Log Burner installation in London & Kent

Sooty and Sweeps are fully accredited stove installation professionals, we have been supplying and installing multi-fuel and log burners across London and Kent for over 40 years and we are proud of our reputation for being arguably the best multi-fuel burner installation company across the south east. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, our engineers are fully accredited with HETAS and Gas Safe offering the absolute best possible service quality for all types of installation.

Stoves and wood burners or log burners as they are known are becoming increasingly popular due to their aesthetic beauty and superb energy efficiency, an open fire utilises only 30% of the heat produced by a fire, thus 70% is lost through the chimney! A modern multi-fuel stove or wood burner can reach efficiencies of around 80% and does a far better job at keeping your room warm.

If you are considering installing a log burner, planning permission must be obtained prior to the work commencing. This involves applying for a building license 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.

What we can do for you:

  • Free site survey, planning and advice.
  • The supply and installation of stoves and wood burners from multiple manufactures.
  • Chimney integrity checks to ensure your home is safe enough to have a log burner installed.
  • A CCTV survey to perform structural checks of your smokestack.
  • Compliance certification on completion to meet building regulations

We Offer Fireplace Surrounds

Sooty and Sweeps offer fireplace surrounds services for your log burner, built by our expert stone craftsman. We don’t have a brochure, but instead have you give us your ideas, styles and favourite designs so that we can make your fireplace surround to your exact specification. If you’ve seen images on the internet of fireplace surrounds and want one building, feel free to give us a call to have a friendly chat with one of our advisors and get exactly what you want made for you.

We here at Sooty and Sweeps pride ourselves in providing a professional and expertly performed stove installation in your home, we always leave your home in the condition it was in before we arrived. We offer our log burner supply & installation across Kent and London, and fireplace surrounds at competitive prices to work around your budget. If you have any questions regarding stove installation or 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.

Locations Where You Can Find Us:

We have an office in Barnet London, and an office in Ramsgate Kent.

London Office:
218 East Barnet Road,
Barnet,
London,
EN4 8QT
Tel: 0207 971 1242
Email: info@sootyandsweeps.co.uk
Kent Office:
8 Winterstoke Crescent,
Ramsgate,
Kent,
CT11 8QA
Tel: 01843 639 624
Email: info@sootyandsweeps.co.uk

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 multifuel / 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 book 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 log / 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 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.

Accreditations