What do I need to do with an open fireplace?

[Mr.Stu]

I've just pulled out the old electrical fire that was here. I'm going to keep the fireplace itself and marble surround.

My current plan is:

- Get gas pipe removed/capped
- Brick bottom to level to marble
- Plaster all of inside and paint
- Add hidden lighting and some decoration

Do I need to block up the flue and add a vent? Am I ok just to leave it open as is?

Anything I'm missing, what would you guys do with it?

Cheers

 

[Maccapacca]

Small woodburner

 

[DannyW]

definitely get a woodburner - one of my biggest regrets is fitting an electric fire

 

[Hyburnate]

Woodbuner definitely, they look good and blocking it up will cause problems.

 

[Nightglow]

Definitely a small wood burner, will add some character to the room.

And get rid of that ghastly surround & hearth, & you could open up the fire place a bit, a little wider & higher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YAFtq9-h5U

 

[Mr.Stu]

Ok, noted on the wood burner fellas!

However, if I opt to leave it open and do not use a heat source in there, can I just leave the roof to the opening clear, or do I need to block the flue and add a small vent?

The room directly above also has a fireplace, with a vent.

 

[MikeTimbers]

Cap off the chimney to prevent rain getting in and you'll be fine.

 

[Eurofighter]

Everyone has wood burners and they are cool to look at and fun but sometimes they are just hassle. You have to chop wood, get the fire going and clean them out, also even with the door closed they smell. My parents have 2 really nice ones but my clothes smell like a BBQ after being round their house.

I would stick to gas or just not bother and use central heating.

 

[Maccapacca]

Everyone has wood burners and they are cool to look at and fun but sometimes they are just hassle. You have to chop wood, get the fire going and clean them out, also even with the door closed they smell. My parents have 2 really nice ones but my clothes smell like a BBQ after being round their house.

I would stick to gas or just not bother and use central heating.

That's all tosh, don't listen to her.

You buy chopped logs and can specify logs for the size of your burner, you remove the ash from the bottom, big deal, and if your clothes smell there's something wrong and you're likely to die from carbon monoxide.

 

[Nightglow]

That's all tosh, don't listen to her.

You buy chopped logs and can specify logs for the size of your burner, you remove the ash from the bottom, big deal, and if your clothes smell there's something wrong and you're likely to die from carbon monoxide.

+1

Had woodburner 10 years, never had any smell, & I certainly didn't smell like I been smoked.

Could also look at multi fuel stoves, as well as a wood burner, gives you another option.

 

[Mel_P]

If you don't want heat you could look at methanol burners which produce decorative real flames but not much heat?

e.g. http://www.gelfireplaces.com/

 

[Hyburnate]

Indeed if you're smelling smoky you need to look at your extraction...

 

[LeeUK]

Burning any kind of solid fuel requires an air vent to be installed in that room according to building regs which my recent certificated chimney sweep advised.

Maybe that is why one would smell smokey.

 

[Nightglow]

Burning any kind of solid fuel requires an air vent to be installed in that room according to building regs which my recent certificated chimney sweep advised.

Maybe that is why one would smell smokey.

Easy test to see if it's ventilation issue, open the window, if the smell goes, then it's a ventilation issue.

 

[zarnage]

Best option a woodburner

But if you are blocking it off just vent the bottom, either the room or if it's an external wall put it on the outside, so its not seen, and just c-cap cowl the top.

Either way i'd consider knocking it out to the constructional opening (9" pillar either side), sort the lintel if it needs it, that way if you decide to install a burner at a later date the opening it ready

 

[neil_g]

Remember to line the chimney if it was intended for coal burning.

 

[Wh00pS]

Burning any kind of solid fuel requires an air vent to be installed in that room according to building regs which my recent certificated chimney sweep advised.

Maybe that is why one would smell smokey.

New builds or homes that are airtight have to be vented.
In older buildings only anything over 5kw is required to be vented.

 

[LeeUK]

New builds or homes that are airtight have to be vented.
In older buildings only anything over 5kw is required to be vented.

My Parkray is 9.5kw but you are correct as I remember the sweep saying something about it being over 5kw for a vent.

 

[a1ex2001]

Remember to line the chimney if it was intended for coal burning.

There is no specific requirement to line any chimney unless it fails a smoke test if it does you will need to line it no matter what you are burning!

 

[neil_g]

There is no specific requirement to line any chimney unless it fails a smoke test if it does you will need to line it no matter what you are burning!

I read not so long ago that something to so with the temperatures wood burners operate at it can cause problems with older chimneys? Or something like that, I'll try and find the link.