Replacing Victorian fireplaces - cost?

[LeavesOffTheCactus]

Hi all,

I am moving into a new house that has original fireplaces, which is fantastic, except that I don’t like any of them. I absolutely love cast iron fireplaces but the ones in this house are all marble. I can tolerate the plain white marble ones but some are really not to my taste, so I’d like to replace them with cast iron fireplaces.

Does anyone have any experience of removing a fireplace surround and mantel? How much did it cost you? Was it an easy, one-day job or a major and messy undertaking?

When buying a new one do I have to make sure measurements match or do I just have to make sure it’s roughly proportionate to the room, with the builder installing it making it work?

Is there a market for marble fireplaces for me to make some money back on the ones I don’t like? I see a lot on eBay for sale but that doesn’t mean anyone is buying them.

Thanks in advance!

I totally get what you’re saying - and I would never remove all the fireplaces or even any that were in a reception room or master bedroom. This one is in the room that will be the office/a smaller bedroom so I didn’t think it’d be such a big deal. I am really grateful for all the advice though and if it is painted that offers a much easier and less messy solution - I will indeed just strip and paint it. Thanks all!

Glad you have decided to keep it. But for info you are talking about £500-£700 for a new cast iron insert bit, another £500-£1000 for a nice slate surround and then £300-£500 for reclaimed Victorian tiles in the side bits and I would guess £1000 for reclaimed bottom ones. The tiles are hard to come by because they normally break when removed and hence are pretty expensive. And that is all without the costs for someone to do the work.

Judging by your previous responses, i doubt it will concern you but the original painted finish is exactly what makes these features desirable. A great many have been stripped in recent years by people who would prefer to paint them grey and the original finishes are becoming rare and sought after. Some of them have quite bright tiles which don't appeal to modern tastes but yours is reserved and rather stylish.

Why would you take out original fireplaces?!?! Utter vandalism!!

@Geneticsbunny very interesting. I was planning on replacing with a reclaimed Victorian fireplace rather than a new one though. My sister did this quite cheaply and the result was very beautiful. I’m sure 99% of people visiting the house would never know it wasn’t the original fireplace. The original was a chipped, yellowing and cracked marble fireplace.

@LeavesOffTheCactus those prices are for a reclaimed one. We have fitted 3 or 4 ourselves in the last 15 years. You can get cheaper if you shop around a lot but will probably end up with bits missing or having to get things sand blasted which adds extra money.

I meant new to your house rather than new new but didn't make that very clear!

Yes she got it from eBay and did have to do some rust treatment to hers before she had it fitted. Thanks for the info - v useful