i have a stone built terraced house circa 1900, i have had the gas fire removed and would like to get a real fire there,
will my chiney be alright or will it need stuff doing to it?
what work will i need to have done?
where can i find info on this?
i sound really thick, but i dont know anything about this sort of thing and dont want to get builders round to give me a quote without having a little bit of info about it.
2007-01-08 07:44:53 · 12 answers · asked by saz 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
first of all get a builder round,he will examine your chimney,he might recommend lining the chimney,because the old coal which was used many years ago was very acidic and may have rotted the mortar. only visually checks can reveal\al this.has the right chimney pot been fitted, or has it been altered.if the incorrect one is fitted you will not get the correct pull on the fire.
ask friends for a reputable builder or one they know.
get it done right and first time and you will have very little trouble.
make sure you tell him what you intend to burn i.e coal,coke or logs etc
consider having a range type appliance which are much cleaner
and more controllable
go onto the aga/rayburn web site
or search little wenlock(a lovely piece of kit and built to last)
or depending on size you can go for the much wenlock(a bit bigger get the brochure from your nearest aga/rayburn showroom..
hope this helps
2007-01-08 08:08:27 · answer #1 · answered by KEVIN 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Assuming you're in the UK, get a HETAS registered installer to advise you. Fireplaces are covered by various Building Regulations and any work you do or have done will have to conform to them - this ensures you don't gas your family or burn your house down. HETAS registered installers can self certify the installation - if you get anybody else to do it you will have to get the local council Building Inspectors to come and inspect it.
The only way to really know whether or not your chinmey is OK as it is or will need lining is to get it pressure tested. Given the age of your house it is very likely to need lining. If you just go ahead anyway you risk anything from nasty staining on the bedroom walls around the chinmey breast to death by carbon monoxide poisoning.
I would agree with those who suggest you get a wood burner. It is far more efficient than an open fire, and wood is a renewable resource with almost zero net carbon footprint. Wood burners are warm and cosy and look great! There are a few around that are authorised for use in Smoke Control Areas. We have a Morso Owl; Clearview also make one authorised for Smoke Control Areas and a couple of others.
2007-01-09 03:49:44 · answer #2 · answered by Chris H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To fit a real fire, you will need a fire basket, and a fire back. The fireback is a shaped firebrick which covers the back and sides of a coal fire. You may have a problem finding a place that still stock these items. Ask at your local ironmongers if they can supply them for you.As for the chimney, you can buy smoke testers from plumbing merchants, which you place in the hearth and light. then go outside and check that the smoke is coming out of the chimney. You can also check the bedrooms to see if any smoke has escaped through the brickwork.
2007-01-08 20:51:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would expect your chimney to have a flue liner in it that suited the gas fire. This will likely have to be removed as it will be too small for a coal/wood burning open fire. Do seriously consider a woodburner or multifuel stove. MUCH more efficient. I have one and previously had an open inglenook type fire opening. Logburner is superb, very controlable and safer. Look up Hunter stoves on net for info.
2007-01-08 19:25:26 · answer #4 · answered by Dick s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you have a house where in the beginning there was a real fireplace. It was converted to a gas fired one at a later date.
Therefore it should be easy to switch back.
1- You need the chimney cleaned and inspected first to see if is in safe enough condition to do this.
2- Be sure to use a certified inspector (try your local building code official for advice, he should know someone locally).
Good Luck and Enjoy (saves on heating too).
2007-01-08 16:15:58 · answer #5 · answered by norman8012003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would at least call a builder or a chimney sweep to come out and check the fire place out it may be ok to do a real fire but you at lease need it checked with current building codes and have it cleaned
2007-01-08 15:48:13 · answer #6 · answered by noel22f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider a wood burning stove- far more efficient. It's probably more work and more expensive in the short term, but worth it as you see you gas bills plummet ,and you get far more heat for your wood. I had my chiminey pressure tested by the company who fitted the stove and it didn't need lining, but your house is older and yours may well need it.
2007-01-08 16:11:03 · answer #7 · answered by Green Fairy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello Saz, go to www.dowlingstoves.com and feast your eyes on their lovely stoves. They come with a lifetime guarantee and look amazing. You can burn coal, wood and peat on them and they throw out an amazing heat. They can also be custom built to suit any taste. Check out the 'Zig Zag'. Wow!
2007-01-10 11:03:00 · answer #8 · answered by Riskyt69 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will need to get someone to come to your house and look at your project.Do not build a fire in the fireplace based on the answers you get from this site.Have someone to look at it in person
2007-01-08 19:28:22 · answer #9 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your chimneys not been used for a while you need to get it checked out and see about getting it lined.
2007-01-09 07:39:23 · answer #10 · answered by Mea 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋