|
News & Info
|
 |
 |
Seller Signup...
Quality Service, Seller or Tradesperson? Sign Up Now!
|
|
Home & Garden Articles
Choosing the Perfect Restored Or Antique Fireplace For Your Home
Tue 03 Mar 2009 - 08:01
Choosing the Perfect Restored Or Antique Fireplace For Your Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Crutchley]Matthew Crutchley
Choosing a fireplace that is sympathetic to the age and style of the house, and is in keeping with the size and feel of the room is very important.
Fireplaces have always been an essential element in the home. From early beginnings when cave men huddled around an open fire to keep warm to the elaborate carved chimney pieces that adorned Georgian and Victorian grand houses. The emphasis today has switched from being purely a means of heat source to becoming an essential piece of furniture in a room. The fireplace now needs to integrate with the rest of the room furnishings and at the same time give feeling that is original to the property.
With the current fashion for more simple and uncluttered interiors it is encouraging to hear from companies that specialize in restoring and selling antique fireplaces explaining how original period features such as fireplaces can be successfully incorporated into modern interior design.
Reputable companies specializing in the restoration of and selling of antique fireplaces will have expertise covering all areas from cast iron, wood, slate, stone and marble work. They will stress that all the different periods incorporate important differences and these need to be considered to ensure any restoration work is authentic.
Many people when looking for a fireplace are concerned with the size of the opening, but the most important consideration is to select a fireplace, which is compatible with the size of the room. The opening in the chimney breast can easily be altered at the fitting stage.
We must sound a cautionary note when asked about the possibility of purchasing unrestored antique fireplaces from reclamation yards or a non-specialist source. Pointing out that unrestored fireplaces often have component parts missing which may not be immediately obvious and can often prove impossible to find suitable replacement parts and thus render the purchase an expensive mistake. Another example is marble surrounds that are stained, certain stains can prove notoriously difficult, if not impossible to remove. A marble surround that has gone sugary and has lost its strength should also be avoided at all costs. It may just crack during transportation or fitting, this can usually be detected by tapping it. A hollow sound is telling you it is in poor condition and should be ignored.
Many reputable companies selling antique fireplaces also offer a full restoration service so if you have an existing fireplace, which you would love to have restored to its former glory, please contact them. An email with photos would enable them to give you an estimate of the costs involved.
Most reputable companies will stock a vast array of fireplaces including elegant carved Georgian fireplaces, cast iron hob grates, impressive Victorian and Edwardian fireplaces, distinctive Art Nouveau and classic Art Deco. Everything you could ever need weather you have a small Victorian terraced house or a grand Georgian hall, they are sure to have something to suit, including accessories such as fenders, coal buckets and fire tools.
All antique fireplaces are naturally suitable for solid fuel but can be adapted for a living flame gas fire and they can be custom made to suit most sizes and shape of grates. Equally important is the fact that it is a legal requirement to have all fireplaces fitted by a HETAS recognised engineer for solid fuel appliances and CORGI registered engineer for gas appliances. This has added significance when it is realised when it is realised that the new HIPS packs, which house sellers will have to provide on selling a property, will need to contain the necessary certificates appertaining to any fireplaces installed.
Most reputable companies work closely with experienced and qualified CORGI and HEATAS specialist fitting firms and arrangements can be made to deliver fireplaces anywhere in the U.K and overseas.
For more information on [http://www.britainsheritage.co.uk]antique fireplaces please visit [http://www.britainsheritage.co.uk]Britain's Heritage
Matthew Crutchley is a developer. He spends his time researching locations and accommodations for his travel marketing business and writing articles about his favorite places.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Crutchley http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-the-Perfect-Restored-Or-Antique-Fireplace-For-Your-Home&id=2000955
Looking for information on Renovating & Restoring, Find a supplier at HomeWise.ie
back to Renovating & Restoring articles
back to all home & garden articles
|
|