Fire place

[Botherfreedays]

We have an open fire in our living room and would like to update the surround, mantle and hearth. We use the fire occasionally for an hour mostly to look at. We have central heating so it's not really a source of heat. We've been told in fire place shops that most HETAS registered fitters won't touch open fire places as the regs are too complex and troublesome. I don't really like wood burners as you can't see and hear the fire. Has anyone had a similar problem?

We had an open fire installed. I didn’t seem that complex but needed vents in the room. I’m sure you’ll find someone to put it in.

We’ve replaced gas fires with open fires in our house. We used a fire place shop which specialised in reclamation. They gave us their list of fitters and we checked them out. No issues. Maybe do some research online for specialists. They may also be stove fitters or sweeps.

It is definitely harder to find someone to do an open fire over a woodburner. We decided to get a stove in the end despite not really wanting one because the flues all needed lining. We went for one with quite a big window so we can see the fire. Really happy with it. Use it all the time.

Our neighbours had a log burner that you could use with the doors open or closed. It was wide with double doors and just as good as an open fire.

I was going to suggest the same as weepingwillow - get a log burner that has a large window or where you can keep the doors open. Friends have one like that and it’s lovely.