Do you think this fireplace will support a wood burner?

Nick_Higg · 10 April 2018 at 4:55AM

Thinking of buying a new place, it is fairly new build (10 years or so) and has a huge 'feature fireplace' in the front room. It has a stone hearth etc, but is blocked off with a wooden panel.
In the room above, there seems to be a flue running through it, and there is a chimney with an elephants foot above that.
Like I say, it is a new (isa) build but the fireplace has never had any kind of fire installed, and the current owners don't know if it can work.
Its a question for builders really - would you build a house with a fireplace that doesn't connect to a flue that takes a chunk out of the room above and has a chimney on the top? It seems excessive for just a decorative item. It also projects a long way into the lounge...
Not allowed to post images, but I can sent an URL to the right move listing if you PM me!

Cheers for any thoughts!
Nick

Tom99 · 10 April 2018 at 5:44AM

Post the link with some spaces inserted to break it up and someone will fix it for you.

Davesnave · 10 April 2018 at 8:09AM

You don't have to be a builder to know that real chimney breasts, stacks and pots aren't decorative items and add significantly to costs. For this reason I think it is likely to be usable.

If you installed a wood burner, the chances are it would only need a 5" - 6" stainless steel flue liner.

But would you really need a wood burner?

Will you have storage space for the wood to use it daily, or would it just be a 'nice to have?'

Is there mains gas? If there is, why install a wood burning device when an alternative exists which is easier to run, any time you like, and far less messy?

bris · 10 April 2018 at 1:08PM

Get it smoke bombed, a gas safe registered engineer can tell you if the chimney meets the regulations.

If your buying the property then the chances are you will need the gas appliances checked anyway so have it all checked at the same time.

To get the fireplace checked you would obviously need the current owners permission to take down the wood that's blocking it off.

System · 10 April 2018 at 1:27PM

Davesnave wrote: »

You don't have to be a builder to know that chimney breasts and pots aren't decorative items and add significantly to costs.

That's not quite true, I've seen a few with stuck on chimney features to get around planners - you can even get grp chimneys to stick on the roof so you don't need any hefty support.
I'm working on a project at the moment where the chimney is being used to house the boiler and mhrv bits

Davesnave · 10 April 2018 at 2:00PM

the_r_sole wrote: »

That's not quite true, I've seen a few with stuck on chimney features to get around planners - you can even get grp chimneys to stick on the roof so you don't need any hefty support.
I'm working on a project at the moment where the chimney is being used to house the boiler and mhrv bits

But this one, as described, has a full sized chimney breast downstairs, reducing as it passes throught the first floor in typical fashion, so it's very unlkely to be a decorative feature.

System · 10 April 2018 at 2:10PM

Davesnave wrote: »

But this one, as described, has a full sized chimney breast downstairs, reducing as it passes throught the first floor in typical fashion, so it's very unlkely to be a decorative feature.

It might be unlikely in this one, but it is certainly possible and miles away from your initial statement that chimeny pots and breasts aren't decorative

Davesnave · 10 April 2018 at 5:53PM

the_r_sole wrote: »

It might be unlikely in this one, but it is certainly possible and miles away from your initial statement that chimeny pots and breasts aren't decorative

OK I have added the word 'real, 'but I was only referring to this chimney and the OP's question, which was pretty specific.

I'll freely admit I don't know what a GRP chimney would be supported on, but I'll bet it would be something like gallows brackets, not a major piece of brickwork from footings to roof level.

Nick_Higg · 10 April 2018 at 8:47PM

Here are the pictures - broken up so hopefully someone can 'fix em'
I've always had open fires in the places I've owned, so I'm well up on storing wood (and indeed sourcing it and chopping it up). Thanks for everyones comments - it chimes with what I'm thinking...

[IMG]https: //imageshack.com/a/img922/8352/q9jEKf.jpg https: //imageshack.com/a/img923/1898/ZlFl43.png https: //imageshack.com/a/img922/3577/wUhITm.png[/IMG]

Ruski · 10 April 2018 at 9:21PM

Nick_Higg wrote: »

Here are the pictures - broken up so hopefully someone can 'fix em'
I've always had open fires in the places I've owned, so I'm well up on storing wood (and indeed sourcing it and chopping it up). Thanks for everyones comments - it chimes with what I'm thinking...

[IMG]https: //imageshack.com/a/img922/8352/q9jEKf.jpg https: //imageshack.com/a/img923/1898/ZlFl43.png https: //imageshack.com/a/img922/3577/wUhITm.png[/IMG]

https://imageshack.com/a/img922/8352/q9jEKf.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/1898/ZlFl43.png
https://imageshack.com/a/img922/3577/wUhITm.png

Davesnave · 10 April 2018 at 9:31PM

It's real enough.

It ought to be in very good condition, but you would need the opinion of an installer regarding the need for a flue liner. I ran my last wood burner in a 45year old concrete flue of about 9" diameter with no problems, but each situation's different.

https://imageshack.com/a/img922/3577/wUhITm.png
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/1898/ZlFl43.png
https://imageshack.com/a/img922/8352/q9jEKf.jpg

Do you think this fireplace will support a wood burner?

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