Installing Victorian fireplace - any advice??

[janet]

We are planning to install a Victorian fireplace into our lounge. We've taken out the old 70s style fireplace, which leaves us with a small opening and the blocked up remains of what was the original firplace. We have the builders in but before they start dismantling the fireplace opening to make room for the fireplace, I wondered if anyone has any advice to offer? We are particularly concerned about how the connecion between the chimney and the firplace works.
The original slate earth was unfortunately beyond salvage so we need to put in a new one - possibly slate or granite - does anybody have any advice regarding thickness, positioning etc.
Many thanks - in advance,
Janet

 

[Penners]

I presume you plan to buy your fireplace and surround before the builders start their work? Bear in mind that a fair amount of a Victorian fireplace sits against the wall, rather than protruding into the firehole, so it's probably not a good plan to go tearing out the infill of the larger (presumably earlier?) fireplace before you know how big a hole your new fireplace will ultimately need.

 

[Pford75]

I agree with Penners....you need to have your new fire chosen and ideally on site, since there can be huge variation between the sizes etc. Might also be worth checking if the chimney has been lined with anything for the previous fire.

 

[Lime]

I agree with everyone else, get your fire first.

I'm not sure builders are the best people to be putting in an old fireplace.
what experience do they have?
I'd ask them before telling them to put it in.

 

[janet]

Thanks for that - I should have made it clear that we've already bought the fireplace. The chimney hasn't been lined - we have used it successfully and it has a good draw, it has also been recently swept. If the builders don't install it, who does and what would be the advantage of someone else doing it? Sorry if that's a really basic question to ask.
Janet

 

[Penners]

As Lime said, a builder won't necessarily have the expertise or experience to install a fireplace. On the other hand, they may - but it's certainly a good idea to ask.

If you wanted to choose a specialist, probably the best place to look is your Yellow Pages, under Fires/Fireplace Specialists, or similar.

 

[Lime]

Yes, as Penners says.

You don't need to take out anything from the existing fireplace other than what is require to stand the fireplace where it is going to go.
As long as the brickwork has suitable support the infill rubble can stay.
A good infill material to use behind the fireplace when it is being fitted is a mortar made using vermiculite or similar.
with lime or cement, it forms a firm light supporting infill but is soft enough to be removed very easily if required.
It also is fireproof and a good insulator.
Just how and what is required depends on what the fireplace you have bought needs.
They vary a lot.

 

[skier-hughes]

I can't remember the guys name, which is a pain, as I need to contact him to get him to come and fit our fireplace.
He came to look and advise us, seemed really nice, but I've not seen first hand his work yet, just pictures.
He is a professional fireplace fitter, now retired, but does some jobs just for fun and money of course!!!

Phone up Glyn Rayson on
Tel: 01785 711495
Mob: 07754 794346

And say that you were told to call him for the phone number of the fireplace fitter.

http://www.raysonreclamation.com/

I've done a fair amount of business with Glyn and he's really nice.

Graham

 

[chuckey]

As far as I know there are two aspects to a fire not filling the room with smoke. one is the height/size/thermal conductivity of the flue. That is when the fire and flue are operating normally, the speed of the hot gases constantly sucks air into the fireplace. The problem with this is that when you first light the fire, the flue is cold, and the fire is weedy, so to improve matters often there is a "throat", that is to say a constriction just above the fire opening. The effect of this is for any rising gases to suck air from the room over the top of the fire so decrease the amount of smoke getting into the room. Its called the venturi effect and is used in carburettors so the air rushing past a constriction sucks petrol in.
Which is a long winded way of saying if you go to an expert, he/she will build in the throat and the fire will never smoke. If you go to a non-expert, the fire may smoke until the flue gets hot after lighting it.
Frank