Has anyone installed a fireplace?

[StickyNote]

We've had some horrific quotes for supplying and installing a new fireplace and are now looking at doing it ourselves. Has anyone ever done this? Is it a nightmare? Where can I find some instructions - have trawled the internet with no success.

TIA.

Anyone?

gas or electric????????????

It's gas at the moment but we want to convert it to a solid fuel one and replace the surround and hearth. We would have the gas capped off by a professional...

Stickynote, this is something we have got to do as well, can I ask how much you were quoted and where from?

As for installing one, have a look at the B&Q website . Click at the top where it says "How To's", then under the Library/Installing, it has info about dismantling and installing a fireplace.

Hope that helps, and let me know how you get on, we've been putting ours off for ages!

Hi we had it done professionally (£600) I was horrified at the cost but was worth it as I am paranoid about fires (I know, why do I have an open fire?). It is a skilled job. How much were your quotes?

Forgot to say we have had the gas capped on all 4 fires recently, got a local CORGI registered plumber around, and he was very reasonable (can't remember how much exactly).

It can be qite messy if you need to knock out the fireplace at all to fi the new one. If you're going for solid fuel, are you thinking about a cast iron type that fills the hole or just a grate? (plus the fire surround and hearth).

In our last house we demolished three 1950's style fireplaces and moved one victorian one ourselves (from DS1's bedroom to the living-room), it was messy and we never got as far as having an actual fire put into it, we were going to have gas, the type that looks like flames and coal. The chimney etc was all there the only changes we made were what was on the room side of the fireplace IYKWIM. Obviously had we gone ahead with the gas fire we would have had the chimney/fitting of the fire surround and cast iron insert checked first.

I suppose it depends what you have to work with already really but it is possible IME.

We're going for a fire basket type thing. The quote we had, from a specialist fireplace shop, was for £1500 to include the fireplace (obviously), opening up the opening (IYSWIM), removal of the old fireplace and fitting of the new one. Thing is, I've seen the very same fireplace on sale over the net for £620... Assuming the fireplace man gets it for a trade price, that's a heck of a lot of money for one day's labour.

Jodee, thanks for the B & Q link - will keep you posted if we attempt it!

as i type this my dh is in the middle of doing our fireplace to fit a woodburner. we too had quotes for £1500+. i've just asked him how much its cost us and he said approximately £250 + cost of woodburner. you will need a hammer, brick chilsel, overalls, dust mask, goggles, hat. you may need to hire an angle grinder for a day or two to cut bricks to shape fireplace, sharp sand (builders sand), hydrated lime, cement, then plaster for render and possible new lintel. it has taken him 4 full days and we're still not through but yours may be more simple. the one thing i would say is to go away for the duration-we can't afford to but it is a nightmare with kids and the dust is UNBELIEVABLE its even managed to get in the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms- its gone through the dust sheets we bought as stone/brick dust is very fine.dh also says get the screwfix catalogue or buy online as they are the cheapest. good luck

Thanks for this Shrub. Did your DH follow any instructions or is he an "act now, check later" type like my DH ?

stickynote - wish he was, things wouldn't take so long....he follows the collins diy manual, it had all the instructions in there. good luck x