Reinstating a chimney

[suityou01]

Here at SY01 Towers we have switched to another room for our sitting room. It has a chimey and fireplace albeit for show. The house was built circa 1930s and the chimney would have once been in service. I note no fire bricks at the back.

Anyone got any idea

a) Who to ask? (Builder or a specialist)
b) Things to consider
c) Cost items

Would be nice to get a working real fire for Crimble

[norrahe]

Here at SY01 Towers we have switched to another room for our sitting room. It has a chimey and fireplace albeit for show. The house was built circa 1930s and the chimney would have once been in service. I note no fire bricks at the back.

Anyone got any idea

a) Who to ask? (Builder or a specialist)
b) Things to consider
c) Cost items

Would be nice to get a working real fire for Crimble

If it's 1930's there may have been a fireplace in there, surprised at no firebricks, but they could have been removed and a gas fire put in which may have been subsequently removed since.

Get a specialist in and also ask your local chimney sweep, as they will inspect the chimney and the brickwork inside it to make sure that it is suitable for fire.

You can get grates etc.. from the local reclamation yard, I think I spent around the £500 mark for install (fire bricks) and surrounds etc.. (including removal of original gas monstrosity, house itself was buily 1920's but some of the gas fiirepalces were 70's), but this was about 10 years ago in London, shop around.

[moorfield]

Here at SY01 Towers we have switched to another room for our sitting room. It has a chimey and fireplace albeit for show. The house was built circa 1930s and the chimney would have once been in service. I note no fire bricks at the back.

Anyone got any idea

a) Who to ask? (Builder or a specialist)
b) Things to consider
c) Cost items

Would be nice to get a working real fire for Crimble

First port of call is a chimney outfit, you may well need your chimney relined first for building regs (ie one of those big metal tube thingies) and possibly a cowl. Few hundred quid.

Given the time of year now Chrimble 2011 is probably a more realistic expectation to get it all sorted.

[suityou01]

Thanks both.

[worzelGummidge]

This is perfectly possible. Check though that you actually have a chimney on the roof.
People take out whole and bits of chimney stacks all the time.

It is best to take out the whole stack but DIY nutters have been known to just take out the chimney stack in one room and leave the rest in place - magically still hanging there as was the case with this house before I sorted it all out.

As a rough guide prepare to pay about £3k ish for the whole job with the fire and chimney work being about 50:50.

I would think that after Xmas would be the best time when most people have other ideas like the sales in shops.

You might be able to arrange the whole thing from one place - i.e. period fireplace shop.
When doing the flue, have the chimney setup for solid fuel also so that you have that option available to you.

I would buy a fire and surround in keeping with the house age. i.e. Victorian fireplace would just look wrong but that's just my opinion. The fire surround and fire are separate items and can be purchased separately but seek advice from the builder who is re-instating the chimney and putting in the hearth before purchasing.

If it's a period piece that you want then there are some very nice original fire surrounds out and about for sale but expect to pay £1k for a nice original one.

[scooterscot]

We did 2 things to get our chimney in operation again. (Victorian house built in 1887)

1) Get a chimney sweep. Yes they do exist who will clean and inspect the condition of the chimney.

2) Open fireplaces in the city (in Edinburgh anyway) are no longer allowed. We had a specialist company install our wood burner, who also refurbished the entire fireplace. About £15k.

Be prepared for nasty surprises in closed off chimneys. During the refurbishment work asbestos panelling was discovered. House had to be cleared.

lead time 8 - 12 weeks

[doodab]

I would consider getting a gas powered real fire instead. You won't have a draught when the fire isn't on, it's a lot less mess, you don't need to have the sweeps in twice a year and there is somewhat less chance of a chimney fire.

Chopping wood is fun though. A good way to work up an appetite for breakfast on a cold sunday morning.

[d000hg]

Depending where you live, there might be restrictions what you can burn to avoid pollution and all that stuff. Some places only allow clean-burning coal, for instance, and this can affect what you can install.

I expect the flue is all there if it's from the 30s. Can you get access to at least try and look up it?

[OwlHoot]

Also I chimney sweep will be able to tell you whether the fireplace is suitable for wood or coal. Apparently the shape is slightly different for each, although I imagine a larger fireplace could be used for either.