What is the best wood to burn?
The best firewood is simply dry firewood. Here is how to spot logs under 20% moisture, what the Ready to Burn label means, how to season…
Stove installation for Prudhoe homes
Prudhoe climbs a steep, north-facing hillside on the south bank of the Tyne, around eleven miles west of Newcastle. It grew as a coal mining town, and you can still see that history in the older terraced streets. Since then the town has grown a great deal, with post-war council housing, private estates and plenty of newer family homes built for people who commute along the Tyne Valley.
That mix matters when you are thinking about a stove. Some Prudhoe homes have a chimney waiting to be used again. Many newer ones have no chimney at all. Both can usually have a stove, but the work involved is quite different, so it helps to know which group your house falls into.
Homes with a chimney: older terraces and semis
Older terraced and semi-detached houses in Prudhoe were generally built with coal fires in mind, and many still have their stacks even if the fireplace has been boarded over. Bringing that chimney back into use usually means:
- sweeping and inspecting the flue, including a smoke test where appropriate
- fitting a flexible stainless steel liner sized to the stove, because old coal flues are often too large and can leak between joints
- opening up or reshaping the fireplace and making sure the hearth meets Building Regulations
Shared stacks are common on terraces. Each flue is separate, and the survey confirms which one serves your fireplace. If a neighbour's flue is still in use, it is worth knowing that too. Where a stack has been capped or partly taken down, it may need repair or rebuilding at the top before a liner and cowl can be fitted, and that will be clear in the written quote.
Homes without a chimney: newer estates
A lot of Prudhoe's newer housing was built without chimneys. That does not rule out a stove. A twin-wall insulated flue can run up an outside wall or straight through the ceiling and roof, finishing at the correct height above the roof. On a modern estate, it may be worth checking your property deeds for any covenant about external alterations. Our guide on fitting a wood burner without a chimney walks through the options.
Well-insulated modern homes often need a smaller stove than people expect. A high output stove in a small, airtight living room can make it uncomfortably hot. Some newer homes may also need a dedicated air supply for the stove, which the survey checks.
Wood-burning, multi-fuel or replacement?
- Wood-burning stoves are the most popular choice and suit most homes with somewhere dry to store logs.
- Multi-fuel stoves also take approved smokeless fuels, useful if log storage is tight on a smaller plot.
- Replacing an older stove with an Ecodesign-compliant model is a sensible upgrade if yours is past its best. See our stove replacement service.
Local rules to be aware of
Smoke control
Prudhoe is in Northumberland, and it is not among the smoke control areas the county council lists. Its neighbours just across the boundary in Gateshead, such as Crawcrook and Ryton, fall under a different council with its own smoke control areas. If you are near the boundary, check your address on the right council's map. National rules apply everywhere: wet wood cannot be sold in small quantities unless certified Ready to Burn, and house coal is no longer sold for domestic burning. For background, see what smoke control areas are.
Planning and heritage
Most Prudhoe homes will not need planning permission for a stove installed inside an existing chimney. If your home is listed, or sits in a conservation area, an external flue or changes to the chimney may need consent. Check with Northumberland County Council if in doubt.
What happens when you get in touch
- Enquiry. Tell us about the house, whether there is a chimney, and the room you want to heat.
- Survey. We check the chimney or flue route, hearth, room size and ventilation.
- Recommendation. A stove that suits the space and a flue plan to match.
- Written quote. Costs vary between a straightforward liner job and a new twin-wall flue, so every quote is worked out for your home.
- Installation. This includes a carbon monoxide alarm, required in England when a new or replacement solid fuel appliance is fitted.
- Handover and certification. The installation is certified through a competent person scheme such as HETAS, or signed off by Building Control.
Free quotes in Prudhoe
From the older streets near the town centre to the newer estates on the hill, contact Northcrest Stoves to arrange a survey and a free written quote.
