same time making your fireplace look elegant. The fire-back absorbs the heat from a fire, and radiates it back into the room, improving the overall performance of the fireplace.

Another cost saver is a fireplace fan/heater, which heats the space by drawing the air into a heat chamber and blowing the air back into the room. These devices are put in place as closed systems to make sure they do not give off any smoke, but they're quite effective in warming your property. And finally, installing glass doors, while a bit on the expensive side, can be beneficial in making your open fireplace cost efficient. Searching around, you will be able to find a good deal, and with clear instructions, you can even fit them yourself. Such glass doors form a buffer between the chimney and living space, not only stopping the air in the room from escaping up the flue, but also providing protection to the inhabitants.

These suggestions are not that difficult to accomplish and you can obtain everything you need online. Take care of your fireplace and observe your energy bills fall.

Flue Linings

A flue liner is a crucial element of your chimney structure, enabling it to function far more effectively and improving the safety of your chimney. Fitted to the inside of chimneys to carry fumes to the outside, flue liners are ducts made from metal, clay or ceramic material. Chimneys on older buildings in Wallingford may not have liners at all, or will need to be re-lined determined by their condition and age.

Hazardous gases can be created by the burning of fires and these gases can soon cause damage to the flue lining of your fireplace. Your flue should be routinely checked for possible issues and damage whenever it's being swept. Instead of venting those toxic gases outdoors, a damaged flue can enable them to leak into your home's interior. Excessive heat could also be allowed to penetrate into the structure of the chimney, generating the possibility of fires.

Fireplace Installation Help and Guidance

If you would like to learn more on fireplaces, you will uncover facts on the history of the fireplace, the different types of fireplaces, the environmental effects of fireplaces, the health effects of fireplaces, the heating efficiency of fireplaces and wood burning fireplaces, by visiting Wikipedia. To immerse yourself in the world of fireplace installation head over to one of the fireplace forums, discussion threads comprise pellet boilers and stoves, log burning stoves, understanding building regulations, chimney designs, stove vents and widening fireplaces. To check out an informative article about fireplace decorating ideas check this out. To learn the best way to install a wood burning stove you could check out You Tube tutorials like this. To find out about the newest fireplace trends on social media websites, check this out.

Wallingford Fireplace Related Tasks

There are a whole host of tasks that can be carried out by your local Wallingford fireplace installer including marble fireplace installations, brick fireplace installation, the installation of chimney cowls Wallingford, fireplace fitting Wallingford, flue liners Wallingford, fireplace suites in Wallingford, fake fireplace installations in Wallingford, fireplace removal Wallingford, chimney sweeping, gas fireplace installations Wallingford, corner fireplaces Wallingford, two-sided fireplaces Wallingford, wood burning fireplaces Wallingford, cast iron fireplace installations Wallingford, fire grate conversions, fireplacequotations, cheap fireplace installation, Victorian fireplaces Wallingford, inset stove installation, marble fireplaces, fireplace mantels, limestone fireplaces, fireplace packages, fireplaces in Wallingford, reclaimed fireplaces Wallingford, outdoor fireplaces Wallingford, designer fireplaces Wallingford, fireplace installation in Wallingford, fireplace surrounds, chimney strengthening, traditional fireplaces Wallingford, cast iron fireplaces Wallingford, classic fireplaces Wallingford, electric fireplaces in Wallingford, contemporary fireplaces Wallingford, and more. Listed are just a small portion of the tasks that are handled by those installing fireplaces. Wallingford companies will inform you of their entire range of fireplace services.

Fireplace Installers Near Wallingford

Also find: Ipsden fireplace installers, North Moreton fireplace installers, Mongewell fireplace installers, South Moreton fireplace installers, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell fireplace installers, Winterbrook fireplace installers, Crowmarsh Gifford fireplace installers, Aston Tirrold fireplace installers, Cholsey fireplace installers, Berrick Salome fireplace installers, Moulsford fireplace installers, Shillingford fireplace installers, North Stoke fireplace installers, Ewelme fireplace installers and more. Most of these towns and areas are covered by people who install fireplaces. These versatile tradespeople have the knowledge and experience necessary to successfully install fireplaces in your home. The ambiance, warmth and comfort that a fireplace brings to their homes can be experienced by residents with the help of these dedicated professionals. By simply clicking here, fireplace installation quotes are readily available to local property owners.

If you would like to get local Wallingford information check here

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Fireplace installation in OX10 area, phone code 01491.

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