More fireplaces!

[ajbaker]

Since fireplaces seem to be the order of the day (at least they are in my house) I thought I should give everyone the chance to give an opinion on two remaining fireplaces in my house.... what do I do with them?

Background. Early 1800s mid terrace 2 bedroomed house. Grade II listed. Still retains a lot of its character, and in all the work I am doing I am trying to be very sympathetic.

Living room fireplace
This is a small, square living room. Recently lime plastered. The floor will soon be renewed with oak floorboards. The fireplace is in the centre of the room and is currently working.

My two issues at the moment are the hatred of the tiles used for the surround and hearth, and the fact this small fireplace does not produce much heat in the room. I would like to tile the hearth with slate. What would I then do with the surround? I could take the fireplace out, and replace with cast iron fireplace, stove, basket grate etc. What do people think would look better, produce more heat and be sympathetic to the era of the property? I see no reason for the mantle and wooden surround to move; it's not original but neither is it particularly distasteful.

Dining room fireplace
This room is used as the dining room. The fireplace currently houses a park ray with back boiler. Neither are used since we now have central heating. Chimney should be sound. I would like to have a working fireplace here and remove the white tiling. I see no reason for the mantle and wooden surround to move; it's not original but neither is it particularly distasteful.

The one idea I currently have is to open up the fireplace and install a wood burning stove. Not an original feature, but more attractive than the park ray and more practical than a fire basket.

Please let me have your ideas. I want to combine these changes with a few more items in a listed consent application soon.

 

[ajbaker]

Can I assume from lack of ideas people believe I should be leaving these two alone?

 

[Nemesis]

I think it's just a lost post!

Why oak boards btw?

 

[ajbaker]

Only a small percentage (15%) of the current boards are originals. The remainder is modern ply. My intention is to replace the whole lot, using the original boards to repair/replace problems elsewhere in the property. This way I can ensure nothing is lost from the property.

Why oak specifically? Not entirely sure, I have spent almost a year looking at different options, from reclaimed pine/oak, through new pine/oak, to simply replacing the carpet. Oak is currently very fashionable, and therefore easy to get hold off at a reasonable price (and some of it is decent quality too!) I like bare boards, I like oak as compared to pine and I think it will suit the property even if it does not reflect its more humble origins.

I shall be choosing wide boards, and possibly not t&G, to minimise the modern look and retain a similar feel to older boards elsewhere in the house. (And certainly not lacquered or varnished.)

 

[Penners]

I shall be choosing wide boards, and possibly not t&G, to minimise the modern look and retain a similar feel to older boards elsewhere in the house.

If you're going to use non-T&G boards, I hope you'll be having fitted carpets! The whole point of T&G is to prevent gaps between the floorboards, which widen when boards shrink (as at least some invariably do). Without the T&G you risk howling draughts, not to mention the odd lost item down the gaps.

Aesthetically, I wonder whether anyone will be able to tell the difference between butted boards and T&G.

 

[ajbaker]

Fair comment. Its really nice upstairs with the small gaps that have formed. Downstairs however I can appreciate it may not be quite as nice.

 

[Nemesis]

The boards will shrink with t and g also and leave gaps, which looks a bit like butted boards.

 

[Penners]

But unless the shrinkage is substantial, the tongues will keep you fairly draught-free.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes.

 

[ajbaker]

It's funny how long things take isn't it! I was about to create a new topic for this question, but then realised I had already asked similar before so thought I should do a search. Low and behold it almost exactly one year ago that I started this current project.

The floor is almost complete and the old fireplace has been removed. I am left with the original fireplace which would look beautiful if it were not for the damaged bricks.

Link...


Current plan is to lay the slate tiles on the hearth, use a very simple wooden fire surround to cover the bricks and simply use a fire basket as an open fire.

Thoughts and comments?

 

[Penners]

I am left with the original fireplace which would look beautiful if it were not for the damaged bricks.

The fireplace as you've photographed it was never intended to be visible. Hence the fact that someone, at some time, has cut a channel in the bricks - probably to fit some sort of fire surround.

Given the period of the house, a classic Victorian cast iron insert and surround would seem to be the obvious choice.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

A year ago:

Background. Early 1800s mid terrace 2 bedroomed house. Grade II listed. Still retains a lot of its character, and in all the work I am doing I am trying to be very sympathetic…I see no reason for the mantle and wooden surround to move; it's not original but neither is it particularly distasteful.

Today:

The floor is almost complete and the old fireplace has been removed. I am left with the original fireplace which would look beautiful if it were not for the damaged bricks.

Sorry, but that’s not “the original fireplace”, it’s a hole where the original fireplace was. I do hope you had listed building consent to remove the fire surround?

Your suggestions of February 2007 as to what to do were better than what has now happened, I’m afraid.

 

[Penners]

Hmmm - I hadn't read back and spotted that the building is listed and had original fire surround.

Have you still got the surround?

 

[Nemesis]

Not sure that what is in the pic was original - but the exposed brick certainly now requires something to cover it, and yes LBC should have been obtained I suspect. I basket may no draw very well, you would need to try it.

However - what's wrong with the original hearth?

 

[ajbaker]

LBC was granted. I don;t know how old the fire surround was but it certainly wasn't original. We still have it, and it is formed of three bits of pine with pine architrave attached to the left and right.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, it looked like a bit of a mock up.
But simple and OK.

Can you not re-use it?

It also might be the case that a hobgrate would be appropriate.

Floor looks nice!