Fireplace change - is this possible?
Discussion
The fireplace in my house dates from 1988 and is starting to look dated:
It's a real (but small) fireplace with the chimney on the outer face of the wall:
I plan to redecorate/recarpet the whole room this year, so if I'm going to change the fireplace it's a good time to deal with it. The room is only 11' wide at this point so I want as much as visual space as possible. Rather than just stick something predictable in its place, I had an idea to 'build the fireplace backwards' (ie a small 'extension' on the outside) giving a small inglenook and perhaps a small woodburner as well.
This looks nice but I'd want a mantelpiece too, perhaps a nice slab of elm.
So the current 'hole' would have to be greatly enlarged, and ideally I'd like to get the hearth level with the internal wall so it doesn't stick into the room. However I have no idea how the back of the fireplace is constructed and whether my plan will cost £500 or £5,000 or even be impossible for some reason.
What do the resident fireplace/building experts think?
It's a real (but small) fireplace with the chimney on the outer face of the wall:
I plan to redecorate/recarpet the whole room this year, so if I'm going to change the fireplace it's a good time to deal with it. The room is only 11' wide at this point so I want as much as visual space as possible. Rather than just stick something predictable in its place, I had an idea to 'build the fireplace backwards' (ie a small 'extension' on the outside) giving a small inglenook and perhaps a small woodburner as well.
This looks nice but I'd want a mantelpiece too, perhaps a nice slab of elm.
So the current 'hole' would have to be greatly enlarged, and ideally I'd like to get the hearth level with the internal wall so it doesn't stick into the room. However I have no idea how the back of the fireplace is constructed and whether my plan will cost £500 or £5,000 or even be impossible for some reason.
What do the resident fireplace/building experts think?
Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 11th July 19:38
With a stove you need to determine whether a twinwall liner is needed (old brick/mortar chimney = probably, modern clay/concrete/pumice lined chimney = unlikely) as this could be a large chunk of the budget. Get a NACS chimney sweep round, or a HETAS fitter. Then you can get cracking at ripping the old fireplace out and knocking back to the original opening.
Oh, and get more than one quote as prices can vary dramatically.
Easy!
Oh, and get more than one quote as prices can vary dramatically.
Easy!
QuackHandle said:
With a stove you need to determine whether a twinwall liner is needed (old brick/mortar chimney = probably, modern clay/concrete/pumice lined chimney = unlikely) as this could be a large chunk of the budget.
I'd hoped being a modern brick chimney in A1 condition I wouldn't need a liner. What's the technical reason that an open fire doesn't need one but a woodburner does?Bill said:
You'll want some sort of hearth unless the floor's inflammable, so I'd be tempted by a freestanding stove (you can get some that swivel) and a glass floor plate.
The plan was to have with a concrete or brick floor in the recess so however many feet of hearth you need is actually in the recess too, and not sticking into the room - so the room will look bigger. Haven't got round to looking at stoves yet! Simpo Two said:
QuackHandle said:
With a stove you need to determine whether a twinwall liner is needed (old brick/mortar chimney = probably, modern clay/concrete/pumice lined chimney = unlikely) as this could be a large chunk of the budget.
I'd hoped being a modern brick chimney in A1 condition I wouldn't need a liner. What's the technical reason that an open fire doesn't need one but a woodburner does?Forgot to add - lining can also help the chimney draw more efficiently.
Edited by QuackHandle on Thursday 10th February 19:14
Thread resurrection!
I'm now planning to go ahead and have something like this fitted:
A recommended builder from some recent work on a neighbour's house (with very similar existing fireplace) has just popped in to have a look-see and thinks the existing 'hole' can be opened out sufficiently to take a small woodburner without having to build outwards at the back. Very encouraging!
However he prefers not to fit the woodburner and has asked if I can find the limestone fireplace. Unfortunately I can't find the site it came from! www.tineye.com can't find it either. Does anyone happen to recognise it, or know a comapny that supplies that design?
I'm now planning to go ahead and have something like this fitted:
A recommended builder from some recent work on a neighbour's house (with very similar existing fireplace) has just popped in to have a look-see and thinks the existing 'hole' can be opened out sufficiently to take a small woodburner without having to build outwards at the back. Very encouraging!
However he prefers not to fit the woodburner and has asked if I can find the limestone fireplace. Unfortunately I can't find the site it came from! www.tineye.com can't find it either. Does anyone happen to recognise it, or know a comapny that supplies that design?
Very bored this afternoon, 15 minutes of searching threw up this:
http://www.fireplaces-oldham.co.uk/Calder_Range.ht...
Not the exact picture but looks close to what you want.
http://www.fireplaces-oldham.co.uk/Calder_Range.ht...
Not the exact picture but looks close to what you want.
londonagent said:
Very bored this afternoon, 15 minutes of searching threw up this:
http://www.fireplaces-oldham.co.uk/Calder_Range.ht...
Not the exact picture but looks close to what you want.
Spot on http://www.fireplaces-oldham.co.uk/Calder_Range.ht...
Not the exact picture but looks close to what you want.
Hi Simpo,
There is a great place near Norwich.
Heading out towards Great Yarmouth where the A47 goes down to a single lane (50 MPH zone) half way along there on your left is a slip road - might be Old Buckenham or something.
If you get back to the dual carriageway then you've missed.
There is a 2 storey showroom in there for all sorts off wood burners!
There is a great place near Norwich.
Heading out towards Great Yarmouth where the A47 goes down to a single lane (50 MPH zone) half way along there on your left is a slip road - might be Old Buckenham or something.
If you get back to the dual carriageway then you've missed.
There is a 2 storey showroom in there for all sorts off wood burners!
Googles new(ish) image reverse is way better than tineye - and shows up where your pic came from as well as this thread...
http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbs=sbi:AMhZZitPuxm...
Regards the fireplace, I am sure your builder may have an idea of how to construct something similar using available sandstone block / sandstone rendered concrete blocks?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbs=sbi:AMhZZitPuxm...
Regards the fireplace, I am sure your builder may have an idea of how to construct something similar using available sandstone block / sandstone rendered concrete blocks?
jke11y said:
Regards the fireplace, I am sure your builder may have an idea of how to construct something similar using available sandstone block / sandstone rendered concrete blocks?
Actually he just wanted me to supply the fireplace for him to fit, but it's worth asking, thanks.Reading further, the prices are for models the size in their showroom. They'll make to specific sizes and re-quote, and I'd want a smaller version, so that should help.
Simpo Two said:
Actually he just wanted me to supply the fireplace for him to fit, but it's worth asking, thanks.
Reading further, the prices are for models the size in their showroom. They'll make to specific sizes and re-quote, and I'd want a smaller version, so that should help.
It was just a thought, it may not be an option (time for him to make/fit vs. buying off the shelf and him fitting it) but its worth an ask. Especially if you just like the look of that one, rather than "oh my god i must have it" love it. Reading further, the prices are for models the size in their showroom. They'll make to specific sizes and re-quote, and I'd want a smaller version, so that should help.
Looking at all the pics it seems to me you only have approx 330mm depth of an opening in which to fit the stove, minus 50mm minimum gap to non combustable materiel, which leaves only 280mm, which is a mighty small stove.
Of course anything is possible but will not be as simple and certainly not cheap to achieve as per your pics.
Of course anything is possible but will not be as simple and certainly not cheap to achieve as per your pics.
Fear not, there is quite a lot of depth to be dug out! The main issue is height as I calculate there's only 750mm between floor and lintel.
I've been looking at the rules regarding clearances:
Height above stove: 300mm
Width each side: 150mm
Presumably there's a minimum gap required at the back?
I'd really like to set the stove back as far as possible into the alcove so I don't have a hearth sticking out into the room. What is the minimum distance required in front of the stove for a hearth please?
I've been looking at the rules regarding clearances:
Height above stove: 300mm
Width each side: 150mm
Presumably there's a minimum gap required at the back?
I'd really like to set the stove back as far as possible into the alcove so I don't have a hearth sticking out into the room. What is the minimum distance required in front of the stove for a hearth please?
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