Ordering / Viewing

How do I order one of your Fireplaces?

Having chosen the marble or stone fireplace you want, often after discussion with us, you simply phone or email us. You cannot order one of our fireplaces online – this is a deliberate policy. We believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the products you choose will function in the way that you intend them to, adding value and beauty to your home – this is best achieved by careful discussion

See our article “Choosing a Fireplace”

When do I pay?

For bespoke pieces we ask for a small deposit at time of ordering. For standard products we ask that you pay prior to delivery– typically this is by credit card over the phone. We can accept cheque on delivery by prior arrangement
How quickly will you fulfil my fireplace order?

We carry around 300 marble and stone fireplaces in stock. This enables us to meet orders for standard models within 2 or 3 days. For bespoke sizes and/or designs the process takes around 12 weeks from order to delivery

Can I change my mind?

With the exception of unusual bespoke commissions you can change your mind at any time (within 7 days of delivery) and obtain a full refund – provided the products are returned to us in perfect condition. For unusual bespoke items you would forfeit the deposit if you changed your mind
If you were to change your mind we cannot be responsible in any way for consequential costs that you may incur
Obviously you cannot change your mind if the product has been installed

Do you have a showroom?

Yes – two. One located in The Old Cinema, 160 Chiswick High Rd, London W4 with 11 models on display and the other located in Hampshire with around 60 models on display (full details in our Contact section)

Do you have a brochure?

We no longer produce a printed brochure

Deliveries

Is there a cost for delivering one of your fireplaces?

Yes – deliveries in the UK are from £75+vat. Outside UK is by specific quotation

Do you deliver the fireplaces yourself or via a third party?

Throughout the south of England we deliver using our own vehicles and staff . We deliver the products unpacked ready for inspection and carry them into your home. Elsewhere we use respected third party carriers who will deliver to your home in a sealed crate. They are not insured to unpack or carry the fireplace into your home. Always sign for the delivery as UNCHECKED

Can I specify a date and time for delivery?

Both ourselves and the carriers can deliver on agreed dates. With the carriers we can narrow down to half days and with ourselves we’re able to offer very accurate time windows

What happens if the fireplace is damaged in transit?

For deliveries by carrier we insist you sign for the delivery unchecked. Thereafter if you discover damage we will rectify as swiftly as we’re able to
For deliveries that we make ourselves we invite you to inspect the unwrapped goods as they are delivered

We will always rectify any reasonable complaint

Guarantee

Is there a warranty?

Yes – our fireplaces are guaranteed free from defects except for the variations in colour, veining and fossilisation that occur naturally in marble and stone.

All our fireplaces are inspected in our overseas workshops and then once again in UK prior to shipping

Furthermore you have the right to change your mind at any time (prior to installation) for any reason (within 7 days of delivery) (see details in the fireplace ordering section)

We want to delight our customers with the beauty of our marble and stone fireplaces and the quality of our service

Installation

Do you offer a fireplace installation service?

We are happy to arrange the installation and manage the installation itself. However the installation is not carried out by our staff nor do we bill you

As we deliver fireplaces all over the UK we believe our customers’ best interests are served by our recommending qualified and experienced fitters with whom we have forged strong relationships

We will only recommend fitters who we believe will enhance our reputation by delivering an excellent service

We do not receive commissions or any other form of financial reward from fitters

How much does installation cost?

This will vary according to the complexity of the installation and the location. The best fitters carry out a survey before issuing a written quotation

Can I install your fireplaces myself?

We strongly recommend that fireplaces are fitted by experienced qualified professionals working subject to all relevant regulations – in particular GAS SAFE (for gas fires) and HETAS (for solid fuel fires)

Do you offer installation advice?

Yes – we are glad to pass on simple tips we’ve received from our recommended fitters

Materials

Are your fireplaces made from natural materials?

Yes – our fireplaces are carved from solid blocks of marble, limestone or sandstone. We never use reconstituted materials

These natural materials are lent character by the variations in colour, veining and grain

We use a wide variety of materials but our mainstays are limestone from Turkey and statuary white marble quarried in Hebei province near Beijing. Both are particularly suitable for the fine carving required in creating our fireplaces

Are your fireplaces hand carved?

Yes – each marble or stone fireplace is individually carved and polished by skilled craftsmen. Because of this no two fireplaces will be 100% the same. Some parts of the structure of the fireplace require accurate straight lines or right angles – this is achieved with precision tools

Are your fireplaces suitable for use with real fires?

Yes – both marble and limestone have been used to create fireplaces for hundreds of years

If you wish to keep the fireplace particularly clean it is worth sealing the stone with a specialist sealer (this will also help preserve against the damage from other stains)

The hearth on which the fireplace stands must have expansion joints if it is to be used with a solid fuel fire (see hearths).

See our article “An Appreciation of Marble, Slate, Stone and Granite” to find out more about the materials from which are fireplaces are made

Fitting

It is always best to use a qualified fireplace fitter to get a really professional finish but the following is a simple outline guide to the procedure:

Start with a clear site where the old fireplace, hearth and skirting boards have all been removed and be sure to have your chimney swept and smoke tested before installation.

Lay the hearth and make sure it is spirit level square to the floor. If the floor is not level use a little sand and cement to level. If you are intending to use solid fuel you need to get the hearth cut in to 3 x equal pieces before fitting to allow expansion joints and then infill the hollow space under the hearth with ballast. If you have chosen a white marble hearth make sure the ballast is also white. If you are installing a gas fire it is not necessary to cut the hearth as the heat is not so intense, but be sure to use a Corgi registered tradesman to connect the gas fire.

Measure the frieze and position the legs where you want them to be at either end of the frieze. (DO NOT ‘WALK’ THE LEGS ON THEIR CORNERS AS THE WEIGHT WILL CRACK THE CORNERS OFF THE MARBLE). When you are satisfied that the position is correct glue the legs to the wall using white bathroom tile adhesive or White Gripfill (in a yellow tube). You should also screw an eye in to the wall just behind each leg at the top, and wire the leg through the eye to make it 100% secure.

Lower the frieze in to position and glue it where it touches the legs.
Glue the mantelshelf on to the top remembering to also glue the back edge to the wall.
Slips can be used to frame the fire opening if you need to match the size of the opening to the opening in your wall, or use them as rebates to close the gap between the wall and the fireplace legs. You can also use ‘Fire Board’ to box out the fire/chimney recess and close the gap between the wall and the back of the fireplace legs.

Fitting a Marble Fireplace with a Cast Iron Arch

It is always best to use a qualified fireplace fitter to get a really professional finish but the following is a simple outline guide to the procedure:

Start with a clear site where the old fireplace, hearth and skirting boards have all been removed and be sure to have your chimney swept and smoke tested before installation.

Lay the hearth and make sure it is spirit level square to the floor. If the floor is not level use a little sand and cement to level. If you are intending to use solid fuel you need to get the hearth cut in to 3 x equal pieces before fitting to allow expansion joints and then infill the hollow space under the hearth with cement/ballast. If you have chosen a white marble hearth make sure the ballast is also white. If you are installing a Gas fire it is not necessary to cut the hearth as the heat is not so intense, but be sure to use a Corgi registered tradesman to connect the gas fire.

If you are installing a cast iron insert with your fireplace put this in to position on top of the hearth with the rear of the arch pushed back into the opening in the wall.

Measure the width of the frieze and position the legs where you want them to be at either side of the cast iron. (DO NOT ‘WALK’ THE LEGS ON THEIR CORNERS AS THE WEIGHT WILL CRACK THE CORNERS OFF THE MARBLE). When you are satisfied that the position is correct glue the legs to the wall using white bathroom tile adhesive or White Gripfill (in a yellow tube). You should also screw an eye in to the wall just behind each leg at the top, and tie the leg with copper wire through the eye to make it 100% secure. Take hold of the cast iron insert and move it forward (towards you and away from the wall) until it touches the back of the legs of the marble, you will have a gap of several inches between the back of the cast iron and the wall. Now infill the gap between the back of the cast iron and the wall with ‘Rockwool’ or similar fire resistant insulation. You must pack this in as compact as possible down the back of each leg between the cast iron and the wall. Similarly pack the ‘Rockwool’ across the top of the arch and then seal across the top of the ‘Rockwool’ with cement which will hold the cast iron in position when it is dry.

Lower the frieze in to position and glue it where it touches the marble legs.
Glue the mantelshelf on to the top remembering to also glue the back edge to the wall.
Infill the void between the back of the cast iron arch and the chimney recess with brick rubble/cement/vermiculate up to the level of the base of the small semi-circular damper plate.

If you have any questions please call us on 01730 897600, we are very helpful and will be glad to answer your questions and offer advice.