Empty fireplace help

nubsj

The fireplace in our dining room is just an empty hole

We've ruled out a woodburner due to the prohibitive cost

I've looked at fire inserts and surrounds to enable us to have an occasional open fire

I've also seen fire baskets. I think this would be the cheapest solution if our fireplace is suitable. But how do I know it is?
The questions I have are:

We wouuld need a hearth (currently just concrete, flush with surrounding floor). Would slate be ok?

The sides and back of the fireplace are brick, I think just normal house brick. Would this be ok? I see sone firebqskets come with a back, but what about the sides, I fear the brick might not sustain the heat froma fire

You lot have always been helpful but us there sone kind of shop or tradesperson who could look at it and advise us? I've tried yellow pages but don't really know what I'm looking for

Thanks

arachne

If you get a chimney sweep out to clean your chimney, they should be able to give you some advice on whether it's OK for a fire or if you need work done like your chimney repointing, repairs to chimney pots, a liner etc. I imagine they could help you with some of your other questions as well. We paid £32 to have our chimney swept so it's not a massive outlay.

nubsj

Thanks arachane that sounds like a good starting point. I wouldn't have thought of a chimney sweep

nubsj

Thanks arachane that sounds like a good starting point. I wouldn't have thought of a chimney sweep

KateLiana27

For an open fire, you would need your chimney checked for the lining, very likely a cowl/pot on the chimney (can't remember the exact word), and a vent placed in the external wall, as well as the sweeping. All this is likely to cost around £200, on top of whatever you were going to pay for fitting the insert and surround.

We debated just going for the insert and surround for decorative purposes, or whether to have it "enabled" for the occasional open fire. We went for the open fire and I really regret it. The external vent lets in loads of cold air, and the fire hardly makes any difference to the room temperature even when it's going at full blast (and the fuel is ridiculously expensive).

I'd just get the insert and surround

Leif

KateLiana27 wrote: »

For an open fire, you would need your chimney checked for the lining, very likely a cowl/pot on the chimney (can't remember the exact word), and a vent placed in the external wall, as well as the sweeping. All this is likely to cost around £200, on top of whatever you were going to pay for fitting the insert and surround.

We debated just going for the insert and surround for decorative purposes, or whether to have it "enabled" for the occasional open fire. We went for the open fire and I really regret it. The external vent lets in loads of cold air, and the fire hardly makes any difference to the room temperature even when it's going at full blast (and the fuel is ridiculously expensive).

I'd just get the insert and surround

I was at a friends' house recently and they installed a stove and liner themselves. It felt really warm even 3m away. He said that an open fire can be self defeating because the updraft causes warm air to leave the room via the chimney. So I guess that is what you see. My way of thinking is that an open fire is decorative rather than functional, and a stove is not worth it unless a) you use it often and b) you need the heat. A stove can be installed in a fireplace not suitable for an open fire because the stove keeps the burning material enclosed, thus reducing the heat hitting the walls. And a stove is much more efficient. That said, a colleague has opened out two fireplaces in two successive houses, and he burns logs in a grate. As to whether they satisfy building regs is another matter. But he says they like using their fire.

The advantage of a decorative back panel and hearth is that they are often fairly light and can be installed by one person. A granite hearth is a two person installation, as is the back panel, due I think largely to the concrete required to satisfy regs for solid fuel. (They need to be slabbed to allow for expansion.) I plan to go for a solid fuel fire. A stove is too expensive (several thousand pounds in total I believe, unless you install the kit yourself).

munchings-n-crunchings

Working in reclamation, I help people choose their fireplace options.

Slate, being a natural product is an excellent choice. I've recently cut a slate hearth from a snooker table, which gives a great finish. Another option would be Indian Stone in the colour option Kotah Black, which has the appearance of slate.
Another popular choice, would be York stone. Again it's a natural product, with an aged look to it, but fits into any room.
There are also quarry tiles. These can be in Blue (Anthracite look) or red terracotta.
There are also marble options. This doesn't need to be in one large piece, but you could look at marble tiles.

The chimney sweep would be the best place to start. There maybe a possibility, if there are only a couple locally, that you may find one that is already aware of your system if they previously maintained it.
They can also do a visual check of the condition of your brickwork and chimney, which is usually included in the price, and there is the option of a smoke test, This will show the draw of the chimney, and if there are any leakages.
Seek his advice, as to what fire basket option is your preference, and he should be able to confirm if it's a viable choice.

Before the sweep visits, try and get an idea of the sort of fireplace that you would like. Getting the choice right now, will save you in the long run.
In my fireplace, I have a clay fireback, which is filled behind with vermiculite as insulation To the front, I have a Victorian cast iron inset, and rosewood mantle. The grate is 18", slightly larger than the standard 16". If I light the fire around 5.30, I use around 1/2 a scuttle of coal to last all evening, which keeps the living room of 20 sq metres toasty and warm till around 10.30pm.

Mantles can be purchased second hand, or if you want something more rustic, a sleeper that has been sanded can give character. This can be made floating to give a contemporary look, or with legs for a more traditional.
You can save lots of money by buying a cast iron inset that requires restoration. I can restore one by hand in little more than a day, using no more than paint stripper, a wire brush and wire wool, finishing with black leading.

Regards
Munchie