How to stage your home: The fireplace is invariably the main focal point in a reception room, so replacing or revamping a fireplace is often on the to-do list for homeowners in advance of putting their houses on the market.
While not exactly rocket science, choosing a fireplace can be a bit of a minefield. The people at Belle Cheminée on Dublin's Capel Street have handy fireplace shopping tips on its revamped website (bellecheminee.com).
If you are undertaking major alternation work on your home, try to leave an opening of 36 inches by 36 inches, which will make it easy to fit any size fireplace. If you are fitting wooden floors, try to have your fireplace fitted first to ensure the hearth stands at the correct height for the floor. It will also reduce the risk of damaging your floors.
As a rough estimate, Belle Cheminée advises that a fireplace should stand at half the ceiling height. When going fireplace shopping make sure to have the following measurements : ceiling height, width of chimney breast and size of the room.
Some handy tips for cleaning different types of fireplaces can also be found on the website. Rule number one is to always do a patch test in an inconspicuous area to make sure no bleaching takes place.
Marble should be washed with washing-up liquid, Belle Chiminée advises, and then polished. Make sure you buy the right type of polish for your fireplace - whether it is a matt or glossy finish.
Cast iron fireplaces should be cleaned with one of the many cast-iron cleaning products available from fireplace shops. Before cleaning remove all rust patches.
Slate can be cleaned with baby oil or 3-in-1 oil. Ceramic tiles can be cleaned with washing-up liquid. Never apply a damp cloth to the tiles while they are still hot as it may cause cracking.
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