council bungalow old fireplace

IAmWales

magn8p wrote: »

Tell the council that the hearth could be a health hazard and how the children and elderly can trip over it. I am sure they will take it seriously then.

All the best.

Imagine all the stately homes having to remove the old kitchen hearths because someone *could* trip over it!

Perhaps you could provide the OP with some statistics to back that up. Thousands of homes have hearths, they're no more a health risk than any other household fixture.

EssexExile

Silvertabby wrote: »

If the Council won't let you remove the fireplace, then they probably won't let you move the matching hearth, either - so boxing it in would be a problem.

My dad lives in a council house & has a fireplace like that. The whole thing is just covered in timber so it looks like a wooden fireplace, hearth 'n all.

clairacluck_2

sadly the council have said that I cant have it taken out. I wonder as it has ronseal tile paint on and is boarded in the centre with a small vent would it be possible to put an electric stove effect fire on there. I have one and the heat comes out the bottom of the fire but am unsure if this will be a hazard with tile paint, backboard and tile stickers

magn8p

OP's hearth looks a bit odd and the OP has already mentioned she had an issue with it. We don't know anything about OP's abilities/disabilities or anything about the location of the fireplace.

Also, there is nothing wrong in conveying to the council that the raised hearth is a potential hazard rather than simply telling them "remove the fireplace" which they would understand as "remove the fireplace.....because I don't like the look of it"

Why don't you try and suggest what OP can do here rather than wasting time on this thread?

IAmWales wrote: »

Imagine all the stately homes having to remove the old kitchen hearths because someone *could* trip over it!

Perhaps you could provide the OP with some statistics to back that up. Thousands of homes have hearths, they're no more a health risk than any other household fixture.

glasgowdan

magn8p wrote: »

OP's hearth looks a bit odd and the OP has already mentioned she had an issue with it. We don't know anything about OP's abilities/disabilities or anything about the location of the fireplace.

Also, there is nothing wrong in conveying to the council that the raised hearth is a potential hazard rather than simply telling them "remove the fireplace" which they would understand as "remove the fireplace.....because I don't like the look of it"

Why don't you try and suggest what OP can do here rather than wasting time on this thread?

IAmWales was pointing out an unreasonable statement, and I totally agree... it's not a health hazard that the OP needs removed, or they would not have moved into the house initially.

Davesnave

If it were me, I'd save up and have the b*gg*r out, replacing it with something tasteful that functions, or could function.

Chances are, the council wouldn't find out for years.

clairacluck_2

the tiles are painted with ronseal tile paint that isn't heat resistant and some tiles stickers. considering that and the board and plastic vent do you think it would be safe to put a freestanding electric fire on there

spaceboy

That's just the chimney breast, the fireplace has already been removed and that's why there's a vent at the bottom to stop dampness building up in the chimney.

You cant really remove a chimney. Well you can in some houses, in others they can be structural. Also removing the chimney at the bottom but leaving the top bit on the first floor and and in the attic means the top bit could end up falling through into your living room.

EachPenny

spaceboy wrote: »

You cant really remove a chimney. Well you can in some houses, in others they can be structural. Also removing the chimney at the bottom but leaving the top bit on the first floor and and in the attic means the top bit could end up falling through into your living room.

Chimneys are always structural.

And no council tenant should even think about removing a chimney on a DIY basis.