Moving 1930's fireplace.....

shays_mum

I have a beautiful burgundy tiled original fireplace in one of my houses, i would like to move it to another 1930's property as a feature.

Is this an easy job, or should i get someone in?

Also, how do i stop the wind from coming down the chimney when not using my open gas fire?, room gets seriously cold!.

Thanks in advance

Gloomendoom

Moving the fireplace will not be an easy job.

You can stop the wind whistling down your chimney by filling a bin bag full of loft insulation or similar and stuffing up the flue.

You do have to remember to remove it before you light the fire though.

Edit: Blocking up a gas fire flue is not a good idea. See post #6.

1trainer1

This is interesting as we have got lots of old fireplaces in our house and didnt think about the cold coming through them...

When you mean fill them with loft insulation or similar do you mean just stuffing it in the fireplace until it is fully covered?...

I dont think I have any loft insulation so is their any alternatives

Mojisola

It depends on the size of your chimney but we have a couple of those giant sponges for washing the car stuffed up the chimney. The sponge allows some air change but there aren't any draughts.

We have a ribbon tied round them with a "tail" that hangs down into the fireplace so no-one will light the fire without removing the blockage.

Gloomendoom

1trainer1 wrote: »

This is interesting as we have got lots of old fireplaces in our house and didnt think about the cold coming through them...

When you mean fill them with loft insulation or similar do you mean just stuffing it in the fireplace until it is fully covered?...

I dont think I have any loft insulation so is their any alternatives

Anything spongy that will compress to allow you to fit it up the flue then expand to fill the gap. An old cushion or pillow will do or even crumpled newspaper. It doesn't have to fill the fireplace and you won't see it when it is done.

As Mojisola suggested, a car sponge will work if the flue isn't too big.

rustyboy21

Not an easy job , moving a fully tiled fireplace. The chances of getting it off the wall in 2 pieces ( Back panel and hearth) will be next to nothing. Only way you could possibly check if you could , would be to chase out the plaster around the sides of the back panel and see if there are some metal brackets which have screwed it up to the wall. If not, it will take all the plaster off the wall, as you are trying to take it off. The hearth would be slabbed up and glued to the floor, so that may break in trying.

DON'T block your flue up with anything. You may remember that something is up there, but someone else may not( family member/friend/housesitter etc) and could possibly kill themselves. If you want to try and cut down downdraft, you can get Gas cowls fitted or anti downdraft cowls. Speak to a Gas safe Chimney sweep for details

Former_MSE_Andrea

Please be very careful when it comes to personal safety and talk to a professional before putting anything up your chimney.

Andrea

shays_mum

Thanks, it looks like moving the fireplace might be a problem.
Agree with not stuffing anything up the other fireplace, might just get rid of the chimneys full stop.
Have to look at costings!.