Service · Newcastle & the North East
A stove is only as safe as the flue it's connected to. We assess chimneys and plan lining or new flue systems for homes in Newcastle, across Tyne & Wear and the wider North East, usually as part of a stove installation.
Many homes in the North East have chimneys that were built for open coal fires and have not been used in years. Some are in good condition, but many have cracked or missing parging, leaking joints, or a flue that is far wider than a stove needs. A liner can make an existing chimney safe and help a stove draw well.
If your home has no chimney at all, which is common in newer houses, bungalows and extensions, a stove can often still be fitted using a purpose-made insulated flue system. This page covers both.
Most stove installations into an existing chimney use a flexible stainless steel liner. Liners come in different grades, and the right one depends on the fuels you plan to burn, with multi-fuel use generally calling for a more resistant grade. The diameter has to suit the stove's flue outlet and the manufacturer's instructions. Where there is no chimney, a twin-wall system has an insulated layer between two steel skins, which keeps the flue gases hot so the stove draws well and the outer surface stays cooler.
Liner and flue work is usually carried out alongside a stove installation or stove replacement. Depending on the house, it can involve:
Flue work depends heavily on what we find, so a site assessment is essential. We look at:
If the chimney needs building repairs before it can be lined, such as rebuilding a stack or repointing, we'll tell you so you can plan for it.
Send us photos of the fireplace and of the outside of the chimney stack, plus anything you know about when the chimney was last used or swept.
We inspect the chimney or flue route and discuss the options with you.
Your quote sets out the liner or flue system proposed, the access needed and any related work.
We install the liner or flue, connect the stove and test the system.
We explain how the flue should be looked after and swept, and provide the paperwork.
Fitting a stove with its flue is notifiable building work in England. It must be certified either by an installer registered with a government-approved competent person scheme or through Building Control. Our how it works page has more detail.
Carbon monoxide. A leaking flue can let carbon monoxide into the home. The Building Regulations require a carbon monoxide alarm in the room when a solid fuel stove is installed, and we fit one as part of a stove installation.
Clearances. Flues and flue pipes get hot, so they must be kept a safe distance from combustible materials such as timber joists and roof structures. Twin-wall systems are made for this, but the manufacturer's clearances still apply.
Data plate. The regulations require a notice plate recording the details of the hearth and flue, usually fixed near the hearth, the electricity consumer unit or the water stopcock, so anyone working on it in future knows what was installed.
Terminal position. Where a flue comes out of the roof affects how well it draws and where smoke goes, so it needs to clear the roof and nearby openings by the distances set out in the regulations.
Smoke control areas. A good flue won't make an unsuitable stove legal. The whole of Newcastle upon Tyne is a smoke control area, so a stove burning wood there needs to be Defra exempt.
Sweeping. Lined flues still need sweeping. HETAS advises at least twice a year when burning wood, and at least once a year for smokeless fuels.
If you're unsure whether your chimney is usable, request a quote and include photos of the stack, along with anything you know about the chimney's history. We'll arrange a site assessment and explain the options in a written quote.
FAQs
No. Some chimneys are sound, the right size and safe to use with a stove as they are. Many older chimneys, though, are cracked, leaking or oversized, and lining them improves safety and how well the stove draws. We decide after inspecting and testing the chimney, and explain our reasoning in the written quote.
Often, yes. A twin-wall insulated flue system can run up through the house or up an outside wall to a terminal above the roof. Whether it's practical depends on the route, the roof and the position of nearby windows and openings. We check these at the site assessment.
A register plate is a non-combustible plate that seals the bottom of the chimney above the stove. The flue pipe or liner passes through it, and it usually includes an access point for sweeping. It stops debris falling onto the stove and helps the flue work properly.
Lining a chimney usually means working at the stack, so safe roof access is needed. Whether that means scaffolding or other access equipment depends on the height and position of the chimney. We assess access at the site visit and set out what's needed in your written quote.
Send a few details and photos and we will arrange a site assessment. We explain what happens next at every step.
From our blog
Regulations & safety
The whole of Newcastle upon Tyne is a smoke control area. Here is what that means for a log burner: exempt appliances, authorised fuels, the penalties that now apply, and how to check elsewhere in the region.
Buying guides
Kilowatts, room sizes and rules of thumb, explained simply. Why an oversized stove causes problems, how insulation changes the picture, and when extra ventilation is needed under Building Regulations.
Stove advice
Not every chimney needs a liner, but many older ones do. Here is how installers decide, what the main liner options are, and how a chimney's condition is checked before and after a stove goes in.