Fireplace Help!

[buckley8219]

Hi there,

I am complete DIY newbie. I have recently removed an old 1970s tiled fireplace surround and hearth, behind which I found an old cast iron back boiler that had been drained and disconnected.

I guess what I am left with now is the builders opening?

I am aware that these are no doubt stupid questions, put when can I do with the remaining hole?

There is a throat lintel etc, so could I just get the inside rendered with heatproof screed and use it as an open fire, e.g with a log basket?

I'm not even sure I want to use it as a fireplace and was thinking that I could just render the inside of the opening and fill it with decorative logs or something?

What are my options?

Please see link for image.

Thanks for your help.

C

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/219/20110714094247.jpg/

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[Richard C]

You could fit one of those decorative stoves which don’t do much other than look pretty. Rather than an open fire which will smother your lounge in black smuts, you could fit a cassette log burner or multi-fuel stove which are also far more efficient than open fires. There are many “stove” threads & details of some really nice stove installs in the Building & Projects Forums which the “search engine” will bring up. If you do decide to go with an open fire or stove, make sure you have a read of this lot;
-----------------------00000000000000000000--------------------------------

As this comes up so often, I’ve put together this generic post; read the links but depending on what your doing, not all may apply to you.

You can DIY a stove/fire install but you need to understand the Building Regs (which changed in October 2010), submit a Building Notice & pay a fee. Your LABC will inspect &, assuming everything is OK, issue a compliance certificate; the BI may want to witness smoke & spillage tests. No compliance certificate may lead to difficulties when you come to sell your property; if cannot produce a compliance certificate in the event of a problem, your insurance company may invalidate your policy & reject any claim.

Lots of archive threads on this, & other things you have to watch out for, here a few links for you to read:
http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/stove_building_regulations.html
http://www.hetas.co.uk/public/certificates.html
http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/pdfs/buidling_regs_consumer leaflet.pdf
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=183614
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=211524
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=242738
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=224751

& some more sobering just in case you think it’s all a load of old tosh:
http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/main_pages/news.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...wood-burning-stove-leaks-carbon-monoxide.html
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/warning_over_heaters_after_norfolk_couple_s_death_1_811099

Also get at least 3 quotes from local independent HETAS installers:
http://www.hetas.co.uk/nearest_member

You might be pleasantly surprised & you should ask yourself if you really want all the hassle & risk getting it wrong; climbing onto the roof with an 8M stainless steel snake on your back is not for the feint hearted!

 

[buckley8219]

Thanks for the detailed reply Richard much appreciated.

I have a combi set up, so being logical I really don't need all the hassle of an open fire, or stove..

What would be the best course of action if I just wanted something tidy and purely decroative.

What would be the best way to tidy up the brickwork so that I could just insert something decorative to fill the hole left?

I was thinking of just getting the wall rendered, tidying everything up inside with a lime/sand mix painting to match the wall and just stacking logs in the remaining hole?

Thanks,

C