The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[WAslayer]

the price is there?

And surprisingly affordable..

 

[Steamy Tom]

And surprisingly affordable..

yeah much better than i expected.. though lets be honest here, it is not like even at that price that they arent making 60-80% markup from material costs at the very least.

 

[xrapidx]

yeah much better than i expected.. though lets be honest here, it is not like even at that price that they arent making 60-80% markup from material costs at the very least.

the price is there?

And surprisingly affordable..

Nah - that's just the installation cost... if you look at their other fireplaces, you'll see thats that standard install price that gets added to the unit price. From googling, I think the unit itself is 35-40k

 

[xrapidx]

Current shortist
Red font: Estimated price
Green highlight: WAF taken into account

 

[WAslayer]

Nah - that's just the installation cost... if you look at their other fireplaces, you'll see thats that standard install price that gets added to the unit price. From googling, I think the unit itself is 35-40k

Well, if you check it with a fireplace that has a price listed:

 

[xrapidx]

<snip>

So no installation or flue costs?

Try this one: https://firescience.co.za/index.php/product/heeta-600-lb/

Think some of the stuff just doesnt have complete data to generate the quotes.

 

[hellfire]

the price is there?

I'd be surprised if that price includes the actual oven.
Looks like installation price (based on getting mine installed last year)

 

[TedLasso]

I must have the worst fireplace ever. It's a Morsø as far as I can work out and when it's going at full whack, only seems to manage to heat the immediate area , but all the surrounding open plan areas such as dining room and lounge don't seem to get any real benefit. Total Area is probably around 100sqm.

Behind that wall, is a portable gas heater that we need to use to keep kitchen warm.

Wonder if it's due to the placement of it.

 

[xrapidx]

I must have the worst fireplace ever. It's a Morsø as far as I can work out and when it's going at full whack, only seems to manage to heat the immediate area , but all the surrounding open plan areas such as dining room and lounge don't seem to get any real benefit. Total Area is probably around 100sqm.

Behind that wall, is a portable gas heater that we need to use to keep kitchen warm.

Wonder if it's due to the placement of it. View attachment 846437

Interestingly, my parents have the exact same problem with a cast iron model.... You literally have to sit in front of it to feel the heat.

 

[hellfire]

Interestingly, my parents have the exact same problem with a cast iron model.... You literally have to sit in front of it to feel the heat.

Cast iron takes longer to heat up, but once it's going it should be great. Have your folks had the flue cleaned recently? Same question for @InternetLuddite.

 

[TheBadMadMan]

On the topic of fire places.

I am in the process of purchasing my 1st home.
The property has a chimney and a fireplace that has never been used. (ie. there is no firebox fitting inside the fireplace.)
I can confirm this to be true as there is absolutely NO SIGNS that fireplace has seen a fire in my lifetime.
The owner lived there for almost 50 years, sadly due to her husband's passing she needs to sell.
The house was initially built for a German man at the time according to German design/quality standards (read: very high quality workmanship).

My question:
What can I get to put inside of the fireplace that is NOT an open fire (ie. something that can close with a door)?
There is a beautiful creamy carpet in the living room and I would hate to have the fireplace spit little embers all over the place while it is burning in the background.
My main purpose would be to heat up the area during cold times and to add ambience.

Ideally I am looking for a cast iron type of fireplace with a door that can close off the exposed flame from the living room while exhausting into the existing chimney however obviously heat still has to radiate inside the living room.
Would a normal cast iron standalone fireplace fit inside this existing fireplace or is there a built-in fireplace model that has a glass door?

I feel like I might be rambling a bit here so let me know if something is unclear.

Thanks

 

[Düber]

On the topic of fire places.

There might be a reason there is nothing there.
Before getting to excited about anything, check that the chimney does actually draw, some newspaper works well without making a big mess.

 

[TheBadMadMan]

There might be a reason there is nothing there.
Before getting to excited about anything, check that the chimney does actually draw, some newspaper works well without making a big mess.

Appreciate the concern, the house next door is identical in every way except that it is a mirror of this house (Designed and built by same individuals at the time). The chimney is built the same and they have a functional fireplace.

But yes, I will do the newspaper test.

I asked the lady why they never used the fireplace, she said there was no need - most of the home, especially the living room is warm in winter and cool in summer (it's a north facing house with the living room on the north face)

 

[TedLasso]

Cast iron takes longer to heat up, but once it's going it should be great. Have your folks had the flue cleaned recently? Same question for @InternetLuddite.

@eehellfire it was last year with the fireplace also serviced but skipping it this year.

Brings up a good question, Ito insurance policies and possible incidents. With a fireplace, do we need to keep record of maintenance on them in case it leads to a fire causing damage to the house?

 

[maumau]

On the topic of fire places.

I am in the process of purchasing my 1st home.
The property has a chimney and a fireplace that has never been used. (ie. there is no firebox fitting inside the fireplace.)
I can confirm this to be true as there is absolutely NO SIGNS that fireplace has seen a fire in my lifetime.
The owner lived there for almost 50 years, sadly due to her husband's passing she needs to sell.
The house was initially built for a German man at the time according to German design/quality standards (read: very high quality workmanship).

My question:
What can I get to put inside of the fireplace that is NOT an open fire (ie. something that can close with a door)?
There is a beautiful creamy carpet in the living room and I would hate to have the fireplace spit little embers all over the place while it is burning in the background.
My main purpose would be to heat up the area during cold times and to add ambience.

Ideally I am looking for a cast iron type of fireplace with a door that can close off the exposed flame from the living room while exhausting into the existing chimney however obviously heat still has to radiate inside the living room.
Would a normal cast iron standalone fireplace fit inside this existing fireplace or is there a built-in fireplace model that has a glass door?

I feel like I might be rambling a bit here so let me know if something is unclear.

Thanks

Our fireplace looks as if it was never used but there was an anthracite heater there. They were all the rage.

 

[xrapidx]

Cast iron takes longer to heat up, but once it's going it should be great. Have your folks had the flue cleaned recently? Same question for @InternetLuddite.

It was a new unit, supplier says nothing is wrong. Rather annoying - I think its underspec'd for the house though.

 

[xrapidx]

Struggling with a decision here - where to place the fireplace.

Options are currently, where the fridge is - just centered.... Or in the corner, any opinions?

The corner makes placing the furinture around it easier - just wondering if it'll fit.

The plan is to have two single seater sofa/airchairs there...

Really like this: https://firescience.co.za/index.php/product/stomax/

Probably gonna cost my left testicle.

I can confirm its 41k

 

[The_Mowgs]

On the topic of fire places.

I am in the process of purchasing my 1st home.
The property has a chimney and a fireplace that has never been used. (ie. there is no firebox fitting inside the fireplace.)
I can confirm this to be true as there is absolutely NO SIGNS that fireplace has seen a fire in my lifetime.
The owner lived there for almost 50 years, sadly due to her husband's passing she needs to sell.
The house was initially built for a German man at the time according to German design/quality standards (read: very high quality workmanship).

My question:
What can I get to put inside of the fireplace that is NOT an open fire (ie. something that can close with a door)?
There is a beautiful creamy carpet in the living room and I would hate to have the fireplace spit little embers all over the place while it is burning in the background.
My main purpose would be to heat up the area during cold times and to add ambience.

Ideally I am looking for a cast iron type of fireplace with a door that can close off the exposed flame from the living room while exhausting into the existing chimney however obviously heat still has to radiate inside the living room.
Would a normal cast iron standalone fireplace fit inside this existing fireplace or is there a built-in fireplace model that has a glass door?

I feel like I might be rambling a bit here so let me know if something is unclear.

Thanks

I would not put anything in there. Get a grid type stand made which you put in front of the fireplace, the excited coals that jump at you for free hugs will just smash their faces into the grid...

If you really want to you can literally put anything in there that can fit...

- Micheal Scott

 

[Mars]

My fireplace is in the centre of a 90m2 area and it heats it perfectly. I would think that the location of the stove would be key if you are trying to heat a large area.

I think we paid a total of R18k for ours including everything.

 

[hellfire]

On the topic of fire places.

I am in the process of purchasing my 1st home.
The property has a chimney and a fireplace that has never been used. (ie. there is no firebox fitting inside the fireplace.)
I can confirm this to be true as there is absolutely NO SIGNS that fireplace has seen a fire in my lifetime.
The owner lived there for almost 50 years, sadly due to her husband's passing she needs to sell.
The house was initially built for a German man at the time according to German design/quality standards (read: very high quality workmanship).

My question:
What can I get to put inside of the fireplace that is NOT an open fire (ie. something that can close with a door)?
There is a beautiful creamy carpet in the living room and I would hate to have the fireplace spit little embers all over the place while it is burning in the background.
My main purpose would be to heat up the area during cold times and to add ambience.

Ideally I am looking for a cast iron type of fireplace with a door that can close off the exposed flame from the living room while exhausting into the existing chimney however obviously heat still has to radiate inside the living room.
Would a normal cast iron standalone fireplace fit inside this existing fireplace or is there a built-in fireplace model that has a glass door?

I feel like I might be rambling a bit here so let me know if something is unclear.

Thanks

You probably need the chimney checked for suitability.
Even at German quality standards and no usage, the parts can deteriorate over 50 years