Removing and replacing a gas fire

[Onetwothreehome]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advise please, we just moved into a 70s bungalow and would like to turn an old gas fireplace into something more modern.

we have a gas engineer booked to cap the gas supply, so that part is fine.

Just need to know if structural problems could happen with removing the actual fire, surround and making the whole bigger to fit a fake (electric) wood burner.

thanks

You will need to be careful not to damage the gas connection while you are working but removing the fire surround is not a risk as it isn't structural at all.

Put dust sheets over the carpet, buy builders rubble sacks, builders gloves. You will thank me.

Sorry I know this isn't what you asked but....If gas is already there why not get a gas 'woodburner' ? They look just like the picture and throw out some lovely warmth. I love ours, like having a wood burner without the mess/faff!

@Gotosleep91 is right IMHO! You can get a gas insert fire now which will fit flush into your existing space and flue ( the supplier and fitter will need to check this, obviously. ) As the ‘Government’ seems to be determined to cut the electricity supply this winter, you will be grateful for an alternative heat source.

you can take the surround out, but it will be difficult to completely erase the traces without re plastering the whole chimney breast. You could tile over with stone or slate or ceramic tiles though. You should still keep a raised hearth for safety ( not getting too close to the fire).

We had the gas capped off further back so they could bury it in the floor out of the way. Then we discovered the lintel wasn't up to standard so we had to have the surveyor come in and approve what was going to be done. Then we finally managed to turn our awful 80s fake tiny inglenook into a more reasonable Victorian style hearth with an electric fire.

I would be looking at some sort of closed gas fire.

Closed gas fires are extremely energy efficient. If you do replace the fire make sure you look at the efficiency. Open fires tend to stuff a lot of the energy up the chimney.

If you believe the fire is mostly for decoration and your house is heated mostly by other sources such as CH then I would consider electric.

Modern electrics can look pretty but the costs can be ruinous if you use them a lot. Some of the modern electric fire simulators allow you to have a "fire" on while they are not outputting heat. I am thinking about one of these because they look great and I do not use the gas fire much.