how do we make our chimney use-able??

[CirrhosisByTheSea]

Hi, hoping some of you out there with lovely open fires may be able to advise?

We've just taken the board off the front of our living room fireplace and there's a lovely open fireplace behind (just brick). Obviously we have to have it swept in order to use it, and get a fire-brick.....but is there anything else that needs doing?

It's a shared fireplace in an old victorian terrace by the way

Thanks for any advice, we were hoping to put in a log burner but just can't afford it and thought this would be a cheaper way of doing it?

Hi, we had a coal-effect gas fire which we removed (so we knew we had a flue), and have made it into a real fire. It's great ! Really useful when you don't want to put whole central heating on, or when it breaks down (as ours did in the height of last winter). We also toast crumpets on it on Sunday afternoons. I was worried it would cause a lot of dirt/dust, but it doesn't if the flue is drawing properly.

As I recall, the chimney sweep we got was very helpful, so I'd be inclined to get them in first to have a look at the state of your chimney. They'll be able to tell you if there are any problems with the flue.

There are regulations/guidelines about the size of hearth you need to have, and what kinds of tiles to have there. Will try and find a website I had a look at.

You are meant to use smokeless coal. We use rolled up newspaper, kindling, a firelighter and some coal to get it going, then add a log .

If you are in London (N or East) I can recommend a chimney sweep.

this might be useful

I'm guessing you aren't in London, by your name

Just remembered - we had a firebasket in place, but it didn't have a bottom to it (the grill the holds the coal). Got this from an architectural salvage place.

this is what you need to know - Oh Dear, did not do very much of this myself !!!

oh - thank you! That stuff is going to be so helpful, I will have a read through at my leisure

thanks so much again