How much does a woodburner installation cost in Blackpool?
The stove itself is usually the smaller half of the bill. A straightforward install into a sound existing chimney, with a flexible liner, a register plate and a slate hearth, sits in one bracket; forming a new opening, rebuilding the chamber, fitting an oak beam and making the plaster good sits in another. We price after a survey of the actual breast rather than over the phone, and the quote is broken down so you can see what the stove, the liner, the builder work and the hearth each cost.
What size stove do I need?
Far smaller than most people expect. A rough working figure for an average, reasonably insulated room is the room volume in cubic metres divided by about fourteen, which puts most Fylde living rooms at four to five kilowatts. Going bigger does not make the room nicer, it makes you run the stove shut down, which glazes the glass, tars the liner and wastes fuel. We work it out on the survey and tell you honestly if the model you have your eye on is too big.
Do I need a chimney to have a woodburner?
No. If there is no chimney we fit a twin wall insulated flue system, either up the outside of the gable or internally through the ceilings and out through the roof. It costs more than lining an existing stack because you are buying the whole flue rather than a liner, and it opens up rooms that could never have had a fire otherwise.
Does the installation need building control approval?
Yes. A solid fuel appliance is notifiable work under Part J of the Building Regulations. Because we are HETAS registered we self-certify and notify the installation, which means you get a certificate of compliance without paying the council for a separate inspection. Keep the certificate safe, because it is what a surveyor and an insurer will ask for.
How long does the job take?
A clean install into an existing sound chimney is usually a day. Forming a new opening, rebuilding the chamber, fitting a beam and making good takes two to three days, with the plastering left to dry before decorating. A twin wall system through a roof is normally two days. We will tell you which of those you have after the survey rather than starting and discovering it.
Can I burn wood if I live in a smoke control area?
Yes, provided the appliance is DEFRA exempt for that use. Parts of Blackpool and the surrounding boroughs are smoke control areas, and the rule is about what the appliance is approved to burn, not about banning fires. Almost every current stove we fit is available in a DEFRA exempt version, so it is a specification detail rather than a problem. We will check the address and specify accordingly.
