Reinstalling period fireplaces - functional or decorative?

[tabbycatslave]

I'm having Victorian fireplaces installed into the living room and two main bedrooms of my London flat. Currently we have chimney breasts with square empty holes, which looks a bit odd and I'm excited to get the building back to somethings like its original state.

I would never use the fires in the bedrooms and am content with them being decorative, but am disagreeing with DP about the living room fire. The installers say that it would cost no more money to make the fireplace technically functional, and as far as I understand it the way the old fireplaces are constructed means that you wouldn't get crap falling through unless you open it up manually?

I like that an open fire gives you some resilience against power cuts, and also think future buyers might prefer the option to use it.

DP is firmly against having it functional as he doesn't ever want to use the fireplace for a fire. In reality we probably never would but... is there a downside to making it technically possible?

Fireplace people seem (understandably) very passionate about open fires so would like some neutral views if possible!

I would have a fireplace every time. Love it. It’s definitely something a buyer might prefer.

But would a decorative fireplace be a turn off? It will look the same, just lighting a fire would be a very bad idea.

In London definitely decorative. We are in London and it’s not only antisocial to use a log fire, but there are many restrictions on the wood you can use. It doesn’t really do a lot regarding warmth and as you are in a flat not a house it shouldn’t get too cold anyway. The indoor air pollution is atrocious with an open fire, worse than a closed log burner and they’ve now been proven to be damaging to health. We used to have one but it didn’t give off much heat and felt so polluting. I need to get one of those balloon things to stop the cold air getting into the room as you can really feel the draught!! When we had a newborn we used to chuck blankets over the opening!!

I grew up with open fires. As your workers attest, making the fireplace functional is only a question of arranging the back of the fireplace correctly. Count Romford is the original UK genius of this. Even if no one might use the fireplace due to H & S anxiety, you can ask your mason to set it up correctly at no extra cost and would make your house more sale-able (not a real word!) in future. (option for working fireplaces sounds better than fireplaces unusable...)
Fireplaces in the bedroom can be lovely. My dad uses his all winter long. Having a fire in the eveing and eating tea at a little table by it and damping it down before bed. He's old school and his bed has curtains...

@Ggmores - sadly, I think you've been rooked. Open fires give off an impressive, unstoppable amount of heat if the firebox (fireplace) is constructed correctly and likewise, if constructed correctly, all the smoke goes up the chimney. That's what Romford did! He made the smoke go up the chimney.

Period feature that works (after sweeping chimney and making sure is ok) is a distinct plus when selling. Also when your boiler goes in the winter and you have to wait for repair you have heat downstairs (after arranging coal delivery or emergency run to somewhere like The Range that has coal - you can get low smoke coal for smokeless zones) and it warms the walls upstairs. Can you tell I've been there?! Oh and chimney also gives you good airflow to stop damp and plus for toasting marshmallows.

There isn't really a right or wrong answer tbh. Only thing though you would need to check the chimney is in a decent state to use as a functioning fire, that would be your only problem I guess. Really down to preference. We have a log burner in our open chimney, bit more tidy than a totally open fire and it's a smokeless one as there's a move to smokeless fires only isn't there 😁

We had a log burner in our old Victorian house and I adored it so when we moved to our current house, I wanted to open up the flues in all the rooms.

Then I read the data about health and particulates and realised it isn't worth it. We went decorative instead.

Functional or don't bother.
I'd regard it as a massive minus if it was fake.

I like fireplaces but I'm not a fanatic.

I do hate half arsed restorations though, so either have a working fireplace for a real fire/fit a wood burning stove, or have an obviously fake one so someone doesn't try to use it in the future.

It isn't going to cost you thousands extra and just because it could work doesn't mean you have to use it.

If your boiler breaks down and you can't get it repaired for a week in the winter, you'll wish you'd made it functional.

Are drafts inevitable if functional?

I am absolutely on board with making it a real fireplace, but want evidence to persuade DP (and ofc to be more sure in my own opinion). If it's no extra cost, and doesn't create a big issue with heating, surely a no brainer?

We have an open fire which has a flap at the bottom of the chimney to close it off when not in use so no drafts - ask for that.

There is no downside to having it functional.

Your DH is being daft.

The one I chose has a flap. I'm going to try - he's ridiculously stubborn.

I would suggest that the work is done so that the fireplace could become fully functional, even if you don't use it as such. That way, you are being true to the period nature of the property.

I’m not sure what rooked is!! We have a Georgian house, but I’m sure the construction is similar. We’re central London though, so probably have more restrictions than Essex borders. It’s just not worth the pollution for us, but we have a young child so might be different.

This is my feeling, it's a repair. Although if future buyers rip out, I'll cry.

If the chimney is functional, an open fire isn't your only choice. What about a gas fire? You can get (a bit more) energy efficient ones now and they can look like an open fire or woodburner without all the faff. And they make a lovely focal point for the room. My home is very mid-century but I've managed to get an enclosed gas that fits the decor.

You can buy chimney balloons to completely stop drafts from chimneys whilst they aren't being used.

Fireplace is in and functional! Very happy and can't feel a draft. Pics from installation earlier, including the two bedrooms. Really love them.

Can I just light a fire and see what happens or does someone need to check the chimney first? I had a look up and seems clear.

Ask the installers if they swept the chimney? Mine did I think. If not, get that done first.

They look absolutely beautiful by the way!

I remember when we had ours installed - it was the first thing we did when we bought the house. I came home from work to find the hideous stone cladded fireplace (with concrete shelf for TV!) gone and our lovely new fireplace in place. I promptly burst into (happy) tears!

Assuming it's a Victorian property you are highly likely to need the chimney lined - if there are any gaps in the brick work then lighting a fire in the living room can potentially allow smoke to leak into adjoining flues and potentially have CO poisoning. Typically they set off a smoke bomb in the open fireplace and check which chimneys the smoke comes out of. Cost us a grand after idiot former owners put in a stove without lining the chimney. You also need your get the chimney swept every year for safety regardless of whether you use it- birds nests etc can block it. I wouldn't bother personally, will definitely be colder with the chimney open.

Don't light a fire without having the chimney checked!!! Fire hazard and carbon monoxide hazard. You're probably also going to need a new chimney granny to stop the rain.

Okie dokie - will get a sweep in as I don't fancy death by fire or CO poisoning! Thanks v much all.

@tabbycatslave get as Hetas registered sweep to be sure it is OK and that the flue is clear and safe.

Ensure you have a carbon monoxide alarm ( this is required for the sweep to sign it off for use).

Check whether you are in a smokeless zone (likely in London) and use smokeless coal not wood.

In a 2 storey house it can cost £1000’s to get a chimney swept. More expense for lining & flue so consider that first. I’d get really nice tiles inlaid and a decorative setting in bedrooms and a gas fire fitted in living room if chimney work too expensive.

Thanks - if it is going to cost ££££ I'll probs just stuff a pillow (or waterproof equivalent) up there and leave it, as I'd only have a fire for special occasions like Xmas anyway. Cats already pawing at the opening trying to get up there!

Chimneys lose a fuck tonne of warmth. Cubic meters of warm air sodding off unfettered to the outside world.
If you must keep you chimney open for use, at least get yourself one of these so you can prevent that happening when you aren't using it.

https://chimneysheep.co.uk/collections/chimney-sheep?srsltid=AfmBOopo80xHHorxEQSqAzvI7o4pzWIX9NfSRKiITcefUl8Nxa8JXVn6