New fireplace install

[nantucket66]

We are wanting to install a new fireplace in our bedroom.

Scenario is this.

Downstairs dining room has gas fire, with flue going up chimney breast to stack on roof. Our bedroom is directly above the dining room.

There has been a naff gas fire fitted in the bedroom which we have never used, this fire is fitted off centre on the chimney breast. We've had this fire disconnected and the gas capped/checked (by a gas safe plumber) and I have removed the fire.

The opening behind is obviously off centre. The chimney breast is 1.9m wide and the centre of the opening is about 16cm off to the right.

We want put to put a new traditional fire in (something like the 2 bottom right images on this link http://www.granite-products.com/fireplaces.asp), but we only want it for decorative purposes as our room is warm enough, we never used the other fire and something like the one in the image is in keeping with the room size/ceiling height. (6m x 4m with 2.5m ceiling)

I'd like the new fire to be central in the chimney breast. Is this possible?

I imagine the reason the upstairs opening is offset due to the flue to downstairs being next to it and opening the hole up to make it central would be difficult (if not impossible).

Would it be easier to extend the width of the chimney breast so the existing hole ends up the middle? We were going to get the room skimmed and put in new skirting and a new picture rail anyway, the only pain in we have plaster coving all around the room which would have to come down?

Removing the coving is a pain and extending the width of the chimney breast and getting it boarded prior to skimming is something I can do myself.

Keeping the breast as it is but opening up the hole on one side to make it central is a bit outside of the my comfort zone to be honest.

Thoughts? (I've a builder coming round to take a look next week, he is someone I know and trust)

We've been putting off doing our room for ages, but we've decided now we want it sorted

Sorry for the long post!

 

[Nightglow]

A lot of work for a extra 160mm, if you extend the width of the opening,you would need to install a longer lintel to pickup the load of the fire breast wall above, but there are many other factors involved, it a structural part of the house, you will need to know whether there is enough masonry either side of the opening to safely support the load, that would need a structural engineer to calculate.

Easier to to board & skim & a lot cheaper.

 

[nantucket66]

I think the option to widen to chimney breast by 160mm is my preferred choice, it means we don't have to mess with the existing opening, that could literally be opening a can of worms.

Doing that bit is relatively straightforward too. The whole room was always going to get new skirting and get skimmed anyway and a bit of woodworking/boarding doesn't really phase me.

The only real downer in my my mind is the coving, as it's plaster it will be messy/tough to get down. It's patterned and the missus is on about just taking down what we need to and trying to find a match.......worth a punt, but I reckon it will nigh on impossible to do that, think I'd rather get rid of it all and start afresh.

My builder mate is coming round on Tuesday to take a look at the chimney breast, I know him well and trust him and really value his input.

 

[Nightglow]

Got a photo of the coving, it is possible to get it down with out damaging it.

If you have a sample, there are firms who will reproduce it for you,some firms are expensive, need to look around, but it can still work out cheaper than completely re-coving a whole room.

Lots of firms do 'Bespoke Coving', a friend up york used this firm.

http://www.bespokecoving.co.uk/ornate-coving-in-wakefield-yorkshire

 

[nantucket66]

Builder came around yesterday.

He is going to extend the width of the chimney breast on one side to make the opening central.

The left hand side of the opening can't be touched, but it can opened up further on the right and also above to get it the right size for the fire we want.

The extension to the breast will be a little bigger than we thought but not by much. I measured 160mm, builder reckons 210mm by the time the hole is opened up on the right.

Builder is going to build the studwork and board it/prep it for skimming, make the opening bigger, fit a new lintel to accomodate the slightly bigger opening and fit the fire for a criminally low sum of money - I will remove the coving, wallpaper, plaster, picture rail and skirting for him

His price £100.00! I've used him before for loads of stuff before and I trust him implicitly....happy days and for that sort of money I'm happy to lend a hand to do all the prep work.

 

[Nightglow]

Builder is going to build the studwork and board it/prep it for skimming, make the opening bigger, fit a new lintel to accomodate the slightly bigger opening and fit the fire for a criminally low sum of money - I will remove the coving, wallpaper, plaster, picture rail and skirting for him

His price £100.00! I've used him before for loads of stuff before and I trust him implicitly....happy days and for that sort of money I'm happy to lend a hand to do all the prep work.

Ridiculously cheap!

 

[nantucket66]

Ridiculously cheap!

I know! I was half expecting £400/£500 to honest. I've given him a lot of work in the past so I think it's a bit of a favour. He's re-pointed and re-roofed our place, new ridges and virtually re-built 2 tall chimney stacks and a new back garden wall, so I'm sure he's made a few quid out of me.

We're getting a new boiler/radiators fitted in 2 weeks so once the dust has settled on that job we're going to start on this room, can't wait!