We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Will removing my fireplace devalue the house?

Options
12346

Comments

  • ixwood
    ixwood Posts: 2,550 Forumite
    I'd say the obvious place for a big telly is in the bay window area. What's wrong with there? One (your) sofa will be straight opposite and it'll feel more natural than looking up at a wall.

    The fireplace wall looks a bit close to the opposite wall to me.
  • ktuludays
    ktuludays Posts: 368 Forumite
    so if you found the perfect house you would not buy it if it didn't have a fireplace?

    ask yourself this question.

    too many tv shows big up fireplaces but imo it's your house, so do what you want.

    i took mine out and don't regret it one bit.
    You got to get through what you've got to go through to get what you want but you got to know what you want to get through what you got to go through.
  • blizeH
    blizeH Posts: 1,401 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks, like I said it's 12' from the one side of the wall to the other, good shout on the bay POSSIBLY but it'd mean having the blind closed constantly, and also a sofa would be in front of the double doors into the dining room :(
  • gem599
    gem599 Posts: 217 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    We put in a ventilation vent and plastered it over. We now have a TV unit with a small TV (in comparison to what you guys have been talking about!!) along that wall. We haven't replaced the fire because of the lack of wall space and because there are already 2 radiators in the room!
  • Becles
    Becles Posts: 13,184 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    We had a fireplace like that in our sitting room. It was grey marble, white surround and an electric "coal effect" fire. The trouble was, the elements were buried deep in the fire and used to collect dust, so everytime you turned the fire on, it smelled badly of burning dust. The only way to clean it was to get the screwdrivers out and dismantle the fire, so consequently it never got used!

    We have a big picture window where your bay is (width and height of the room) and the opposite end is open plan into the dining room. There is a huge radiator on the wall behind your sofa.

    We removed the fireplace as it served no useful purpose. We bought a radiator cabinet for the big radiator and put a flat screen TV on the wall above that. On the wall where the fire place is, we've got a huge 4 seater sofa with a big mirror above it.

    I've never missed the fireplace, but I love the sofa, especially when my whole family is piled on it watching TV - very cosy :cool:
    Here I go again on my own....
  • ginvzt
    ginvzt Posts: 4,878 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have another suggestion: what about building a TV stand/cabinet around the fireplace?

    The TV stand we got (which is holding our 42" TV) is sort of a very wide U shape if looked from above, with the bottom part being a cabinet where TV stands, and the sides housing small shelves for DVDs. It has a high panel behind to cover all the cables, etc.

    I found a picture of what I mean (ours is similar, but not as good looking, as this one - we paid £80, as we got ours from Argos). You could make DVD shelves wide to cover/accommodate the fireplace.

    08_027_LO_0031_3_LARGE.jpg
    Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb
  • blizeH
    blizeH Posts: 1,401 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Some very, very good suggestions thanks guys! It's nice to have a lot of options I guess, although I fear my plans may now be scuppered!

    I took the flooring away from around the hearth, and there's for some reason a deepish concrete base underneath the fire! So I can't just lay down more flooring to cover it up. Sigh :(
  • sunshinetours
    sunshinetours Posts: 2,854 Forumite
    Personally I wouldn't change it currently. You stated there is some uncertainty over jobs etc and so you may end up selling. You will never get your money back taking out a fire place in a family house IMO

    Save the expensive stuff for your dream house so you can stay there and enjoy it!
  • pimento
    pimento Posts: 6,243 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    blizeH wrote: »
    Thanks, like I said it's 12' from the one side of the wall to the other, good shout on the bay POSSIBLY but it'd mean having the blind closed constantly, and also a sofa would be in front of the double doors into the dining room :(

    Our two seater sofa is in front of the double doors into the dining room, but there's enough space to walk around the back. I believe the old fireplace (a tasteful 1970's stone crazy paving affair that wasn't even on an outside wall) is where the telly is now.

    2vxlzm9.jpg
    28vy6fa.jpg
    "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
  • blizeH
    blizeH Posts: 1,401 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 13 May 2010 at 9:41PM
    Thanks so much again guys, really appreciate the input and suggestions! I probably should have named the thread 'Will not having a fireplace...?' because my two options have mostly always been to either remove it completely, or replace it.

    I'm looking at this Next Curve Fireplace which is quite nice, but I'm wondering is it okay to have a gas fire directly below a TV? Will the heat damage the TV if I use the fire?

    There's only enough room for a 50" to the side otherwise. I think I could possibly go higher if I really wanted, but a 54" or more would look silly next to the oversized monstrosity of a fireplace in there at the moment!

    14kupdt.jpgxpts12.jpg
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.