A home extension or renovation is the perfect chance to create the living space you have always wanted. Most people plan the layout, the kitchen and the glazing in detail. The fireplace is often left until the end, when it is harder and more expensive to add.
Planning it in from the start gives you more choice, a better finish and fewer surprises. This guide explains what to think about before the builders arrive.
Step 1: Plan the extension properly
A good extension starts with a clear plan and an experienced builder. Rear, side-return and wraparound extensions can transform how a home works. Garage conversions and full renovations can unlock space you already have.
Choose a builder who handles the whole process, from drawings and building control to planning and party wall notices. That way you deal with one team, and features like a fireplace are designed in, not squeezed in later.
Ascent Builders has delivered house extensions in Surrey and South London since 2004. After a free home visit, it gives a fixed price and manages the project from start to finish.
Step 2: Decide where the fireplace will go
A fireplace works best as a natural focal point. Common spots include the end wall of a new family room, or a chimney breast in a knocked-through living space. Think about where seating and the TV will go, so the room does not end up with two competing focal points.
Tell your builder early. They can allow for the structure, the hearth and any flue or ventilation while the walls are still open.
Step 3: Choose the right type of fire
The type of fire you choose affects what the builder needs to do.
- Electric fires need no chimney or flue, only a power supply. They are the simplest choice for new extensions.
- Gas fires need a gas supply and a suitable flue, and must be fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Solid fuel fires need a chimney or a proper flue system, plus a non-combustible hearth.
Step 4: Pick a surround that suits the space
The surround is what makes a fireplace feel part of the room. A modern extension often suits clean lines in stone or marble, while a period renovation may call for cast iron or carved wood.
Fireplaces4Life manufactures surrounds in the UK in marble, stone, wood and cast iron. It also supplies electric and gas fires, hearths and back panels, delivered free to mainland UK, so you can match the fire to your new space.
Your planning checklist
- Choose an experienced builder who manages the whole project.
- Decide where the fireplace will sit before the plans are final.
- Pick electric, gas or solid fuel, and tell your builder early.
- Choose a surround that suits the style of the new room.
Get these steps right, and your new space will have a warm, welcoming centrepiece from the day it is finished.
