A fireplace is often the heart of a home, serving not only as a functional feature but also as a focal point that brings warmth, ambience and character to any room. With the right combination of repairs, aesthetic updates, and efficiency improvements, a fireplace restoration is an investment that can bring long lasting rewards.
Before diving into the specifics of fireplace restoration, it’s important to understand the benefits of restoring your fireplace rather than replacing it. Restoring an existing fireplace can:
- Preserve the home’s character: Original fireplaces often carry unique elements and features that will retain the authenticity of your period property.
- Increase home value: A beautifully restored fireplace is a desirable feature for potential buyers, adding both visual appeal and practical function.
- Save money: Restoring a fireplace may be more cost-effective than tearing it down and starting over, especially if you have an original or antique model.
- Improve efficiency: Many older fireplaces are inefficient, leading to heat loss. Restoration can improve the fireplace’s performance, providing better heat retention and lowering energy bills.
Restoring Aesthetics
At Stonewoods, we are passionate about keeping history alive. Back in the old days, having a beautiful fireplace symbolised prosperity and the honest craftmanship and effort put into manufacturing each unique piece should not be forgotten. We restore antique marble mantels as well as original slate surrounds, our expert stone mason can breathe a new life into any fireplace, filling in any cracks and reviving the finish.
We also restore original cast iron inserts and combinations, as well as antique fire baskets and hob grates. Some of our antique cast iron inserts come with the original tiles, which have been cleaned and restored to the highest possible standard. We have a selection of “ready to go” antique fireplaces and we also have a vast collection of surrounds and inserts, waiting to be restored to our customer’s specific requirements with regards to the finish. We blast and black, we highlight, we polish. We can provide templated/ bespoke parts where the original elements have been damaged or have gone missing, lost in time. We supply and fit templated hearths which allow for sprucing up the existing fireplace in your home, without the necessity of removing it.
Fireplace Performance and Efficiency
We can supply and install a made to measure decorative gas fire to suit a vast majority of original cast iron inserts, combinations and fire baskets so that you can have a working fireplace using the existing chimney. No chimney? Talk to us about transforming your existing fireplace into a bioethanol fire, which requires no flue as there are no harmful products of combustion.
For an effective heating solution, why not combine an original stone mantel with a solid fuel or a gas stove, or a high efficiency glass fronted gas fire. The original aesthetic features of your fireplace can be retained and enhanced by adding a modern appliance, preventing heat loss and maximising the functionality. Preserving history does not need to compromise using the latest technology, you can have the best of both worlds.
Visit our showroom to see our collection of restored antique fireplaces or please email us some photos to info@stonewoods.co.uk to discuss your existing fireplace restoration requirements and we will be happy to help.