Fire place - smaller width than standard

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MUM2KIDS

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Looking to change the fireplace in the sitting room. The current fireplace is 50inc wide but on visiting the showrooms the norm for fireplaces is 54inc.

2 possibilities

- Width of Chimney Brest is 54inc however this would mean that there would be no gap/wall from the edge of the fireplace if we went with a 54inc. Is this a problem - is there a need for a fireplace to be attached at the side?

- Increase the width of Chimney Brest - according to the sales guy that the stud wall could easily be widen by 2-4 inch. While not common this is done in the old corporation houses. Not sure if this was a sales ploy. The cost to do this between €200-€300. Not bad if it meant that we had choice of fireplaces.

Other question - looking at putting in a gas fire (Dublin area). Are there a minimum dept that the opening is supposed to be, the current opeing looks wide enough but not sure if its deep enough. Also only place I seen for gas fires is Heath * Hearth in Fonthill – anyone recommend anywhere else. I’m thinking of going up to Fireplaces direct in Drogheda at the weekend – does anyone know if they do the gas inserts?

Any suggestions would be great.
 
50 inches is quite narrow for a chimney breast alright as you'll find most ready made fireplaces and mantles are made to suit a 1350mm breast (which is not overly generous anyway). I think it would be a good idea to stud out and slab the ex. breast to achieve the dimensions you want- if you are happy that this won't overpower the room. I'm assuming the original fireplace had a 16" opening (the grate size); the standard width is now 18". If you go down this route you'll have maximum flexibility regarding selection of fireplace. While doing this you could also use the opportunity to incorporate additional lighting points/ sockets or tv/ telephone point in the new drylining.
 
Carpenter

Thanks for the reply very good point on getting extra sockets put in at the same time. There is ample room to expand without impacting on the layout of the room. Is it a big / very professional job to stud out and slab the ex. breast? and do you think the cost of €200-300 seems reasonable.
 
Hello

We have used Fireplaces Direct in Drogheda on a couple of occasions and have found them to have a great selection, reasonably priced and very efficient in terms of customer service and installation quality.

They do a good selection of gas inserts - we went for a 'solar' insert, which looks quite convincing. If you look at their website [broken link removed] they have some good details on inserts.

Hope this is of some help.

Best wishes
 
Last edited by a moderator:
MUM2KIDS said:
Carpenter

Thanks for the reply very good point on getting extra sockets put in at the same time. There is ample room to expand without impacting on the layout of the room. Is it a big / very professional job to stud out and slab the ex. breast? and do you think the cost of €200-300 seems reasonable.
Click to expand...

I think €200- 300 seems reasonable, I am assuming they will take adequate measures to prevent cracking at the junction of the new stud/ drylining and the existing plastered face. If you intend to have built in units fitted either side of the breast at any stage it might be a good idea to have extra timber grounds incorporated behind the dry lining for fixing purposes.
 
If the chimney breast is 54" then a 54" surround shuould work fine. While the shelf is 54" the main body is usually less, more like 50" so plenty of room to screw it to the chimney breast.

I'd say the standard opening is more like 16" in modern houses, it used to be 18" but most houses now have central heating etc. so the fire is not as important anymore.
 
plaudit said:
If the chimney breast is 54" then a 54" surround shuould work fine. While the shelf is 54" the main body is usually less, more like 50" so plenty of room to screw it to the chimney breast.

I'd say the standard opening is more like 16" in modern houses, it used to be 18" but most houses now have central heating etc. so the fire is not as important anymore.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, the grate may not actually be 18" but the fire back will be nearer 18" overall, based on a the fireplace recess being 1 block long, 18" or 450mm being the nominal length of a standard concrete block. Allowing for the thickness of the fire back each side of the recess the grate will be around 16".
 
Just an update when to Fireplace direct and can second the recommendations given. Best display of fireplaces I have come across and the sales people were very informative and helpful. As it is fireplace we are looking to get mantle is 54inc and the body is 50inc they advised it will fit the chimmey brest.
 
Ho wmuch do they charge to fit the fireplace? And do you know if they only deliver within a certain area?
 
We had a similar problem in our old house, the chimney was only 48 inches, and ended up getting a Kilkenny Living wooden mantle from Buckleys Fireplaces (I have no association other than customer). We checked with a lot of other places who said they wouldn't do a custom size, but they were able to size several we liked to our chimney breast, without any extra charge. One other place who said it could be done (BTW, all shops selling the same Kilkenny designs) but they were going to charge extra for it.
 
Flycon - the price includes delivery and fitting. Not sure how far they deliver to but I am in Lucan and there is no extra cost. They do charge €75 to remove and take away old fireplace if required.
 
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