help damsel in distress with a log burner!!!

[horsemadmummy]

I have been given an inset woodburner for my dining room and I want to put into the chimney that is currently boarded up. I know the chimney is sound as it was used as the flue for an old rayburn when we moved into our house. Question:

It says that the burner is designed to fit a standard 16 x 22 opening and talks about a fireback. The opening which is boarded up is larger 23 x 33.

Do I need to get a fire back and if so where can I get one? or can I just cut a hole in the plaster the right size and insert it maybe sealing with fire cement.

Can anyone help me as I'd like to try and put it in before the snow arrives!!!

Thanks

 

[big-all]

heeelllooo and welcome horsemadmummy

you need to employ the services off a hetas engineer
or involve building control and comply with building regulations
ritchard c will be along with his great guide later

 

[horsemadmummy]

we know the chimney is lined as our sweep told us (we had it swept while using our rayburn) so we are not altering adding or anything else to our chimney which is working fine. we are simply swapping one appliance for another. I have looked at approved document j and I cannot see what will lead us to needing approval as the chimney has been in constant use. We are about to have it swept again surely it must be quite a simple job as lots of people seem to do it and in the current price of oil and electricity who can blame them.

 

[big-all]

the installation must be passed fit for purpose
it needs to be certified
when you have an accident and burn the floor the first question your insurance will ask "can we see the installation certificate please" you haven't got one ooodear sorry your not insured

 

[horsemadmummy]

understand what you are saying but hard to burn a limestone floor which is what all the floors are and as we purchased a property which had been empty for 2 years and was a probate sale (and we were given no certificates for anything) how would anyone know when it was installed and by whom? I could always just get building controls to approve it surely?

 

[masona]

understand what you are saying but hard to burn a limestone floor which is what all the floors are

Yes but depends what the limestone is bedded on and carbon monoxide is a risk if your stove is not fitted correctly,

the hearth must be at least 250mm thick (unless the stove is approved for 12mm hearth) if you are installing the hearth onto a non combustible floor e.g concrete floor then the overall thickness can be 250mm. For example if the non combustible floor is made from 100mm of concreate then you have have a slate hearth of 150mm to make up the 250mm required.

we purchased a property which had been empty for 2 years and was a probate (and we were given no certificates for anything) how would anyone know when it was installed and by whom? I could always just get building controls to approve it surely?

Ok, at the end of the day you will need a certificate for your stove, I was lucky when I fitted my own stove and got a Hetas guy to signed it off for £60 but generally speaking most of them won't do it unless they take on the job, however my BCO wanted £400 just to sign it off plus up to 8 weeks. Don't be put off as it's normally straight forward job but your best bet is to a get a Hetas guy round for their free advice and take it from there, remember carbon monoxide is a silent killer which is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas. So it's really is a small price to pay for your safely

 

[dcawkwell]

Don't bother the woodburner is messy and slow to heat up as well as needing lighting and addition of more wood.
Get yourself a nice gas fire no hassle, clean, heat at the press of a button.

 

[Onetap]

heeelllooo and welcome horsemadmummy

the installation must be passed fit for purpose
it needs to be tested and certified
when you have an accident and spill some carbon monoxide all over your house, the first question your coroner will ask "can we see the installation certificate please?" You haven't got one? Ooodear sorry you're still dead and so is horsemad daddy and all your little horsemadbabies.

 

[Onetap]

Don't be put off as it's normally straight forward job but your best bet is to a get a Hetas guy round for their free advice and take it from there, remember carbon monoxide is a silent killer which is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas. So it's really is a small price to pay for your safely

That's nice. Do you think that in a 15 minute site survey the Hetas guy is going to divulge everything he knows about installing, testing and certifying solid fuel appliances? Really?

You can get a Hetas guy to divulge everything you need to know about installing solid fuel appliances, but ISTR it takes 3 days. This is called a training course. Free really is a small price to pay for your safety when you're dealing with a colourless, odourless, tasteless poisonous gas (your words).

There are some naughty men who, when they suspect they are being pumped for free information by a DIYer, give information that is free, but slightly wrong. I would never, ever condone such a practise. Oh, no.

 

[Agile]

understand what you are saying but hard to burn a limestone floor which is what all the floors are and as we purchased a property which had been empty for 2 years and was a probate sale (and we were given no certificates for anything) how would anyone know when it was installed and by whom? I could always just get building controls to approve it surely?

You clearly seem to be giving negative answers to anyone who tells you whats required.

Obviously its up to you at the end of the day but be aware that if you are a "mummy" then you probably have children and their safety does come into the equation.

My ( ex ) hairdresser has two horses and all that goes with them. They cost £12k pa to keep them. That seems to be a lot more than the relatively small cost of having wood burners installed and tested properly.

When your family's safety is at risk I am surprised that you obviously want to skimp !

Tony

 

[horsemadmummy]

i am very surpised at the replies we will have building controls come in and certify as we have had them do for everything else we have done to the property thus far i was looking for some advice as to where to start thats all but what i got is interesting to say the least. I do not cut courners or penny pinch but simply looking for advice but what I got was asking me to hand over a lot of money to people without knowing what they were saying was true. This is supposed to be a DIY site. I would also point out we already have smoke heat and I am sure we can add carbon monoxide sensors in our property trhat are mains rather than battery units.

 

[Agile]

Part of doing DIY is knowing when to do it and when it should not be done and a professional is required.

A professional is required when either the scope of the work is outside the skill of a DIYer or when regulations require a qualified person such as gas or most electrical work!

Where safety aspects apply, a Certificate is usually required to demonstrate that an installation complies with the current regulations.

Tony

 

[Agile]

I would also point out we already have smoke heat and I am sure we can add carbon monoxide sensors in our property trhat are mains rather than battery units.

Can anyone explain to me what "smoke heat" is ?

 

[masona]

Don't be put off as it's normally straight forward job but your best bet is to a get a Hetas guy round for their free advice and take it from there, remember carbon monoxide is a silent killer which is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas. So it's really is a small price to pay for your safely

That's nice. Do you think that in a 15 minute site survey the Hetas guy is going to divulge everything he knows about installing, testing and certifying solid fuel appliances? Really?

You can get a Hetas guy to divulge everything you need to know about installing solid fuel appliances, but ISTR it takes 3 days. This is called a training course. Free really is a small price to pay for your safety when you're dealing with a colourless, odourless, tasteless poisonous gas (your words).

There are some naughty men who, when they suspect they are being pumped for free information by a DIYer, give information that is free, but slightly wrong. I would never, ever condone such a practise. Oh, no.

No I didn't mean it like that, I'm not talking about Hetas guy telling them how to do it, their free advice on quote for installing the stove or the stove might not be suitable etc!

 

[Onetap]

Well, sorry you don't like what you've been told but do think about what you're asking. Is the flue liner suitable for solid fuel and can it be adapted to connect to your stove? How would you determine that it is suitable? How would you test it? How could you inspect it?

Do you have the makers installation instructions for this second hand stove you'd like to fit? Are you in a smoke free zone? Is it an approved appliance? What area of fixed permanent ventilation will be required?

I could drone on interminably, but I'm sure you get the picture. People who have invested their time, effort and money in obtaining the expertise required to understand such details will usually expect payment for their time. You've already had about 15 minutes of mine. Your gratitude is all the reward I expect.