fireplace restoration

Tristan Rowe, director of luxury heating brand Chesneys, tells us all about revamping a fire

There are many signs that a period fireplace may need restoring. Usually it will be obvious, such as when pieces are cracked or missing, but in the case of marble, it can sometimes not be so clear as it may suffer from ‘sugaring’, which is where the marble calcifies and crumbles into what looks like sandy grains of sugar. This is common with white marble in particular and these pieces usually need replacing. Firstly, an assessment of what the work is needs to be carried out. Is the work purely cosmetic? Are there missing tiles? One of the first things to do if the fireplace is open is to get a registered chimney sweep to see if the flue is sound.

If pieces are missing from the fireplace, take a photo and ask a fireplace company if these pieces are available. Check if the fireplace is securely fixed to the wall – a gentle tapping with the heel of your hand will let you know if there is any vibration. If there is, get a fireplace installer in to refix and get further advice.

Overpainting is a typical problem that can usually be dealt with by stripping with a product like Peelaway, which is effective at removing multiple coats of paint, but I would recommend that if the fireplace is marble or stone to seek the advice of a fireplace restoration company.

If there are cracked or missing tiles in the hearth area, they can be replaced but it’s very difficult to find identical replacements for old period tiles. If the tiles are inside the cast-iron register grate, then they need to be removed by a fireplace expert – it’s not something for the DIYER.

Choosing the right surround depends on the building’s style or era, so it is worth doing your research. The fireplace shelf should not fill the width of the chimney breast. There should be at least an inch each side and the height should typically be no less than a third or no more than half the height of a room.

The cost of restoring a period fireplace varies greatly.

A professional will typically charge anything from £350 for a small job to £3,000 for lengthy and detailed restoration.

Everything to do with fireplaces is covered under Approved Document J of Building Regulations.

Where you live will determine what fuel is okay to burn.

Most major cities in the UK are governed by smoke control orders, which means unless you are using a Department For Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) exempt appliance, you can only use smokeless fuel.