Can a fireplace installation disrupt your day?

Installing your own fireplace is a time consuming task, particularly if you need to take a day off work to carry it out.

Wood Fireplaces

Wood fireplaces can be slightly easier to install. However, to begin with, you need to locate the fireplace where your chimney is, meaning that you are limited as to where you can place the fireplace in your home. Many chimneys are now located on the outside of the house, and if one is located through the inside of your home, you will end up with difficult chases where the chimney is. There are also safety codes to observe, meaning that you will lose space around the chimney itself.

Wood fireplaces need careful installation because if the task is not done correctly, smoke and carbon monoxide can be a danger to your health if leaked into the room. Chimneys need maintenance and should be cleaned professionally.

Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces are an alternative to a wood burning fireplace, particularly in today’s society where we might not have time for a real fire. Modern gas fires are an option for many people.Corner fireplaces are also a popular choice for the home.

Gas fireplace installation can be carried out professionally at a reasonable price, rather than performing this task yourself, which will be more time consuming. Gas fireplace installation tends to be more difficult to carry out than a wood fireplace installation because of the vents and pipes that are required, thus making it a daunting task for a DIY-er.

Most people opt to hire a professional to carry out the installation for them. It is safer and less time consuming.

Before beginning, you should consider if you need a permit to burn your fireplace gas. If so, you need to obtain this first. You also need the space for your fire’s venting area, as well as a gas line that runs to your fireplace.

You need firstly to have your chimney vent cleaned and insulated. If you have this done professionally, you will save time. Then you need to install the inserts for the gas fire, which come in all shapes and sizes to choose from and with lock and snap mechanisms.

Your fireplace installation cost varies greatly and depends on the hearth size. Generally the unit will cost between £250 to £600, with added costs for block-off plates.

Image Courtesy: gratefireplace.co.uk