A real fire can be a characterful fashionable and money making addition to a home, but they must be professionally fitted.
Credit: Classic Designs
A new fire place surround fitted onto an existing flue will not require planning permission. To add a new flue and chimney however, you will need to submit plans to your local planning office for approval. Remember you will need to consult the planning authority for any exterior or interior changes you're planning to make to a listed property.
Also check before you remove any fireplace from a listed property, as even original examples can be considered to be part of the architectural history of an interesting building.
Over the years old coal, or soot deposits, dead animals, leaves etc can block a flue, so before you begin to fit your fireplace you will need to call on the services of a professional sweep (Contact the National Association of Chimney Sweeps tel: 01785 811732; www.chimneyworks.co.uk for a register of approved sweeps). A sweep will also be able to confirm that your chimney hasn't been capped. Any cracks found during the sweepjng process will need to be sealed. Thereafter your chimney should be ideally swept twice a year.
If you intend to apply for open fires insurance, having already checked the flue for damage and the room for adequate ventilation, your chimney sweep will provide you with the appropriate certificate. Reputable installers will require to see the certificate before any work is carried out.
Remember it is very important that the size of the chimney stack remains relative to the size of the fireplace opening, so let your sweep know if the fireplace has been enlarged.
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