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Original poster

'Real' fires - good or bad?

50 replies

OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 14:51

Hi everyone :) Our front room has a huge fireplace with an open fire but has a stone slab put over the front of it by the previous owner so we've never used it. The whole house has Economy 7 storage heaters and they are crap!!!
I'm tempted to phone the landlord and ask them to get the chimney checked out so we can have a proper fire as all the other houses have them. Question is I havent had a real fire since i was little and was wondering if they are worth the hassle?

OP posts:
soapboxingday · 08/12/2004 14:54

Oh I love real fires - especially at this time of year. And Christmas morning wouldn't be the same without it.

Our real fire place is in the grown-ups sitting room which is usually a child free zone - so they love being allowed to come in and watch a DVD on a SUnday afternoon with the fire lit:):):)

SantaFio2 · 08/12/2004 14:58

we have real fires. You cant beat them in old houses

i would vote real fire everytime

JanH · 08/12/2004 14:58

YESYESYES!!!! Grin

It's a bit nerve-wracking to begin with, and messy all the time, but once you've got the hang of laying and lighting it is wonderful.

Bloody hot though. Our living room is only 13' square and we have to keep the door open or else it's stifling.

Original poster
OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 15:03

i thought so Grin i looooove the thought of having one at xmas. Is the coal/logs generally cheap/expensive? We get a big coal truck coming up our street everyweek with huge bags on - I guess it'd use up a fair bit!

OP posts:
JanH · 08/12/2004 15:09

I get ours from the supermarket (local chain) - we can burn coal, which is cheaper than smokeless, a small bag (10kg - enough for 2.5 evenings) is about £2.75 though it's a £ off atm. Net bag of good logs, similar size, is £2.99. Roll and knot sheets of newspaper for kindling. Have no idea how much coalman coal is, but the small plastic bags are easier to move and store.

SantaFio2 · 08/12/2004 15:13

we get ours from a barn that sells allsorts of things, even hotubs

kent is weird:oWink

mishmish · 08/12/2004 15:17

another vote for real fires, love them. I love the sound of a hot tub in a barn...

winnie1 · 08/12/2004 15:17

Oh... OnZephyrstdayofXmas you must get it opened up. In our previous two houses we had open fires and it was wonderful. Loathe the house we are in at the moment and one of the reasons is that theres no open fire. (Hoping to move again in new year). Lucky you, make the most of it.

RudolphCAM · 08/12/2004 15:25

Real fires = Good.
I like logs though, luckily our garden provides plenty of wood.

Original poster
OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 16:09

excellent, I'll show this to dp and ask him to call the landlord and see if he knows if its useable :)

OP posts:
Original poster
OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 16:10

(hot tub in a barn conjures up all kinds of images!!!!!!!!)

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onlyjoandthethreekings · 08/12/2004 16:15

we have a stove fire which is great less mess and dust and a bit safer, we love it we have chimney swept each year and we get our coal from the coalman

JoolsTide · 08/12/2004 16:21

Love it! and dh can't control the heat so I'm toasting beautifully whilst he's huffing and puffing Grin

dogwalkinginawinterwonderland · 08/12/2004 16:23

We've got an open fire set back in a big brick inglenook fireplace. Love it when the fire is lit but because it is set back we hardly feel the heat! The inglenook itself is really cold because of all the brick, so I suppose it warms that bit up but not much else. Does look nice though. I'm not very good at setting the fire, and hate clearing up after. Any tips for setting a fire anyone?

snowmeltsonthebeach · 08/12/2004 16:29

Yes to real fires - we get log man who comes and charges 60 quid for a load and we get the coal from the coal merchant. Make sure that the landlord or a proper chimney company checks the chimneys as if they are old and haven't been used, they may need lining (which in my experience is very expensive, so the landlord may not do it).

Trick is lots of kindling, paper and small logs to begin with.

We've got a wood burning stove being fitted in another room next week, just in time for Christmas - I will be Gipsy Rose!!!!!

JoolsTide · 08/12/2004 16:31

dog - a few firelighters, some kindling leaning on them and a small amount a coal - works for us Wink

Original poster
OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 16:37

I'll def have to get them to check the chimney - When we moved in all the door and window frames had a layer of black on them so I'm assuming it had been used not long before! Also, if we take the slab off the front of it and it's just a hole, do we need to get one of those old iron fire things - lol - very technical!!!!

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KangaSantaMummy · 08/12/2004 16:43

We have a coal/log fire in our Sussex home and it is brill.Smile

It is not too much trouble either, DH does it all.Grin

We use offcuts from wood yard down road to start it going. Buy it in big bag for about £10.

get chimmney sweep DS thinks it is brill to get swept.

coal from coal man and store in bunker.

Christmas day can't wait Smile

Get a fireguard with small mesh and if it gets too hot put in front of fire and it takes the heat so you can sit on settee without hot legs!!.

Also you must get a proper surround guard if you have small children.

Original poster
OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 16:43

ok he has just called the landlord and he has said we can open it up as long as we get the chimney sweep out - how much does that cost??

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snowmeltsonthebeach · 08/12/2004 16:47

About 18 - 35 quid depending on where you are! Get them to check the chimney too with a fake smoke pellet - if you are in a terrace or a semi, you could fill up a neighbours house with smoke.

snowmeltsonthebeach · 08/12/2004 16:48

kanga mummy we've got a sussex house too - near the sea, hence the name? are you west or east....

Original poster
OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 08/12/2004 16:55

thats quite cheap - was expecting it to be loads! We are in old terrace cottages and next doors fire backs onto ours so we share the chimney. They use their fire i think so it should be ok :) Cant wait!!!!!

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KangaSantaMummy · 08/12/2004 16:56

East, on coast too Smile

what about u?

KangaSantaMummy · 08/12/2004 16:57

OnZephyrstdayofXmas that is brill Smile

KateandtheElves · 08/12/2004 16:59

I love real fires. Not much use for them here in Florida, although I do have a gas fireplace which I sometimes turn on for a little while in the morning.

Also - my Dad lives in Lewes. I'm a Northerner, but I have to admit that East Sussex is beautiful.

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