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A well-installed wood-burning stove gives you a real fire that is controllable, much more efficient than an open grate and safer to live with. Getting there depends on more than choosing a stove you like the look of. The chimney or flue, the hearth, the ventilation and the size of the room all need to work together. This page explains what is involved when Northcrest Stoves installs a wood burner, and what you can expect from the first visit to the final paperwork.
What a wood-burning stove installation involves
Every home is different, but most installations follow the same broad stages.
Survey and assessment
We start by looking at the existing fireplace or the wall where you would like the stove. If there is a chimney, we check its general condition, its size and whether it has been used recently. We look at the hearth, the materials around the opening and the room itself. If there is no chimney, we look at possible routes for a twin-wall flue system, inside or outside the house.
Choosing the right stove
Bigger is not better. A stove that is too powerful for the room will be run slowly to avoid overheating, which tends to produce more smoke, sooty glass and tar in the flue. We take into account the room size, insulation, open-plan layouts and how you plan to use the stove. Our guide on what size wood burner you need explains the basics. Stoves sold new in Great Britain since 1 January 2022 must meet Ecodesign limits on efficiency and emissions, which makes modern models considerably cleaner than many older ones.
Preparing the chimney or flue
Many existing chimneys need work before they can safely serve a stove. This might be a sweep and inspection, repairs to the chimney pot or stack, or a flexible stainless steel liner. We explain the options on our chimney lining page. Where there is no chimney, an insulated twin-wall flue is the usual answer.
Hearth and surround
The stove must sit on a suitable non-combustible hearth, with safe clearances to anything combustible such as timber beams, skirting or a mantel. Some fireplaces need opening up, a new lintel, or a hearth built or extended. See our page on fireplace and hearth preparation for more detail.
Fitting, testing and handover
On installation day we protect your floors and furniture, fit the stove and connect it to the flue, then carry out checks to confirm the flue is sound and drawing properly. We fit a carbon monoxide alarm where one is needed, attach the notice plate that records the flue and hearth details, and show you how to light and control the stove before we leave.
Regulations that apply
Installing a wood-burning stove is notifiable building work under Part J of the Building Regulations. The relevant technical guidance is Approved Document J, which covers combustion appliances, flues, hearths and ventilation. The work must be either self-certified by an installer registered with a competent person scheme such as HETAS, or notified to Building Control before work starts so they can inspect and sign it off.
A few other points are worth knowing:
- Carbon monoxide alarms. In England, since 1 October 2022, a carbon monoxide alarm must be fitted in the room when a new or replacement fixed combustion appliance is installed.
- Ventilation. Some stoves need a permanent air supply into the room, depending on their output and how airtight the house is. We check this as part of the survey.
- Smoke control areas. Large parts of the North East are smoke control areas, including the whole of Newcastle upon Tyne. To burn wood in one, the stove must be a Defra-exempt appliance. Our guide to smoke control areas explains how to check your address.
- Planning and listed buildings. Fitting a stove inside an existing chimney rarely needs planning permission, but external flues may need permission in some locations, including conservation areas and Northumberland National Park. Listed buildings may need listed building consent. We advise checking with your local planning authority early.
What affects the cost
Two homes with the same stove can have very different installation costs. The main factors are:
- The stove itself, including its size, brand and features.
- Whether the chimney needs sweeping, repairs or a full-height liner, and how tall it is.
- Whether a twin-wall flue is needed instead, and the length and route of the system.
- Hearth work, such as building a new constructional hearth or fitting a superimposed hearth.
- Opening up or reshaping a fireplace, fitting a lintel and making good the plaster.
- Access to the chimney stack, which may require scaffolding or an access tower.
- Extras such as a register plate, an air vent or a cowl.
Typical price ranges are covered in our guide to stove installation costs. These are approximate only. Every home is different, so we always provide a written quote after seeing the property.
Burning wood well
How you run the stove matters as much as how it is installed. Burn dry, seasoned or kiln-dried logs with a moisture content of 20% or less. In England, wood sold in quantities under 2 cubic metres must be certified Ready to Burn, which makes dry logs easy to identify. Wet wood burns poorly, blackens the glass and builds up deposits in the flue. Have the chimney swept at least once a year.
