Installing a fire in the lounge

IvorBiggun

Hi

We are going to get the house refurbished soon, rip out the artex, polystyrene tiles etc that are there and get the whole lot replastered and refurbished.

As part of this I would love to have a fire in the lounge which would otherwise be pretty featureless (this is purely because I like fires and to create a focal point; I do not need the heat but the radiators have thermostatic valves).

There is no gas supply near the lounge but electric is obviously close by. There is no chimney at present and the fire would sit under a single storey flat roofed extension.

I have had a quick look online and it looks like a wood burner is my best bet. Not too much mess, looks like the flue can be hidden behind a false chimney breast and seems much safer than an open fire. I like the inset ones that create a "window" effect e.g. http://www.ukstoves.co.uk/product/4.3kw_Uniq_35_Inset_Multi_Fuel_Stove

Can any builder tackle this job or should I get the builders to finish the lounge in plaster then get a wood burner installer to build the chimney, sort out the flat roof and install the fire?

There seems to be a lot of regulations, building control etc. most of which I am not aware of.

Any advice appreciated.

Ectophile

Building Regulations Part J applies to all solid fuel burners. There are all sorts of rules as to the siting and design of flues. Also watch out for combustible materials in the vicinity of the burner.

A HETAS installer is allowed to sign off the work themselves. If you get anyone else to do it, then it needs signing off by the local council's building control.

rustyboy21

By the time you have bought the inset fire, built a proper Class 1 flue, possibly fitted a liner and built a false chimney breast, you would have bought and fitted a balanced flue fire with a surround and got the run of gas pipe to the fire done for 1/2 the price.


You are also dependant on how the flue will draw off a single storey extension. You have to have decent clearances for the flue to pull.


I would suggest speaking to your local fireplace retailer and maybe paying him to come out and survey, to find out what can be done. I would say though that a gas run and fire/fireplace will work out a lot cheaper than what you are looking at doing. That inset stove, as a guestimate will be £600+ just for the fire. You will also have the issue of cracking plaster permanently if you fit it as it is shown.

silvasava

Or you could have an electric flicker flame fire as its just as a focal point???

lee111s

How about a log burner?

IvorBiggun

Electric flicker flame is out as is gas as I really want a real fire that you stick logs into.

What's the difference between a log burner and a wood burner?

Ectophile

IvorBiggun wrote: »

What's the difference between a log burner and a wood burner?

None at all. There are wood burners, and there are multi-fuel stoves that can burn either wood or smokeless coal.

rustyboy21

If you are adamant that you want a wood burner and have it fitted like the picture you have linked to, just be aware that the plaster may crack and blow with the heat.


You could try lining the wall with fibreglass wallpaper when you have it plastered. This sets like concrete when it dries so should stop the cracks showing through. The plainest you can get is a hessian weave. Its expensive, but worth the money cosmetically.


We use it on the large sunken in gas fires, which need false chimney breasts built around them. They give out 9-16kw so it should be ok for that fire you have your eye on.




Speak to a HETAS guy first before buying the fire. He will tell you what you need to do, but be prepared for an expensive do with the flue liner, it may need to be rigid twin wall and higher than the house's roof if there is no air circulation.

Davesnave

IvorBiggun wrote: »

I really want a real fire that you stick logs into.

What's the difference between a log burner and a wood burner?

Why?

Unless you have a good supply of free or cheap wood, there is very little in it, except the mess, of course. Lots of dust with a real fire. Extra storage demands too, as wood is rarely delivered fit to burn.

A wood burner usually sits there with the door shut, making it look exactly like a gas fire with fake coals or logs.

I've had both, and although I now run a wood burner, it's only because I have a cheap source of fuel and no gas option, except bottled.

If there was a mains gas supply here, it would be a no brainer.

Hintza

Did you say the fire would be on a single storey extension?

If so you might need the chimney to be higher than the highest point of the house (you will need to check regulations). Which would be very unsightly.

Are you allowed a fire?

rustyboy21

Hi OP


As I and other posters have said, if you are fitting the stove in the extension, you may/will need to ensure the flue terminal is above the height of the existing house. This will need to be twin wall rigid. It will need to go on the wall of the house, not on the far extension wall, as you will not be able to support the pipe up to the possibly 12 m height.


To give you an idea, see link below. Working on 12m of pipe, to give you an example, would work out just for the 10 x 1200mm straights £1333 supply only. You would then need clamps, wall ties, reducers, cowl etc. http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/wood_burning_stoves/Selkirk-flue.html


It will look like you have opened a Chippy in your extension!


With the price of everything together, you could get something like this fitted for a similar price, maybe even a lot cheaper.
http://www.faberfireplaces.co.uk/site/default.asp?land=uk&subject=product&keuze=Gashaarden&categorie=Freestanding&naam=Jelling
Or this http://www.faberfireplaces.co.uk/site/default.asp?land=uk&subject=product&keuze=Gashaarden&categorie=Built%2Din&naam=Fyn+450

That can just go up 1m then out the outside wall. You really need to get a HETAS guy out to survey and give you a price. It is not as easy as just sticking a pipe out the roof of the extension and job done.