Measuring guide
What to measure before you ask about a fireplace
You do not need to get this exact. A tape measure, a few clear photos and honest notes about the room are enough to start. We confirm the detail before anything is made.
Start with the wall
Stand facing the fireplace wall and take one photo straight on. Try to include the skirting, the ceiling line and a little of each side wall. This helps us see the scale of the room, not just the hole in the middle. Then take a second photo from further back, so we can see how the fireplace sits with the furniture, windows and floor.
If there is already a fireplace, do not remove it just to take measurements. The old surround, hearth and opening may show where the flue is, how deep the chimney breast is and what sort of fire has been used before. If the wall is blank, that is useful too. It tells us we may be looking at an electric fire, electric suite or a flat-wall surround rather than a conventional opening.
The measurements to send
For the first conversation, write the numbers down plainly. The chimney breast width is the full width of the projecting section of wall. The ceiling height tells us how tall the surround can be before it feels cramped. The opening width and height tell us what space the fire or chamber has to work with. The hearth depth tells us how far the stone can come into the room.
If there is a mantel, shelf or TV above the fireplace, measure the space around it. If the floor is uneven, if the skirting is deep, or if the chimney breast is not centred in the room, say so. Those details are normal in real houses. They are also the reason a made-to-measure fireplace often looks calmer than a standard surround fitted into a room it was not made for.
Chimney breast width
Measure the full width of the wall section that projects into the room.
Opening size
Measure the opening width and height if there is an existing fireplace or chamber.
Hearth depth
Measure how far the hearth comes forward, or how much floor space you can give it.
Ceiling height
Measure from floor to ceiling so the surround can be kept in scale.
Chimney breast or flat wall?
A chimney breast is the section of wall that projects forward around an old flue or fireplace opening. It gives a surround natural depth and usually suits a traditional fireplace layout. A flat wall has no projection. That does not rule out a fireplace, but it changes the answer. Electric fires and suites can work well on a flat wall because they do not need a chimney.
If you are not sure which you have, send the photos. We can usually tell from the room. Also tell us whether there is a gas supply, an old fire, a blocked opening, a TV point or a socket nearby. Do not move services or cut into the wall before speaking to us. The right first step is to understand the room, then decide what needs checking.
What happens after you send it
We use your photos and rough measurements to narrow the route. That might mean a marble fireplace with a gas fire, an electric fire in a made-to-measure surround, a stove with the right hearth, or a simpler stone surround for a room that already has the fire sorted. If something looks awkward, we will say so early.
Before the fireplace is made, the important sizes are confirmed. That is the point of the survey and measuring stage. Your job is not to do our job for us. Your job is to help us see the room clearly enough to start the right conversation. The process page explains what happens next, from survey through to fitting.
Common questions
Do my measurements need to be exact?
No. Rough measurements help the first conversation. The important sizes are confirmed before the fireplace is made.
What if I have a flat wall and no chimney breast?
Send straight-on photos of the wall and the full room. A flat wall can still work with an electric fire, suite or feature surround if the design suits the space.
Can I send a video instead of photos?
Photos are usually easier to measure from, but a short video can help show the room layout and access.
Should I remove the old fireplace first?
No. Speak to us before removing anything. The existing opening and hearth can tell us a lot about what is possible.
Ready to send the room?
Send photos, rough sizes and the fireplace style you like, or come into the showroom with them on your phone.