log burner questions.... hearth and surround

Darlinbud

Hoping someone can advise me; info on the web is a little confussing!

We are putting a log burner in a new build extension. I am currently looking for a hearth but trying to work out what size we need is not easy.... the firebelly stove is 41.1cm width and 32.6cm depth. Building reg (I think but the document is quite confussing) require 15cm either side of the stove, 15cm behind stove and 22.5cm in front of stove. so I calculate that to mean I need a hearth a minimum of 70.1cm depth and 71.1cm width. However I have contacted a company who make hearths and he wanted me to check my measurments as hearths are normally 45cms depth by whatever width. I have re-read the building regs and can't see how I could use this size... does anyone have any experience or knowledge on this?

Next question is regarding the surround. We are unsure whether to leave the flue exposed or to build a fake chinmey breast. I have been told that we are allowed to build the chinmey brest with plaster board but am unsure what distance this needs to be away from the stove (will it be 15cm as per the hearth requirments??) and just on a cosmetic point of view do you think a square hearth of the size I mentioned will be too small for a fake chinmey breast?? or do you think exposed flue pipes are unslighly......

Again any advise gratefully listen too.

Darlinbud

anyone any advice??

Escal

Hoopefully someone more knowledgeable will advise but to get the ball rolling...
I would first check with whoever supplied the stove and see what they recommend for hearth size. They might even be the best source for a suitable one. Then phne your council building control or planning office, explain what you want and take their advice.
Boxing in the flue should be straightforward but leaving the flue exposed in the room can also look good and gives a bit more heat as well.
And using the same supplier for the stove and hearth means if something goes wrong - unlikely but you never know - only one company is to blame and their can be no buck passing between suppliers.
Good luck!

Gloomendoom

There is plenty of info out there on the interweb. Failing that, a visit to see you local building control will provide the answers.

Have a look at this

aa4466

I know it's a pain but you need to read the building regs again.

The first question is whether you need what is called a constructional hearth or not. If your stove is not going to sit in a recess (e.g. a fireplace or inglenook) and it has been independently certified that that stove will not make the temperature of the hearth more than 100 C then you can get away with placing the stove on a non-combustible sheet at least 12mm thick. Many stove shops sell glass panels for this purpose.

If you are placing the stove in a fireplace or inglenook type arrangement (or what the building regs call an appliance recess) then my understanding is that you must have a constructional hearth which is a great big thick thing often made of concrete but which may often have a "decorative hearth" of something like slate or marble on top of it. I am going to build a "fake" chimney breast in my new build and my reading of the regs is that it will count as a recess and so must have a constructional hearth. Given its thickness this will probably have to be part of the floor construction so talk to your builder.

Have a look at www.stovesonline.co.uk as they have loads of info on this on their website. Talk to the people who are selling you the stove as well as they should be able to give you advice.

I know this doesn't answer your question but there may be some more fundamental things that you need to answer first.

keith969

Your HETAS engineer who will install the stove will be able to ensure it complies with building regs - ask him.

The stove flue will get very hot. I somewhat doubt a plasterboard enclosure around it can be made sufficiently fire resistant to be safe. But again a qualified stove installer will be able to tell you.

Darlinbud

thank you for your replies, look do some more research and ask supliers etc...
xx

markandkate

In practical terms you need to ensure that anything that falls out of the stove is not going to fall on the carpet so you will need a hearth at least as wide as your door. I think its at least 14" from the front of the stove to the edge of the hearth. It does not matter too much what the hearth is made of as long as it is solid and inflammable. We have a concrete base with re claimed quarry tiles over the top. There are bricks on the front and hten the carpet goes up to the edge of the hearth.

Around the fire we have heat retaining board. it is white and can be easily painted as it will get scuffed regularly. You will need to leave space at each side particulalry if you are going to stack wood at the sides. You need to leave sufficient space so that the wood does not get hot as it can set on fire from the heat of the side of the stove