A herringbone chamber under a restored mahogany surround

Once the chamber was complete, the original mahogany surround was carefully refitted, mechanically fixed into position, and the surrounding walls were made good. The fireplace was then thoroughly cleaned and finished with colour-matched caulk for a neat, seamless join, so the new stove looks like it has always belonged in the room.

The property's chimney is shorter than the recommended effective flue height, which can increase the likelihood of downdraught in certain winds. To overcome it we fitted a British-manufactured 316-grade Triple Lock flexible stainless steel liner and specified a Flue Cube anti-downdraught cowl, which improves chimney draw and keeps stove performance consistent even when the weather would normally cause problems, while keeping birds, rain and wind out of the flue.

To get the most from the stove we fitted a direct external air supply, an 80mm connection drawing combustion air straight from outside rather than from a room vent. That reduces draughts in the room and gives a cleaner, more efficient burn with lower emissions and less fuel used. The installation was completed with a Contura 210 wood burning stove and a carbon monoxide alarm, then fully commissioned, safety tested, HETAS certified and demonstrated to the homeowners before handover.