Wednesday 16 February 2011

The saga of the fireplace

In the beginning, there was this...



It was here when we bought the house and I've hated it since the day we moved in. It wasn't even straight!

Then, back in November...



out came the fire, revealing the long defunct and disconnected back boiler.

It's probably occuring to you that a lot of time has passed between November and now, and you're right! I won't bore you with the full saga of the delayed and incorrect deliveries resulting in the returned fire, resulting in starting all over again. Nor will I harp on about the wrongly sized hole! Suffice it to say that the stages gradually moved on

The hole was prepared



The chimney around the flue was stuffed with rockwool and covered with a securing plate. (Note to self, never ever touch rockwool again! Even the thought of the stuff is making me itch!)


Scratch, scratch, scratch,  scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scraaaaaaaaaaaatch - ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!  scratch, scratch...

This time, it fits!!!


And finally, yesterday, it was fitted!



And it works!


Obviously, the next step will be to decorate the chimney breast, but after that, I'm declaring war on that disgusting carpet! I've hated it since the day we moved in...

8 comments:

  1. Nothing like making one improvement to find there's a few more things awaiting their turn in the wings!


    Your new grate looks marvellous, H and I'm sure you'll be thrilled with your new carpet, too. A bit of redecorating is as good as a holiday as far as I'm concerned.

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  2. You must be feeling very cosy.
    The carpet? I'm always surprised at how happy I am with some old thing when I've had a longed-for improvement on another old thing. It's like a new lease on life.

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  3. Well, after all the waiting you new fireplace looks wonderful! I remember when we first moved in here I longed to change the fireplace and patterned carpet - it did get done eventually:)

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  4. In the beginning was a coal fire maybe, but that was before your time. You tell a story very well with words and especially pictures. You would make a good school teacher. Good luck with the carpet. In Canada only the old folk want carpets, The young folk go for silent black cork or shiny noisy wood floors.
    Not that we are implying you are old. Not at all. Not one bit.....

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  5. Michael and Hanne - So lovely to have it confirmed that I am not old. I said I was 'declaring war' on my carpet, but guess what... you know those shiny wooden floors!! (I'm going to compare prices at least. If it proves MUCH more expensive, I may yet settle for a new carpet.)

    Meanwhile, thank you for your kind words. Maybe I should consider teaching in some shape or form :p

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  6. Congratulations! It's looks fantastic and I bet it feels toasty!

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  7. Ooh, looks so cosy. There were some things in this house that I hated at the beginning but have lived with for so long (lack of funds!) that I've learned to like them! Sad...

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  8. It came out so well. Too bad it took so long to get it the way you wanted. I kinda like the carpet in an oddly amused sort of way. :P

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