Wood burning stoves recommendations

[BlardyBlaaaaa]

Hi there

Can anyone recommend a cheapish (up to £500) wood burning stove that doesn't look cheap, to heat the sitting room of a 30s semi. I was thinking 4kw, but a builder who came round said we'd be boiling with that, and only needed a 3 kW one. Don't want anything too twee or ultra ultra modern. Something timeless and aesthetically pleasing that makes the room toasty warm.

Thanks, in advance.

[Yokohamajojo]

We have an aga, it's small and called Little Wenlock classic I think. Our house was built 1935 and it's lovely :-) Perhaps a tad too expensive but this is where we got it from Little AGA

[BlardyBlaaaaa]

Thanks, I like the look of that. Might be able to stretch to that. How do you find it heatwise?

[JayGatsby]

We've just had Contura fitted:

www.fusion-heating.co.uk/page/stoves/wood-burning-and-multi-fuel-stoves-solihull-birmingham/contura-810-wood-burning-stove

It was more expensive than your budget though, especially with the fitting charges, then the scaffolding we had to organise because the chimney was so blimmin' tall (£300 extra).

It took a while before it dawned on us that you need to use MASSES of kindling to sustain a good long burn. Now we collect sticks on the return school run trip, which the DSs are delighted about!

[FunMitFlags]

I think you'll struggle to get one for £500. In my long and painstaking quest for the perfect stove I have found that several of the stove showrooms sell second hand reconditioned stoves , so that might be an option?

[BlardyBlaaaaa]

Oh, I like that too. Very chic.

[Gatekeeper]

I would go for a 4kw- 3 is too small and go for a Charnwood country 4. They are fantastic build and quality. Best thing is you can pick one up for between £550 and 600

[Gatekeeper]

avoid the ones sold in Machine Mart and such like and don't buy generic Chinese knock offs; Charnwood is made in UK and the dogs bollocks esp at the price

[PigletJohn]

somebody has to say it....

rather than a Woodburner, look for a Multifuel. They burn very clean, and it's useful to use solid fuel (which burns longer and contains more heat) e.g. if you run out of wood, or are too ill or busy to chop it. Solid fuel does not bring wildlife into your home. Some multifuels can run a few radiators, or a hot water cylinder, which is very welcome.

[puffylovett]

Charnwood c4, 4kw - doesn't boil us at all in our 12m sq living room, is also multi fuel but can be bought just as a wood burner and upgraded later (although it's more expensive to do it later as we discovered this year!)

You might pick up a reconditioned one for that price. Aga looks good too... Anything around the 400-500 mark I woudlve thought would be a Chinese knock off and not as good quality. Is your builder installing it and is he hetas registered?

[puffylovett]

Ps you shouldn't need masses of kindling to sustain a good long burn....

[Marmitelover55]

I would recommend a Clearview multi fuel stove. Love ours.

[TalkinPeace]

I have an Aarow Ecoburn 5
www.aarrow-stove-specialist.co.uk/aarrow-ecoburn-5-inset-multifuel-wood-burning-stove.html

[Theas18]

We have just got a burley fireball it's lovely.

I think your budget is low im afraid. A recon might work but watch out for cheap chinese stoves ( ebay etc) which are frankly dangerous. I assume you've budgetted for the chimney liner fitting, knocking out and making good etc as well as the stove itself!

We saw some agas. Bit twee for our taste but they suit some houses. Clearview were lovely but the burley won for us.

[Theas18]

Ours is a wood burner but if we want we can get a muli fuel grate if wanted.

Watch you get the right sort if you are smokeless too

[FunMitFlags]

With good dry logs we hardly need any kindle at all to get ours going.

[ReallyBadParty]

We have this Vesta one in red and love it.

There is a smaller one, but our living room is quite small, and I am happy with ours.

I prefer just a woodburner as it's so much cleaner and less hassle, hardly needs emptying and no mucky coal and coal dust. It burns really warm if you get dry wood, and ?e get those pretend wood long burner things to keep it in at night.

[Stopmithering]

We have a Firefox and have had it for 6 years or so.
Would recommend it.
We live in a 30's detached.

[BlardyBlaaaaa]

Thanks everyone for replying. Lots to investigate, but I feel encouraged that we can find something decent for our budget (or v slightly above). Can't wait to get one...

[Yokohamajojo]

Thanks, I like the look of that. Might be able to stretch to that. How do you find it heatwise?

The living room gets really hot when it's been going for a bit! I also find that the main bedroom above benefits, and our neighbor keeps giving us his surplus wood as he likes it too ;-)

Good luck with your stove, I absolutely love having one, the cosines as well as the heat is great

[Doodlebog]

We have a multifuel Charnwood c4 and love it.

[Monica101]

I've just had a stove fitted and was recommended by 3 different fitters that a great 'cheap' stove is the firefox 5 clean burn. Apparently it has great heat out put as well as been around £365 so very cheap compared to most.

[kittypinot]

Get a multi fuel burner. Don't stick with logs. I find making a fire with anthracite quite economical as the logs last longer on a slow burn.

We have a Charnwood 8kw - bit too big for your livingroom but a lovely stove.