Price range – £1500 – £2500
Average cost – £2000
Best/Cheapest price – £1500
Wood-burning stoves are common in most homes around the UK. 7.5% of homes, approximately, may be using these stoves to heat their homes. So, how much does it cost to install a wood-burning stove and are the regulations on their installations? In addition, what are the cost factors and additional costs, if any?
In this guide, those questions will be answered in detail so that you will have a precise estimate of the total price to pay for the installation.
How much does wood burning stove installation cost?
Average cost in the UK:
When it comes to picking the right stove, its beauty is the last thing to consider. A standard stove is estimated to range from £300 and £4000. In this case, the higher the price, the classier and trendier the design.
A recent survey revealed that at least 29% of stove owners spent an average of £1,000 – £1,999, while 13% of the surveyed stove owners spent considerably more, ranging from £2,000 – £2,999.
Installing a wood burning stove
Engaging a professional to install a wood stove is highly recommended as it is a complex process. Poor installation may affect the functionality of the stove and pose a danger to you and your family. In addition, it’s an investment; therefore, taking all preventive measures is critical to ensure safety.
Each stove installation project varies but on average, you can expect to pay £2,000 as the wood-burner itself will cost around £950. In addition inset models(hidden flues and false walls) may require more structural work than freestanding stoves.
The figures roughly account for two tradesmen, the use of solid flue pipes, HETAS registration fees, stainless steel liner, a CO-detector, chimney cowl and a register plate to seal off the chimney opening. However, the twist comes when there is a need to build a chimney, either a twin-walled flue system or revamping the existing one.
With pre-existing chimney
Before installing a wood burning stove, the labourer must check the present chimney for chimney-damp and breathing space. The tunnel has to be well swept and fully flue lined. If the breathing space is too small, it can be re-adjusted or fully excavated. The recommended spacing is 100mm on either side and about 40mm behind. A wood burning stove needs proper air circulation to avoid instances of smoke filling the room. The approximate price starts from £1500 depending on the scale of work.
Twin-walled flue system
This kind of system is installed in homes without pre-existing chimneys. They essentially involves constructing a long metal tube(clip together), pointing out of a wall and taking the excess fumes out. It’s usually 6-inch in diameter. The prices may vary because of the push-fit and twist-lock features.
However, both features work to stop the system from getting clogged with tar and keep gases hot and sealed, allowing no room for air escape. Its estimated price starts from £2,000, depending on the workload.
After the installation of the chimney, there are other additional costs that you should consider.
- Fireplace hearth cost
After the installation, a hearth needs to be fitted, which will cost approximately £200. You may, however, opt for tiles that are cheaper but have a short life span. The life span is short because the heat around the stove will be burning hot, and tiles cannot withstand much heat for a prolonged period without cracking.
- Building a masonry fireplace
A masonry fireplace stove needs to have at least 300mm in the front and 150mm of the hearth at the side. There may be an additional cost because of the additional time taken to craft the fireplace, which may range from £600 – £1,000.
- Cleaning and maintenance
The best time to clean your chimney is during spring, after the heating season, although HETAS recommends twice a year for burning wood. It ranges from £50- £100. That, however, is for a general sweep of the flue. Clearing up blockages like bird’s nests and fallen bricks may cost a little more.
Wood-burning stove regulations
If installed by a HETAS installer, you do not need planning permission on installing a wood burning stove; because they have clearance to certify the work and issue a certificate of compliance which can be generated online for £17.50 inclusive of VAT and signed by the installer having notified the council of the building project.
If you decide to DIY or have a non-HETAS installer do the job, you will have to notify your local building council department before starting any work. Although the planning permission is not compulsory, it’s necessary because, after completion, there needs to be an inspection to ensure all building regulations have been met. Failure to meet the guidelines can result in a penalty.
If you live in a listed building, you’ll most likely need planning permission. After the stove has been fitted, you should ensure that the notice plate is displayed. This is an installation regulation that contains the details of your hearth, flue, chimney and stove.
Factors affecting the cost of installing wood burner stove
- The wattage of the stove – If you have a small room, you may only need a 5-7kw stove while a large room may need a 10-15kw stove.
- Additional features of your stove – If your stove is double-sided or has the ability to swivel, the cost will definitely be higher.
- Type of stove material – A wood burner stove comes in different shapes and sizes with the most common being iron and stone. Iron cast stoves prices vary from £920 – £1,900 while stone-clad vary from £500-£700.
- The surrounding structure – It’s best to install a chimney in a hearth to protect your walls and floors. If it’s being freshly installed, you may have to chuck out more tons.
- Design – The prices vary heavily depending on the design and brand since they increase the value and beauty of your home.
While a well-maintained chimney does not necessarily require a flue liner, it’s strongly advised by most HETAS installers. They improve their performance since chimneys work with air, the hotter the chimney, the better the smoke will rise up. Cold chimneys can result in the build-up of tar. It also offers more safety measures as flue liners provide protection against accidental fires and carbon monoxide leaks.
Cost of installing a chimney liner for your wood burning stove
Many factors affect the price charged by the tradesperson for your chimney lining. This includes the materials, number of days, numbers of labourers and the workload. However, the price falls between £600-£1,000. For a 40-50’ inch chimney size, a stainless- steel flexible liner will cost £450-£700 since per metre it goes for around £15-£20. They last 15-20 years with bi-annual deep cleaning and check-ups.
The tradesperson will also charge you with reference to the number of days he/she will take to work on the installation of a chimney liner. In general, it takes about a day to install the stainless – steel flexible liner with charges ranging from £150 to £250 a day depending on skills, experience and knowledge.
The skilled tradesman will later advise you to keep checking on the signs of a damaged liner. They include dropping of debris, smoke filling the room instead of going up, cracked chimney liner.
DIY chimney replacing
This may be tedious, expensive as well as dangerous. It may seem straightforward and easy, but the process is best left to the professionals as any additional damage may cost you extra pennies to repair. In addition, they can easily determine the quality or extent of deterioration of your chimney cavity.
The major concern is having a risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Because it’s colourless and odourless, it may pose a great health risk to a household and the immediate environment.
These prices are all estimates.
