Do you still have a fireplace in your lounge.

I cannot access replies but I love reading your posts. Thank you

Oh dear, I’ve just read a very depressing article which says the only environmentally friendly fire is the kind you play on your TV screen! All others are polluting and dangerous.

Yes! When I was in Switzerland, last winter, I coudn't have my window open at night, because the smell of burning from everyones fires was so strong. It really stunk.

SueDonim If it is the article I have just read, I think it was written by someone who has never lived outside a gas supply area or anywhere other than in an urban home surrounded by other homes and tarmac where the winter temperature is 5 degrees warmer than any surrounding countryside. They seemed totally unaware that many people use wood burners to keep warm, or as back-up for other less reliable heating systems,

Two winters ago we went 2 weeks without gas and had an unreliable gas supply for several months. We were reliant on our wood stove for warmth. We also get regular power cuts and again the wood stove is a boon. For other it is a question of economy becaue they get free wood in some form.

Several urban friends and family have electric glow-effect stoves, but at least half the elctricity consumed by a glo effect fire or tv screen is made from gas.

I do agree that solid fuel stoves have no place in built up areas, where there are already severe air pollution problems.

Yes, I agree, Monica. Some of us use fires/stoves to actually keep warm! We are rural and we were without a boiler for a month in Jan/Feb this year. I don’t know what we’d have done without the fire, as it coincided with a bitterly cold spell, where daytime temps didn’t rise above minus eleven on some days and were down at minus seventeen at night. ? The fire and the kettle kept us going.

We have an early 1930s property with the original fireplace. The previous owners had put hardboard over the fireplace and when we removed it we found it had beautiful lustre tiles in just the colours to suit our colour scheme. We installed a wood burner on which we can burn either wood or coal.

We have never had an open fireplace; few Danish houses do, but we have a wood burning stove in our combined kitchen and dining-room, which we wouldn't be without.

A modern one, fulfilling all the regulations for filtering dangerous particles out of smoke, I may say.

Moved to new build 12 years ago. Previously always had a fire place of some sort, husband crafting some. New house, new fire place created. Two years ago DS moved into a new build that has a "nook" in kitchen diner. Decided at that time to go modern, change sitting room and remove fire place. Ds snapped it up. Made in beautiful wood by DH. Complete with lights, and electric fire. Two years later everytime I visit and see the fire I wished I had kept it.

We're about to move house which has something similar to yours & I can't wait to get rid of it - sorry! X They are outdated I feel, but others might like them. We have an open, brick fireplace at the mo, no fire, I have candles in it & like it, lol

Oops a daisy Ouch!! Are you in the south? Our sweep costs £60 to do an open fire and a log burning stove and is a font of information every time he comes.

How is he going to go down the chimney ? You will have to put a big sign on your roof so that he does not or he will get stuck !

Bikergran see 13:50 reply.

I think a room with a fireplace looks great. This is a focus point to create cosy in the Winter, and pretty in the Spring, and Summer. I have a fireplace, but don't use it to burn logs etc. I have a artificial logs glow fitted in the space, it has 3 heat settings if I need extra heat but I never have to use it as I find the radiators are sufficient, I have a bowl of Pine cones on the hearth and a small brass cat curled up on the other side of the fireplace. It is so cosy to walk in from the cold and flick the switch to warm orange flickering flames. In Spring I put small vases of flowers on the hearth which enhance it. Of course at Xmas a fireplace looks wonderful with bunches of holly and any other festive item. A home without a fireplace is dead. Do keep it.

I really like my fireplace, it’s a feature for the room. It also gets used on really chilly, damp days and looks very cosy at those times. Perhaps it’s a little old fashioned as it’s been in about 24 years, but I don’t care about that. I’m not keen on some of the more modern ones, but I suppose I like things a little more traditional, complete with mantel piece. My taste wouldn’t suit some. We have it serviced annually. I certainly wouldn’t have it removed completely, but there will come a day when it has to be updated as spare parts become obsolete.

I asked advice re coal v coal effect gas on GN last year and took the plunge to change. DH was finding it too much to lay and clear out fire so we rarely used it, Like the alternative and wouldn’t want to be without fireplace of some sort.

Here’s my stove, too warm unless it’s very cold now we have updated our boiler.

I think this is from last winter.

I love my fireplace and my stove, and love my log store too, especially when they are full of logs!

I love the pictures of fireplaces.I like mine,can't imagine not having it as a focal point.But I think the best option,as Katyj says,if I got rid of it,is to have a wall mounted tv,then that could be the focal point.

I'm in a new build and really miss a fireplace. So much so that I'm thinking of putting in a fake chimney breast and fireplace

No mantelpiece, just a grate

I remember the seagull too!

I think a fireplace looks cosy but if I had a small sitting room I would get rid or find something very small to replace it, possibly a wall inset.

I have a fireplace from 1918. I can't take it out as this is a listed building. It has been capped for safety reasons so no fire for me ?
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I love you fireplace. There’s nothing nicer than having a real cosy fire on a dreich wet night. The central heating is more than adequate but a living fire is so cheering.

We had a fireplace exactly until 2020. There were heavy rains and the roof was damaged, water flooded the fireplace and there was apparently some non-water resistant material covering the fireplace itself and it deteriorated, now we have to redo it and I don't know what I would do if our roof was not fixed or badly fixed! It's appliances, things, fresh new renovations in the house, thank goodness there are good and conscientious roof repair services.

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