Wood Burning Stove Installation - where are the reputable people at?

[anna114young]

I have been trying to arrange for a wood burning stove to be installed for months but I have been met by conman after conman!

1. Didn't show up for site survey on agreed date after I waited in all day, no explanation, won't respond to emails or calls but is active on his business social media page

2. Didn't show up for original time, then booked another day. Just before he was supposed to turn up I received a whatsapp voice message from him to say "It'll be £3.5k so if that's too much for you then I won't bother to come today." I responded that it was fine but we have decided to not go with him. He then voice messaged back to say "Actually it's £2.5k shall I come over now?"

3. Next guy came over and told blatant lies about the new 2022 regulations. I had read up on it so knew about it, he told me that there are no changes to regulations next year and that every stove he suggested would be fine. (They weren't) Really treated me like a blonde ditsy woman. Idiot!

4. Final guy, seems nice but only communicates on whatsapp. Won't come out to quote. Suggested stoves that don't meet regulations and when I pointed that out he told me I was misinformed. When I sent a screenshot of my proof he changed his tune and offered us ones that do meet the regulations! We are thinking of going with him though as it's our only option but I am now worried as the fireplace needs knocking out, floor levels, hearth laid and brick slips added before the stove is installed. He says all this will take one day! I was thinking at least two days!

Am I going crazy? Why is it this hard to find a reputable installer!

Where are you? If the Cotswolds I can highly recommend Corinium Stoves in Cirencester (bet you're elsewhere though).
There are some cowboys about - I have heard some dreadful stories. Have you spoken to neighbours or asked on your local facebook page for recommendations?
We found that by using a well known local company, with a large showroom, we got the full supply and fit service. You have to make sure, too, that the fitters are registered with HETAS so,you can get the relevant certificates. You must have a stove showroom near you somewhere - I would be tempted to start there.

Is your chimney already lined ? Because that’s not on your list.

@Brownlongearedbat that's actually not too far from me. I will try them! Thanks so much!
We did go to a showroom but they refused to do brick slips and insisted everyone these days wants a modern look. Granite, very modern stove, rendering and no slips and a plain beam. We want a more rustic look but unfortunately they wouldn't do that for us.

@IS0D0RA no, forgot to add that! The lining will take place that day too. Do you think that's a lot for one day?

Watching with interest. OP where did you read about the regulations? Hoping to have similar work done in next few months and want to make sure it's done properly.
Thanks.

If you look up eco design ready 2022 you can read about it. From my understanding you can buy and have any stove fitted at the moment but from January you can only have eco design ready ones. So far I have had a few companies try and push DEFRA approved ones that aren't eco design ready. Nothing wrong in that technically I guess but I want one that meets next years regulations! Also meant to be better for you, less pollutants etc.

@Brownlongearedbat could I ask you for a rough price with Corinium Stoves? I know every case is different but I am always scared of being ripped off and so far we have been quoted everything from £2.5k to £5.5k and I don't know what is reasonable!

Take it as an omen that it's not meant to be and don't contribute to the smog?

I can't believe people are still fitting these things.

@anna114young ...from memory our first stove was about 3.5k all in (stove plus work). We did not have a fireplace for it, the flu pipe went out through an external wall - its a free standing stove and was a fairly uncomplicated job. That was in 2015. Last year we had it replaced with one of the new defra types in black. The first stove was cream - don't recommend a cream stove at all as you cant get the dirt off it. That, with a few minor alteration was about £1800. Corinium Stoves get very busy so you may have a wait for the work if you choose them.
@Start to finish oh I just knew that some worthy would come on to express their opinions about stoves. I presume you have no objection to biomass (aka wood) being burnt at a power station to provide your electricity?

@StarttoFinish the above reply is also for you.

I'm having a Stovax log burner and limestone mantel installed in October. The company is also installing the flue that goes out of the wall (twin wall system) and building a chimney breast inside. Including the granite hearth and sub hearth, it's £8.5k. They're busy though and there was an 8-week lead time on the log burner and fireplace. You may need to move quickly to get one installed by Christmas.

@Brownlongearedbat why do you assume what electricity @StarttoFinish uses? You could use the same argument with anything, why bother switching off your lights or oven if climate change is going to happen anyway? What difference will it make, etc? The sooner people stop installing unnecessary wood burners the better.

As it happens I'm not so keen on biomas either, but it's way more efficient and cleaner, per kilowatt of energy, than any home wood burner

As more people start installing heat pumps ,then realise they can’t heat the house sufficiently when it gets really cold, then more people will be turning to wood burners to top up the heat when the temperature drops.

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone use their wood/multi fuel burners to heat hot water?

Thanks for all the advice. I've thought about it over the weekend and my gut feeling is saying that the company who can do it all in one day are probably not going to be the best. I want this done safely and well so we have two more companies coming out to do a survey over the next few weeks. Really hoping we can find someone good!

@Brownlongearedbat I've had Corinium out and they were brilliant! Thanks so much for the recommendation!