Inset Gas Fire - Chimney Opening

Hopeful_5

Hello, I'd be grateful if anyone could give me some advice on this. I have ordered an glass-fronted inset gas convector fire (Capital Fireframe) and the plumber who did the survey said my chimney opening is a bit small. I have a 1930's bungalow and I thought brick built chimneys and their openings were pretty standard for houses of that era.

He said that he might have to increase the opening size and maybe even put in a new lintel - and the plastering has all been done, as I was advised to do before installation :eek:. I have checked the Capital Fireplaces brochure and all their inset fires are around the same size and the bit that sits in the fire opening is just a few millimetres larger than my chimney's opening.

Is this just a ploy to increase the cost of installation, or am I being mean and cynical?

This is all a bit upsetting as the installation can't take place until after Christmas now and I was hoping all the rubble and dirt would be out of the house before then so the decorating can begin (at long, long last).

Thanks for any replies.

Hope

waynehayes

Are you having a back panel and hearth? A standard back panel usually has a cut out that it 21.5 x 16.5 inches, so as long as your opening is larger than that you should be ok. What dimensions does your (fireplace) opening have?

missile

It may be genuine, but sounds like typical cowboy builder padding a simple job to make more money. Have you spoken with another contractor or the manufacturer?

Hopeful_5

Thanks for the replies.

The chimney opening isn't square but narrows towards the back, as do the inset fires.

The dimensions of the opening are: H 545, W 375, D 175.

The back of the fire, which narrows as it deepens to match the opening is: H 545, W 385, D 235.

I did call the manufacturer and was told that the opening needed (presumably at the front of the fire, the widest point) is: H 570, W 420 and a depth of 250.

The manufacturer also pointed out that the back panel is rebated so the fire doesn't go the full depth into the chimney opening - so the chimney doesn't need to be as deep or as wide as the fire at the very back.

Based on the manufacturer's last point and the dimensions WayneHayes quoted for a standard back panel opening (550 mm x 420 mm), I'm now certain the fitter is telling me a load of old bull. New lintel indeed :mad:.

(Sorry for my awful attempt to describe the situation and thanks again for your help).

Hope

john_howard_fisher

i'm afraid you are being taken for a ride. at the greatest stretch of the imagination he would need to chip abit of the bricks off. no big deal. my understanding is he's having you on. find yourself a proper installer. DO NOT mention this problem to them (until they have finished the job) and make sure they are gas safe (was corgi now changed) registered and they give you a full written quote.

missile

Hopeful_5 wrote: »

... The dimensions of the opening are: H 545, W 375, D 175....
The back of the fire, which narrows as it deepens to match the opening is: H 545, W 385, D 235.....

From your figures the opening is not deep enough. D 175 seems very shallow and maybe you should measure it again.

You could offer up the fire and see if it fits into the opening.

I suspect your plumber may be busy fixing burst pipes and doesn't really want to do this job?

Good luck

Hopeful_5

I think by the time the fire sits outside the back panel, a reconstituted marble which will probably be about 55 mm in depth (?), there would be room enough for the fire to sit in the opening.

The plumber is the person who does the fitting for the company I have ordered the fire suite from. There might be a little chipping away as John HF says, but I think this is a case of trying to increase the fitting fee.

Hope

rustyboy21

Are you sure there isn't an old concrete firebrick in the opening where an old coal fire used to sit?

175mm is quite shallow and you will need more depth for the fire you have chosen to fit and draw properley.

If he can knock the old chair brick out without fitting a lintel, he should be ok, but take into account that you may need to have the lintel fitted.

A chairbrick tapers in more, the further it goes back and you will see a throat lintel to the front and the back will kick out forwards towards the top, before going back.

Also take into account that you may need to have the chamber altered ever so slightly, maybe bricked up in the chamber itself in order to create a smaller area, so the exhaust fumes get drawn up the flue better.

If you click http://www.valor.co.uk/valor/website.nsf/940%20Decadent,%20Adorn,%20Visage,%20Icon,%20Dream,%20Eternal,%20Obsession%20install%20and%20owner%20(5122722-02).pdf

, will have the dimensions you require. The capital fire is a valor engine, so fitting will be the same.

Try not to use the marble back panel as a spacer as unless it is sealed well enough, it may crack around where the fire fits in it. You will then be liable for the price of a new back panel. If you don lose some of the plastering around the hole, this will be covered by the back panel, so there is no need to worry. How much is he charging for the lintle if required. I would charge £45 in my shop.