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Please help us with our sad fireplace

8 replies

AngelaChasesBestLife · 12/09/2022 12:45

We have a lovely fireplace surround in our living room. It's not an original but it looks the part. It's a Stovax Art Deco one and is in keeping with the few remaining original features left in rest of the house, so I'd be loathe to lose it.

The previous owners for some reason removed the interior of the fireplace so there is now just a void. I contacted Stovax when we moved in to see if I could source replacement parts, but unfortunately these are now obsolete.

It is just a miserable thing to look at as the soot comes down from the chimney, and there is a manky old bit of carpet in there. I’m thinking of seeing if I can get someone to come and close the opening up (not sure what trade I'd need for that) or getting a piece of stone cut to size for the back hearth (?) so at least we could keep it clean or stick a plant in there. The front hearth remains and is black stone.

Have tried a few of the local fireplace shops for ideas, and asked our chimney sweep and no one has been able to help.

Would be grateful for any ideas!

Please help us with our sad fireplace
OP posts:
SwelegantParty · 12/09/2022 12:53

I found a bricked up fireplace when I was renovating, no surround but a nice stone lintel. The builders sealed it up, put a piece of stone in the bottom, plastered the sides and put a light in the top. I just have a vase of dried flowers in there.

Please help us with our sad fireplace
Please help us with our sad fireplace
Dougieowner · 12/09/2022 12:56

Have you tried a reclaimation yard for another back?

AngelaChasesBestLife · 12/09/2022 12:56

SwelegantParty · 12/09/2022 12:53

I found a bricked up fireplace when I was renovating, no surround but a nice stone lintel. The builders sealed it up, put a piece of stone in the bottom, plastered the sides and put a light in the top. I just have a vase of dried flowers in there.

That looks lovely!

OP posts:
BeanyBops · 12/09/2022 13:06

I've something similar ish except ours has more fireplace left. The bricks are quite nice in yours, could you just clean it all up and enjoy the old bricks? I've had flowers in there, lots of candles, and a leftover Xmas decoration that I just really liked. We also had a guy fit a new hearth (?) bit in the floor in front and as he was doing that he painted the old cement underneath the fire with some special black paint stuff.

Please help us with our sad fireplace
AngelaChasesBestLife · 12/09/2022 13:10

BeanyBops · 12/09/2022 13:06

I've something similar ish except ours has more fireplace left. The bricks are quite nice in yours, could you just clean it all up and enjoy the old bricks? I've had flowers in there, lots of candles, and a leftover Xmas decoration that I just really liked. We also had a guy fit a new hearth (?) bit in the floor in front and as he was doing that he painted the old cement underneath the fire with some special black paint stuff.

Thanks Beany - what trade did you contact to do that for you?

OP posts:
RobertsRadio · 12/09/2022 13:22

What you have is a fire surround, there is no fireplace left. The thing is you will continue to get soot falling down all the while it is open to the elements. You could buy a fireplace (reclamation yards as per a pp suggested, are a good place to look) and get it fitted by a proper fireplace installer and then use it as an open fire. Or you could get a log burner fitted. You can get small ones that would fit a small space.

The other option is to get the opening sealed above to stop the soot and draughts from the chimney and also get the chimney capped. BTW before doing any work you should get the chimney swept.

if it was me a

RobertsRadio · 12/09/2022 13:24

Oh sorry pressed post too soon, was going to say if it was me I'd go for a working open fire or log burner.

Yellownotblue · 12/09/2022 15:31

Please don’t install an open fire or log burner. They generate huge amounts of pollution.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/15/wood-burners-emit-more-particle-pollution-than-traffic-uk-data-shows

There are alternatives such as bio ethanol fires, and electric fire inserts, that are much less damaging to the environment and health.

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