Opening up a fireplace

[sooperdooper]

Anyone opened up a fireplace so you can have a real fire?

We have chimney breast with a kind of square hole cut into it, which is boarded up at the top to conceal the chimney - I'm thinking if we get the top opened up, the chimney sweeped and a stone hearth and fire basket put in, we could have an open fire, is there anything else I need to think about?

You might get told you'll need the chimney lined which can be hundreds if pounds so bear that in mind.
You'll need to make sure you have the right material behind where the fire will be, eg you can't have normal plaster

Had you thought about installing a wood burner???? Lots more efficient than an open fire...in fact open fires can bring in the cold!!!!

We did it.

Took out old gas fire and opened up the fire place. Our fire place has the original bricks lining it, a deep hearth and a lovely old derbyshire gritstone lintel. The hearth stone and lintel were from an old church, they were in a local salvage yard. We got a pair of antique large brass fire dogs and a fire basket.

We had the chimney inspected and swept and a new chimney pot too as the one that was on was for a gas fire.

You need to make sure the "draw" on the fire is right, otherwise you'll end up with a smoke filled room, so when you're opening it up, bashing it all out be prepared to make slight changes to your design. Our fireplace is slightly offset to the centre of the chimney breast as the chimney itself isnt central, the builder built it as central as he could and to be honest you'd not really notice now its all done but it was done that way so the fire would "pull".

Our fire kicks out a huge amount of heat, we burn good coal and logs.

We didn't want a burner, we absolutely love our open fire but be prepared for a little more dusting!

Our builder is great, thats the key!

I've asked my local fire show show about putting in a woodburner. They said it would be at least £2500 for everything. Labour for taking out old fire and fitting new burner, cost of burner and lining the chimney was pretty pricey too.

I won't be getting it done as we really can't afford it at the moment. Ttc so need cash for possible mat leave and the rest of the house needs loads doing.

I opened up, rendered and tiled my fire place, my Dad and OH fitted the woodburner so didn't cost too much. We have a clay flue and put a flexi flue down it, it wasn't too difficult really so I think you would be able to do an open fire yourself.

when you have uncapped the chimney had it swept etc get the chimney sweep to do a test fire before going any further!!!! it may be that the chimney needs a liner or not depending on how it takes the smoke up the chimney and also if there are any holes in the chimney itself if not and all is fine you dont need to line it. you ould then need to put in a hearth if you dont have one and a fire grate and back plate etc. minimum cost to do this is around 300 pounds.

Try to get recommendations for a good local chimneysweep, he will know what wants doing and good local builders who know how to put in fireplaces.

we have a small log burnner at the moment , we would like our fireplae openend out and have a bigger burner does anyone know of any good builders cambridgeshire thank you.