Woodburner installer required

[JohnStitch]

Can anyone recommend a decent woodburner installer in the Northants area?

I need someone to come and take out a horrible old 70's stone fireplace, remove existing fire, line the chimney ,open up the fireplace and install a nice woodburner, but not having done this before would rather get someone by recommendation...

Thanks!

[Hoofty]

I had one done by TJS Installations recently - of a sample of three quotes they seemed a good balance of price/pace/care, and listened quite carefully to the design brief. They said that a lot of their business is fitting burners into spaces done by others, but did a good job of removing and rebuilding ours (with the usual watching eye required wherever you're particular about how something should look).

One point of interest however - if you get them to build yours and you use a combustible beam, they won't put it any closer than 60cm above the burner. I queried this at length and could find nothing in Building Regs which specified any minimum value for that dimension. I don't believe there is one, but it's very hard to argue the toss when your expertise amounts to one evening of internetting. 60cm it therefore ended up. I'm not too miffed as I have thought of something brilliant to do with the space, however.

If that's a deal-breaker for you then M Davies near Daventry also quoted sensibly. They supply a range of their own stoves, so were keener to use those than the one I'd identified was all.

Cheers,
Nick

[JohnStitch]

Thanks Nick, funnily enough I had TJS recommended to me earlier so have got him comincg round to give a quote in a week or so when he's back from holiday. So overall were you happy with the work? Not had to do this before so have nothing to compare to.

I also have A and N Fireplaces coming round to quote on Monday...did you deal with them at all?

Edited by JohnStitch on Friday 4th September 20:21

[Hoofty]

Overall, yes - they were neat, tidy and effective. The work involved removing the old fireplace, opening up the hearth and building up the new one. They then lined the back of the area with 75mm breeze blocks and the sides with 50mm thermalite stuff, took a few days to dry out before the renderer could get in - they didn't finish in the four days alotted but were back for just the one day the following week to put the liner down and install the burner/register plate.

I'll PM you a link to some pics of the build, in case it helps with what to expect!

Don't think we did speak to A&N - whoever provided the third quote was ruled out because they expected to complete it in a single day. The TJS guys didn't exactly hang about, so I can't imagine it all being possible in so much less time.

Edited by Hoofty on Sunday 6th September 09:43

[JohnStitch]

Great, thanks mate, like the pics - pretty much the kind of thing we're after - wI'll wait for him to come round and see what he comes up with for us, thanks for the help

Edited by JohnStitch on Sunday 6th September 10:49

[T.J.B]

Hoofty said:

Overall, yes - they were neat, tidy and effective. The work involved removing the old fireplace, opening up the hearth and building up the new one. They then lined the back of the area with 75mm breeze blocks and the sides with 50mm thermalite stuff, took a few days to dry out before the renderer could get in - they didn't finish in the four days alotted but were back for just the one day the following week to put the liner down and install the burner/register plate.

I'll PM you a link to some pics of the build, in case it helps with what to expect!

Don't think we did speak to A&N - whoever provided the third quote was ruled out because they expected to complete it in a single day. The TJS guys didn't exactly hang about, so I can't imagine it all being possible in so much less time.

Edited by Hoofty on Sunday 6th September 09:43

Would you mind sending the link to me as well? I'm looking into getting a woodburner installed in the near future and recommendations are always welcome!

[littleredrooster]

Just spotted this - sorry!

An acquaintance of mine has this business: http://www.juststoves.co.uk/

Tim is an ex-fireman and knows what he's doing; nice bloke.

[JohnStitch]

I've got Tim installing ours week after next. Had 3 quotes and while he wasn't the cheapest, his obvious experience shone through compared to the others, and his advice seemed a lot more honest. Have had him recommended to me by a few people now, so seemed like a no brainier.

[littleredrooster]

Ask him if he remembers the little Geordie tt from Grandborough...

[SturdyHSV]

I'm (hopefully) moving in to a house in Northampton soon, and a woodburner is high on the list so this thread will be revisited