Fireplace Installation in London & Kent
As fireplace installation specialists, we can install a fireplace that you have bought elsewhere or have our stone masons made to your own design and specifications. We have installed fireplaces across London and Kent from almost every fireplace provider on the high street and on-line.
We offer free home surveys, from our head installers and technical specialists, this ensures that you have the peace of mind of knowing that the fireplace you have chosen is suitable for your individual requirements.
We can offer a bespoke service in which you give us your ideas, styles and favourite designs, so that we can make your fireplace surround to your exact specification. As we are experts, you can be assured that we know what makes a great surround and only provide quality products. If you have seen images on the internet of fireplace surrounds and want one manufactured, feel free to give us a call to have a friendly chat with one of our team, and get exactly what you want made for you.
At Sooty and Sweeps we have installed every type of fireplace surround on the market. We have worked in all property types from stately homes to modern flats and have worked with all brands, ranges, styles and fuel types. This wealth of experience is invaluable as we have seen and overcome every type of problem/issue, and so can resolve these with ease. We are Gas Safe and HETAS registered, so you can reast assured that the work will be carried out to all current regulations and standards. At Sooty and Sweeps all our work guaranteed and fully insured.
If you are considering installing a modern multi-fuel stove, planning permission must be obtained prior to the work commencing. This would involve applying for a building licence which can be costly and time consuming, you can avoid this process completely by having one of our HETAS registered stove installation specialists do the job for you. Before the work commences we will complete an on-site survey and get a better idea of your specific plans for the stove, and once the work has been done we will certify that the work has been carried out to the appropriate standard.
If you have any questions regarding fireplace surrounds please call our London office on 0207 971 1242, or our Kent office on 01843 639 624 and one of our well informed staff will be happy to help you. Alternatively, you can fill out a contact form by clicking here to go through to our contact page. As soon as we receive your message we will ring you at an appropriate time decided by you.
Frequently Asked Questions
I already have an existing brick built chimney, do I need to have a liner installed for a stove/wood burner?
This will ultimately depend on 1) the age of the house 2) the condition of the chimney 3) whether it has been previously lined with clay or pumice. As our engineers are HETAS accredited we have the working knowledge to be able to answer this question in depth over the phone.
We would love a stove/wood burner in our house but we don’t have a chimney! Is it still possible?
Yes! Sooty and Sweeps offer the highest quality rigid chimnies which enables us to build a stove almost anywhere in a building. We would still need to carry out an on-site survey before your booked your fitting.
This is very dependent on the area you are trying to heat, big rooms will need an adequately sized stove, whilst small rooms would need a smaller stove. If you have a stove in a fireplace it is important to ensure that it fits into your fireplace opening with sufficient clearance. Due to this we would suggest having an on-site survey done before you purchase a stove, as we can calculate the correct size needed for your fireplace and help you make the best choice. Factors that need to be taken into consideration when looking for a stove/wood burner are: the insulation value of the walls, if the windows in the room and single or double glazing, whether you have high or vaulted ceilings, and the insulation value of your attic. Having stairs to another room, archways or having your stove near door openings are just a few things that can affect the distribution of heat. Due to all of these issues, we suggest having one of our HETAS accredited engineers perform an on-site survey, this ensures you will save money and not waste it on a stove that may not have the correct heating requirements.
Do I require planning permission to have a stove/wood burner or multi-fuel stove installed?
If you have an existing chimney stack with liner and use a HETAS accredited engineer such as ours, you will not need to acquire any planning permission. Planning permission may be required if planning to building a new chimney stack, check with your local authority before any work is carried out.
What size chimney liner should I choose?
The size of your chimney liner will be dependent on the make and model of your stove/wood burner. Flue sizes are usually listed on the websites you buy them from and can be provided by the supplier.
I already have a stove/wood burner/multi-fuel stove, what is the best fuel to burn on it?
We recommend wood for a wood burner or normal stove and coal for a multi-fuel stove.
Should I buy a wood burning stove or a multi-fuel stove?
This is down to personal choice, many customers like the option to burn both smokeless fuel and logs so therefore choose the multi-fuel stove. There isn’t much difference between the 2 other than that one comes with a grate and ashpan. If you would like to know more on the differences between the 2 please do not hesitate to contact us for a friendly chat.
Should I buy a cast iron or steel stove?
Cast iron generally holds its heat longer than steel, but will take longer to heat up, it also needs to be seasoned within the first week to avoid cracking. Cast iron stoves aren’t cheap and cheap versions should be avoided as they have a tendency to crack. Cast iron stoves are molded and decorated whereas steel stove are always plain.
Do I require a non-combustible Hearth?
Yes, a hearth is always required when installing a wood or multi-fuel stove. A suitable non-combustible hearth of the right size and specification is required to protect and combustible material underneath and provide an area to catch an embers or burning fuel that might fall from the stove. It is meant to clearly show the area where combustible material such as carpets must not be placed.
Do I require an air ventilator to be installed in the room housing my stove?
This will depend on the size of the stove, any stove that produces over 5kW output of heat will need an Aircore Ventilator installed in the room to abide by regulations. This ventilator ensures a permanent open air supply for the stove.
Will I need to install a carbon monoxide detector with my new stove?
Since the 1st of October 2010 it has been a law that all buildings require a carbon monoxide detector. It is always better to have a carbon monoxide detector near your appliances whether it is law or not.
