Where to find old cast iron fireplaces

Israfel

Hi All,

Completed on my first house last friday :j However now comes the real work of doing it up and making it a home as I'm pretty sure it was used as a student rental for the last few years i.e. it needs work;). It has two rather horrendous yellow tiled fireplaces in the dining room and sitting room which I really don't like, I harbour an ambition to put some nice cast Iron fireplaces in like probably would have been originally in the house (It's a 1900's terrace). I can't really strip the wallpaper or replaster the rooms until I have the fireplaces and know how they'll fit in. Does anyone have suggestions on where I could pick up fireplaces like this. Not really sure where to start looking.

Cheers

suisidevw

ebay/gumtree etc. Obviously you want to make sure they will ship to you or you are in collecting distance. Plenty available there! Enjoy, almost finished installing mine, just need one more coat on the surround and it'll be done, going to be amazing getting a fire roaring next week when it's dried out!

Doozergirl

I always look on ebay. I can't tell you how many I've bought over the last few years!

I got one from the free ads in my local paper as well but you could read those for an entire year and not find anything. Look at the shape of the wood surrounds rather than the colour because even if it's a wood that you don't like it can be painted and you get a bargain if it's a dark wood which is not so popular at the moment. I use a paint from the 1881 range which I think is called 'grate black' which makes every surround look lovely again and doesn't take long to apply.

Used reproductions are cheaper than original Victorian ones etc but look as good.

Israfel

Thanks for the advice guys, keith that fireplace looks great. I've started looking around and through ebay found an antiques yard 10 miles away I didn't know about so hopefully find something good there.

ormus

ebay and local adverts are pretty good.
i find the reclamation yards very expensive.

bryanb

You won't like hearing this, but our neighbour (street of 1900 terraces) found when he dug his garden that the contractor who refurbished the whole street (for the LA) had chosen his garden to bury 100's of fireplaces that had been removed from the houses. He gave up pulling them out and has now laid a patio over it.

rachbc

I got a stunning one on ebay for 18 quid, had it sand blasted for 20 and polished it with graphite grate polish. Ready refurbed ones were stupidly expensive at the reclamation yard. I did once strip one myslef with nitromors but it took ages and prob cost more than getting it blasted!

themole_2

Agree, I would always check out local reclaim yards and ebay...