Fireplaces Getting it Right

Before you choose your fireplaces, you need to think about what type of fire to use.

Whilst you can always have a beautiful fireplace in your home, the type of fire it houses will depend on the construction of your room and whether you have access to a chimney or flue. If you live in an older property, you will probably have at least one chimney, and maybe more, so you can have a number of working fireplaces in your home

Options for your Fireplaces

The first thing to do is to think about what sort of fire you would like. Many people love the intimacy and comfort of an open fire that burns solid fuel like coal or wood. You can really only have this type of fire if you have a chimney, as the smoke and fumes need to be safely extracted. If you don't want an open fire or you don't have the facilities, you can choose a gas or electric fire, both of which give instant heat and come in both modern and period styles:


Installing Fireplaces

Although you can install your fireplace yourself, it's often more advisable to use a professional fitter. This is particularly important if you're fitting a gas fire or a solid fuel stove. Both of these heating devices need to be fitted according to specific regulations and may need to pass a test before you can use them. Choosing certified professional fitters for this part of the job is essential. Once your actual fire is installed, you can look at the installation of the fireplace elements around it. Again, in order to get the best possible finish with the least hassle, contact a professional installation company:

Survey - a good fitter will always come and survey the job before giving you a price. You may be looking for a simple replacement of one fire surround with another, or you might be creating an entirely new fireplace - particularly if you're renovating a period property, for example. The amount of work involved in installing the fireplace will obviously have an impact on price. You may want to get more than one installer to survey and quote for the job in order to give you a comparison.

Preparation - clearing away existing fireplaces or preparing a new space for your fireplace is crucial to good fitting. Accurate measurements, clean surfaces and good chimney access are all the starting points of a professional installation. Under-preparation could mean that your fireplace is either unsafe or will show signs of movement before too long.

Finish - installing marble fireplace is really a craftsman's job and using a professional will give you the best possible finish. The types of fixing material for marble are specialist and failing to get the mixture right could result in cracks or loosening later in the life of your fireplace. If you want your fireplace to look as good as possible, you need to go for a quality finish.

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