Any idea on what it would take to reno these FPs?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

We are looking for an old house in Connecticut. But this one that we like in Deep River has every fireplace either boarded up or radiator stuck in the middle of it. Totally get trying to stay warm..but such an eyesore to us

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. Listing

What do you think of this 4 bds • 3 ba • 2,743 sqft home I found on Zillow? https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/37-High-St-Deep-River-CT-06417/58844805_zpid/?utm_medium=referral

[MerryHolidays]

2. The house "has potential"

Really mean it...if you and your family, along with handyman are willing to put in the sweat equity, I think you can make it really nice.

See if a general contractor can come out and meet you at the place to give you a rough estimate before you place an offer.

Handymen who know what they are doing a great. They can be so much cheaper than "professionals". Of course for things like electrical and plumbing work, licensed contractors are the only way to go. I sometimes work with our handymen to share in the labor and make things go quicker.

Obviously, get an inspector to make sure there are no major structural or infrastructural issues. If it's cosmetic, I could easily see this becoming a dream home.

[Kali]

5. that sun room in pic #7!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. You could do a gas insert with a new flex liner.

Is natural gas available?

But what do you do with the radiators? Maybe move to baseboard heat.

I’m a big fan of ductless mini split units.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Thanks so much for links! Yes... We guessed switch to baseboard system.

Frankly all radiators need to be replaced... Maybe ? And agree on ductless mini splits. Afraid with kitchen bath and heating/air systems would be way too much. Although house on picture perfect street in picture perfect town. Plus if you live there you get a free boat slip on river leading to LI sound.

[Kali]

4. kind of looks more like mantels installed around the radiators

not actual fireplaces.

[gab13by13]

6. Yeah they aren't fireplaces

they are on inside walls.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. This one too?

[Kali]

11. there can be interior fireplaces - more efficient for heating house

but those walls don't look thick enough to me

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. I started to type that about the one by the stairs but I couldn't tell ...

… if that was wall behind the door jamb or the jamb itself.

If those are fake then all the better. Install some direct vent gas fireplaces on outside walls.

I would ditch those radiators and go with conventional hvac on the first floor - staged in the basement. Then maybe mini splits on the second floor or a small furnace and a/c with boxed in ducts in a soffit

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. But two fireplaces. May be just those smaller coal

ones?

[Kali]

13. how many total "fireplaces?"

at most with two chimneys on interior walls there could be two per chimney and per floor. so maybe 4?

I don't know anything about coal fireplaces but maybe. (and husband is the mason who actually knows anything LOL) it is interesting.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. Good question. This one looks legit

Have to be the ugliest one of the bunch LOL

What is that ? some kind of video screen ??

[LakeArenal]

7. Are there Amish construction workers there.

Where we lived they knew about chimneys and such.

Existing ones probably need new liners.

Historic Homes. I used to work on the historic preservation society You probably should ask them.
Probably aren’t the first chimney revival they have seen.

Edit again: can I rent the space above the garage?

Edit 3 What a beautiful home and close to e
Very thing. Good luck!!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. Lol!!! I think my husband loves out-buildings more than he loves me

Carriage house overlooking pond sounds so romantic. Until you look at dirt floor pics

Yes! You need a little pied a terre for quick escapes to US!

[Scrivener7]

9. Wow. That's beautiful.

[blueinredohio]

15. The second picture looks like

that's a fake fireplace nailed to the wall over the radiator.

[Warpy]

17. Oooks like a false fireplace

They were put into working class housing in the 1920s-30s so there would be a cheap mantelpiece for the photos and knickknacks but that's all they were. They weren't boarded up because there was no firebox or flue.

The giveaway is the hallway/stairwelll on the other side of the wall.

What you can do with these things is recycle the mantelpiece, either taking it out completely or using it with a prefab firebox on an exterior wall, either for a wood or gas fireplace.

(They thought they were being clever by installing an actual heat source in the false fireplace, go figure)