Getting rid of a fireplace

divuk83

divuk83

divuk83

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Joined
8 Mar 2006
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1,402
Location
York
In the process of decorating the living room and we have decided to remove the knackered old fire place. We have looked at getting a new one fitted but for how little we would use it compared to what it would cost it's not really worth it. I have a mate at work who is going to remove the fire and cap off the gas for me. What is the best bet for getting rid of the hole, bricking up or some batons and a bit of plasterboard? Obviously a vent is needed and I'm not sure what else I will find when we pull it all out? I'm sure there is a backboiler in there as I have cut all the pipes out that ran to it. Any tips/advice would be greatly received (excluding keeping the fire or getting a new one).

Only photo I have to hand of the fire (from before we moved in).
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Cheers

Dave
 
Not a router but one of numerous phones dotted about the house. It's pretty impressive really, the whole house is in the process of being de-old personed. Polystyrene ceiling tiles/coving, ancient electrics, annoying ceiling lights, dated wallpaper... the list goes on!

The photo was taken in October 2011 BTW.

Dave
 
Open up the opening, & stick in a small free standing wood burner, or multifuel burner.

Don't cap the gas pipe too close to the fire place, is that the gas pipe I see going in to the floor, lift a floorboard & cap as far away as possible.

Took a fire place out a few years ago, to replace with a open fire place & iron basket, found a live gas pipe running down behind the fire box.:eek:
 
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I'm pretty sure the pipe you can see is the gas, the wooden boxing above it has now been removed as well as all the pipes in it leading to the back boiler. There are some short floor boards just to the right of the fire so we will probably do it there.

We can only burn smokeless fuel in the area we live in so a woodburner is out. Chimney needs a new liner + pot etc too which is more expense. Just removing it and freeing up space is a better (Cheaper) option, when we sell the house in a few years someone else can easily put a fire back in if they want one.

Dave
 
Agreed, a woodburner would be the best choice. I used to have one in the last house. Would love to have another!
 
There is 1000s of old-personed houses like this still in existence around the country. My next door neighbour house was a good example until just last month when the builders moved in. Sadly the estate agent didn't know how to use a camera from his arse or elbow.
 
divuk83 said:
As per my last post, we are in a smoke control area so can't have a woodburner.

Dave
Click to expand...

You can have a woodburner in a smoke control area, just has to be defra compliant and any decent woodburner will be - you wouldn't be able to burn coal in it but can wood!

Could you open it up for a wood burner and maybe not fit a burner if money is the issue - would look nicer than a blank chimney and all the dirty work is done should you want to fit one later and not mess up the decoration?
 
Shimmyhill said:
You can have a woodburner in a smoke control area, just has to be defra compliant and any decent woodburner will be - you wouldn't be able to burn coal in it but can wood!

Could you open it up for a wood burner and maybe not fit a burner if money is the issue - would look nicer than a blank chimney and all the dirty work is done should you want to fit one later and not mess up the decoration?
Click to expand...

You can use smokeless fuel, like Phurnacite,Ovals,Coalite, many others available, there are multifuel fires approved for use in smoke control areas.

Having a multifuel fire instead of a woodburner, adds character to a room, it also sells a houses.
 
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Gas has been capped, fireplace and back boiler are now out. Don't worry I'm not planning on filling in the gap with the expanding foam filler or caulk in the picture!

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We would quite like a nice fire but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle and expense. I have bricks and mortar left over from another job in the garage so the only cost would bit the plaster and vent to brick it up. There is a mini divuk83 on the way shortly and while we have got the money for a fireplace, it seems a bit of a silly think to be blowing 1k plus on with other more important purchases looming.

Also we were slightly off put by the thermal efficiency of having a wood burner as the gas seemed like a better option, plus in a 1960's bungalow with no character at all it seems a bit stupid to put a nice fireplace or wood burner in.

Cheers

Dave
 
Why not just block the chimney (with a balloon or a vented solid barrier) and keep a nice fireplace as a feature of the room. You could rip out that fire surround and make a new one or fit a reclaimed one that you'd prefer. Filling in the hearth feels like a bit of a waste of a feature.

I've seen nice fireplaces with just a fire basket and a pile of pinecones or a few logs. It adds the same sort of character as a working fireplace without the expense.
 
divuk83 said:
Damn you all for making me want a log burner! Looking at this one http://www.salamanderstoves.com/docs/64/the_hobbit_stove/ it's small so should fit with the minimum of adjustment to the existing structure and I wont bother with a surround and will just tile the hearth. Just got to run this by the boss!

Dave
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Very sensible idea.

Nothing nicer & cosy in the winter than a real fire.

Very little work involved, lining the flue shouldn't too expensive, as it's only a bungalow.

As to hearth, there are some very nice not too expensive paving available, limestone riven, slate, flagstones, etc from Bradstone, Marshalls, etc.

There some nice multifuels here as well.:D

http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/wood_burning_stoves/Woodburning-Stoves-and-Multifuel-Stoves.html
 
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