Fireplaces
Harris Quarries have been creating sumptuous fireplaces for over thirty years and do not mass produce. We do not even have names for our fireplaces. Every fireplace we make is made to measure and incorporates our experience with your design ideas. We offer a full survey and installation service ensuring our beautiful fireplaces form the perfect centre-piece for any residence, from period cottage to modern home.
Harris Quarries are dedicated to quality second to none, and all our fireplaces are entirely created out of natural stone and not cast using moulds and cement. All of our fireplaces are manufactured at our quarry by stone masons using an array of tools from a mallet and chisels, to modern electric power tolls and with eight different natural stones to choose from all we need is a photograph or even a rough sketch and we can make your dream a reality.
If you are looking for the perfect fireplace, to your own specifications, at a price that won’t break the bank, then look no farther. All Harris Quarries fireplaces are handmade bespoke works of art. We will come out to you, bring samples, photographs and once we have an idea of what you are wanting to achieve we will design, build and install your the fireplace of your dreams. With the choice of five different stones ranging from honey buff coloured Yorkstone to our coarse Banktop gritstone and with unlimited stone texture finishes you are sure to design the perfect fireplace for your home.
From concept to completion, A Fireplace Story
From concept to completion - A Fireplace Story
The initial survey for this job took a little over an hour with the customer already having pictures of what he had in mind.
One of the most important jobs is to make sure the fireplace fits on the chimney breast and does not look either too large or too small. There is a fine line between both and the best way to make sure it is done correctly the first time is to physically draw it on the wall.
When fitting a large stone fireplace...
...we usually allow one full day, starting at nine o’clock we can generally guarantee to be finished by five o’clock. The initial preparation can take a couple of hours as the rubbish found behind old fireplaces is amazing and can result in over twenty bags of rubble being removed before we can start to install.
Once all the dust has cleared and we have vacuumed the room, the hearth is laid level on a bed of mortar and left for 30 minutes to we have a good foundation on which to fit the fireplace.
Once the herth has cured enough...
...the legs are fitted, using either tile or plasterboard adhesive, once they are bonded to the wall steel brackets are fitted to the top of each leg and then fixed to the wall.
With the legs secured the back panel and side cheeks are installed so they just tuck in nicely behind the uprights showing no joint. The head is then lifted into place and again secured to the wall using both adhesive and steel brackets, usually three or four depending on the construction of the wall.
All that is left to do is fit the mantel and point up, a job that can take up to two hours. Depending on the type of stone we are fitting the pointing mix can either be soft grey sand and Portland cement or silver sand with white Portland cement.
The fireplace now requires some serious sponging down...
...with plenty of warm water to remove any cement residues that may be on it from the pointing. This usually needs doing about four or five times on the first day and thereafter as required depending on your own cleaning regime.
Once the fireplace has dried out thoroughly it will mature with the grain and colours in the stone showing there true beauty for years to come.
Natural sandstone fireplace with hand carved details. Avarage fitting cost £1450
Basic Natural sandstone fireplace with shaped hearth. Average fitting cost £1250
Natural gritstone fireplace. Customer designed and fitted. Supplied only cost £450
Basic Natural sandstone fireplace with square hearth and back panel. Average fitting cost £1050Why not get in touch?
If you would like to know more about the various different styles or shapes of fireplaces we can offer, then please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact details located at the top of this page or feel free to send us an online message using the contact form located here.