Fireplace Fitter Westerham Kent (TN16): Installing a brand new fireplace or reinstating a pre-existing one is a fantastic way to add a touch of character and charm to any Westerham property. If your fire is integrated with a back boiler you'll even be able to enjoy free hot water as well. Cold winter days can be a pleasant experience as you relax beside your fireplace surrounded the crackling of a burning fire.
There are a few things you'll have to do to ensure you can install your new fireplace in a safe and efficient way, before you begin prising away at a blocked up chimney breast. For starters, Part J of the UK Building Regulations will need to be adhered to with regards to the construction and installation of any fireplaces, hearths, chimney breasts and flue linings which are an integral part of a combustible appliance in your house in Westerham. You will also have to check if planning permission is required from the local authorities before any work can commence, if you reside in a designated conservation area or own a listed building in Westerham.
PROFESSIONAL FIREPLACE INSTALLATION OR DIY?
If you're a keen DIY'er it is quite possible to refurbish an existing blocked or bricked-up fireplace, but the likelihood of experiencing structural issues in most cases is high. When you reveal the old fireplace, you may be fortunate and discover that in order to get a roaring fire once again, it needs little more than a good clean up of the hearth and a sweep of the chimney. It's far more likely however, that you'll reveal a flue that is blocked and an area of old brickwork that needs to be structural reinforcement to make it safe.
An improperly fitted fireplace can cause severe respiratory health problems and fire risk and, as such, should only be put in by a professional fireplace installer in Westerham with the knowledge and experience to do the work safely. According to the Building Regulations, a room that has a fireplace installed in it must have enough oxygen and airflow to allow the fire to burn properly. An inefficiently burning fire in a poorly ventilated space can result in an accumulation of lethal carbon monoxide.
It could be necessary to install airflow vents in floors and walls to enable the fire to receive ample oxygen to burn safely and properly all the time. Flue vents may also have to be fitted into blocked or unused chimney flues which frequently cause damp spots and staining to to your chimney breast, due to moist, condensed air being trapped.
BEFORE WORK STARTS
Having a fireplace opened up can cause large amounts of dirt and soot to enter your home. To make certain that your possessions do not get affected by the soot, muck and dust that is discharged during the fireplace installation project, removing any rugs, furniture and carpets beforehand is generally recommended. If your fireplace is being fitted as part of a larger renovation project then it ought to be one of the first things to be worked on after you've got the room back to its bare walls and floors. By opening up a fireplace first you'll prevent any soot from the chimney causing damage to other phases of your restoration project, such as fresh plaster or wallpapered walls.
STRUCTURAL & CONSTRUCTION WORK
The time will come to sweep and clean the chimney and hearth and find out what is fit for refurbishment, as soon as the opening up of the fireplace has been completed. Bringing in a proper Westerham chimney sweep to de-soot your chimney will be one of the first things on your to-do-list. During the process of cleaning, they'll be in a good position to determine the structural integrity of your chimney and flue, and suggest what's required to get it back in good shape.
It may be essential to install a new flue liner to conform to the UK Building Regulations, and construction might also be needed to beef up the original chimney and breast. These are projects that should be done by a skilled tradesman with a good understanding of the appropriate building regs and quality construction skills.
If the dimensions of the existing fireplace are greater than your needs, a supporting concrete lintel must be installed. When your lintel is safely in place you can now get on with the renovation, updating and installation of the fireplace hearth. If the current hearth is sunken into the floor you'll need to raise it to comply with the latest building regs. Off-the-shelf options from concrete, marble or slate are available to achieve this, or your fireplace fitter in Westerham should be able to offer a bespoke, tailor-made hearth to fit in with your room style.
DESIGNS OF FIREPLACE
A quick browse online or a trip to a fireplace showroom will show the options that are available for the different fireplace styles and designs. Not all fireplaces will be appropriate for your chimney and flue and it is sensible to accept any guidance and advice from your sales and installation team in relation to your specific circumstances.
Whether you go for an open fireplace, a multi-fuel stove or a wood burner will be determined by the overall look you are trying to establish, your existing decor and in some cases, your home's age. For instance, a wood burner looks wonderful set into an old-fashioned inglenook fireplace, highlighting the character of the stove and deflecting the heat back into the room to good effect.
A wood-burning stove is also an effective choice if your Westerham property doesn't have a chimney breast. This kind of fireplace can be installed with its own stainless steel flue which is channeled through an outside wall and doesn't require a chimney, to be safely installed.
OPEN, WOOD, GAS, ELECTRIC OR MULTI-FUEL FIREPLACE?
Who doesn't enjoy the glow and warmth of a natural fireplace on a cold evening, but if your situation doesn't allow for this, what alternatives are available?
Electric Fireplaces - A wide variety of electric fireplaces to suit pretty much any property in Westerham, can easily be fitted by any reasonable competent person. They can be inset into conventional fireplaces, and with "real feel" electric fires it can often be difficult to distinguish one from the genuine article.
Multi-Fuel Stoves - Multi-fuel stoves can be used with various different fuels, including oil, wood, gas or coal, to establish an attractive focal point in your home in Westerham. Some types, like the multi-fuel stoves from AGA, can also be used for generating hot water, cooking and heating your whole house.
Open Fireplaces - Provides a stunning focal point for a room and can utilise a number of different solid fuels. In the bad old days an open fire may have had the associations with being draughty, inefficient and smoky, however a professionally installed contemporary fireplace is a delight to the eye whilst reclining in the warm glow it provides.
Gas Fireplaces - There are a variety of different styles to suit all types of home and their efficiency to warm a room is better than open fireplaces or wood burning stoves. A Gas Safe certified technician must maintain and install any gas fireplace in your home, (CORGI was replaced by Gas Safe registered qualification in 2009).
Wood Burning Stoves - These have become "the in thing" in many households in Westerham, and can have classic or modern styling to match your decoration. A model with an integrated back boiler will deliver extra heating by transferring the hot water to a radiator in a cold spot of your property.
Fireplace installers can be found in Westerham itself, in the following postcodes: TN16 1BD, TN16 1AL, TN16 1AT, TN16 1SR, TN16 1EJ, TN16 1SL, TN16 1EW, TN16 1TF, TN16 1ER, and TN16 1SE, plus in close by places like Brasted Chart, Brasted, Tatsfield, Dunton Green, Chipstead, Woldingham, Force Green, Sundridge, Crockham Hill, Hawleys Corner, Limpsfield, Titsey. If they have the postcode TN16 and the phone code 01959, it is very likely that they hail from Westerham or somewhere nearby. Westerham people have the use of these fireplace services at any time they need them. If you'd like to obtain fireplaces and fireplace installation information for your local region, simply click on the "QUOTE" form or banner.
Chimney Sweep Westerham
Having the chimney swept is one thing that home owners often put off or forget, but it's essential to get this done on a regular basis if you've got a wood burner or an open fire in your Westerham property. At least once every twelve months is the recommendation for chimney sweeping.
It is invariably best to bring in a professional Westerham chimney sweep if you want to get this job done correctly. While you are getting your chimney cleaned, the chimney sweep will also be on the lookout for any problems or safety issues that there may be with your chimney.
A build-up of soot, ash and creosote can result in chimney fires if you fail to sweep your chimney. An equally dangerous situation that can arise as a result of a poorly maintained chimney is harmful carbon monoxide gas being drawn back into your property.
Ensure you choose a qualified chimney sweep in Westerham, and check that they're covered by public liability insurance in the event of accidents or damages. For Westerham chimney sweeps quotes GO HERE.
Improve the Cost-Efficiency of Your Fireplace
With worries about the environment, the traditional fireplace has lost some of its appeal, but it's still a favourite for many property owners in Westerham. Sitting in front of the warmth of a fireplace, revives many precious memories for a lot of people. Having a fireplace has its perks but there are a couple of downsides that could affect its usefulness. As energy costs go up, you should ensure that your fireplace is giving off heat efficiently. Although having a fire going in a fireplace keeps the people near to it toasty, it actually removes warm air from other parts of the room, causing your heat source to work harder. Anytime there is no fire, a damper is supposed to manage the airflow. Unfortunately, fireplace dampers are usually very inefficient in keeping cold air out, and warm air in.
What the majority of folks in Westerham usually do not know about their fireplace is that it doesn't always do what they think it is doing. Rather than preserving resources, and heating costs, it's typically adding hundreds of pounds of energy expense. However it's not all bad news as there are options for making your fireplace more cost-efficient. There are at least four simple things that you can do to fix up your fireplace. These definitely will make your present fireplace much more efficient, and lower your energy bills.
The first tip is to replace your current fireplace damper with a new top sealing damper. A top sealing damper is fitted at the top of your chimney that also doubles as a storm door. It does an excellent job of preserving warm air in the home during winter months and cool air from escaping in the summer months. The damper is easy to install, and can be obtained on the web. Next, you will need to have a fire-back in the rear area of your open fireplace. This is a cast iron plate which is created to add to the room design, while protecting the back wall from being damaged due to the fires. The fire-back also soaks up heat coming from the fire and returns it back into the room, making your fireplace more effective.
Another method is to buy a fireplace heater/fan, which draws cool air in and warms it up. These clever devices do not release any smoke and are be extremely successful in keeping your house warm and cosy. Finally, you can fit glass doors which will likely be the most costly option. If you do your research, you can find glass doors at a reasonable price and mount them yourself. Glass fireplace doors can keep the air in your house from escaping and also help to protect your family from falling into the flames.
All of these ideas are straightforward to do, and the products can be easily found online. Make the most of your fireplace and observe your energy bills fall.
Westerham Fireplace Related Tasks
There is a wide range of work that can be carried out by your local Westerham fireplace specialist including the installation of modern fireplaces in Westerham, fireplace suites in Westerham, double-sided stoves in Westerham, chimney repairs Westerham, elm fireplaces Westerham, fireplace installation, fireplace services, wood burning fireplace installations, Victorian fireplace installation, fireplace removal, brick fireplaces Westerham, fireplace hearths, corner fireplaces Westerham, marble fireplace installations, period fireplaces Westerham, fireplace mantels, open fireplaces Westerham, fireplace packages, Regency fireplaces Westerham, fake fireplace installations in Westerham, fireplace replacement, wood burning fireplaces, stone fireplaces in Westerham, Victorian fireplaces in Westerham, fireplace surrounds Westerham, fireplaces, chimney lining in Westerham, chimney strengthening, gas fireplace installations, Victorian fireplaces Westerham, traditional fireplaces Westerham, 3-sided fireplaces, marble fireplaces in Westerham, gas fireplaces, inglenook fireplace Westerham, and more. Listed are just a small portion of the activities that are conducted by tradesmen installing fireplaces. Westerham specialists will inform you of their whole range of fireplace services.
Fireplace Installers Near Westerham
Also find: Hawleys Corner fireplace installers, Tatsfield fireplace installers, Crockham Hill fireplace installers, Force Green fireplace installers, Chipstead fireplace installers, Titsey fireplace installers, Limpsfield fireplace installers, Sundridge fireplace installers, Brasted Chart fireplace installers, Woldingham fireplace installers, Dunton Green fireplace installers, Brasted fireplace installers and more. These and other places are catered for by fireplace fitters and similar tradespeople. Possessing the necessary experience and know-how, these seasoned tradespeople can adeptly install fireplaces in your home. These dedicated specialists can assist residents in experiencing the comfort, ambiance and warmth that a fireplace brings to their living areas. If you're a local homeowner looking to obtain accurate and competitive fireplace installation quotes tailored to your specific needs, just click here. Do you need to get a fireplace installed on your property? Don't delay - get a quote today!
More Westerham Tradespeople: When your Westerham home is in need of improvements or remodeling, various different tradesmen could be required to successfully complete the work, and even though your present search is for fireplace installers in Westerham, Kent, you might also need the expertise of a heating engineer in Westerham, an electrician in Westerham, a plasterer in Westerham, a roofing contractor in Westerham, waste removal in Westerham, a blacksmith in Westerham, a bricklayer in Westerham, a metal worker in Westerham, a painter and decorator in Westerham, a stonemason in Westerham, a handyman in Westerham, a carpenter in Westerham, a chimney sweep in Westerham, a tiler in Westerham, a builder in Westerham, SKIP HIRE in Westerham, and quite possibly others.
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Fireplace installation in TN16 area, phone code 01959.