blocking up a fireplace

[lidster]

Hi,

I am wanting to fully refurb/redecorate my front room and am looking at removing the fireplace hearth and mantel - and then plaster board over the old fireplace hole and skim. I live in a 1930's semi - and the chimney breast is shared on an internal wall with the next door neighbour. I am just going to upgrade the radiator in the front room and use this as the only heat source. in the bedroom above we have a small vent on the chimney stack behind a false cupboard door. When the wind gets up it is very noisy both downstairs and in the upstairs bedroom. Could somebody please tell me what I need to consider before I board up the firplace opening downstairs?
I havent been on the roof yet - but from reading on here it sounds as though the top of the chimney is not capped (hence the draught when windy)?
Ive read on here that I need to make sure its ventilated - but I want to block up the fireplace as well as the vent upstairs eventually If I am able to.
any help musch appreciated - as always

thanks

 

[lidster]

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=192666


I need to search a bit better - the above thread answers me questions perfectly. Think I will block the vent in the bedroom up - and then fit a vent into the skirting board that will go anross the bottom of my old fireplace opening downstairs.

does anybody think there would be a problem with doing it this way?

Do building regs need a certain size vent?

thanks

 

[lidster]

http://www.chimneycowlproducts.co.uk/acatalog/Disused_Chimney_Terracotta_Cap.html

Are these the vented caps the type that would significantly reduce wind howl through vented fireplaces?