Case study

A double-sided stove shared by two rooms

A Dik Geurts Prostyle Tunnel 11kW fitted through the wall and chimney breast of an Adel home, so the fire can be enjoyed from both adjoining spaces.

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ApplianceDik Geurts Prostyle Tunnel 11kW

LocationAdel, Leeds

SettingNew opening between two rooms

HearthAntique Leather granite

The thinking

One fire, two rooms

After looking at the size of the room and the way the house was being reworked, a double-sided tunnel stove made far more sense than a single-aspect appliance. The Dik Geurts Prostyle Tunnel sits in an opening formed through the wall and chimney breast, so the flames are visible from both adjoining spaces rather than being shut away in one.

The dual-door design is practical as well as good looking. Fuel can be loaded from either room, and the concealed handles and large glazed doors keep the appliance clean and contemporary from both sides.

The stove

Dik Geurts Prostyle Tunnel, 11kW

The Prostyle Tunnel carries an A+ energy efficiency rating and a nominal output of 11kW, which suits a larger open-plan living area. Precise, responsive air controls and airwash systems on both sides help keep the two expansive glass panels clearer for longer, so the view of the fire holds up from either room.

It is premium Dutch engineering with contemporary styling, and it is the sort of appliance that only works properly when the opening, the flue and the hearth are all designed around it from the start.

The installation

Forming the opening and the flue

Before any installation work began, the existing chimney was professionally swept and thoroughly inspected to clear soot, bird nests and other debris. That reduces the risk of soot falls during the work and confirms the flue is suitable for lining.

To take the double-sided stove, we formed a new opening through the wall and chimney breast, fitting reinforced concrete lintels where required for full structural support. The stove sits roughly 350mm above the finished floor so the flames read comfortably from both rooms, and the existing masonry breast was extended using non-combustible metal studwork to take the depth of the appliance.

Because the property was going through a complete refurbishment, we were able to build in a direct external air supply. That draws combustion air straight from outside into the stove, removing the need for a traditional room vent and improving combustion while reducing draughts.

The flue system was completed with a 180mm British-manufactured stainless steel flexible liner finished with an anti-downdraught cowl, keeping birds, rain and wind out while promoting reliable draw. A large Antique Leather granite hearth was set so the finished floor runs neatly up to its edge, then the stove was installed, commissioned, safety tested and demonstrated to the homeowners.

The job

Photographs from this installation

The finished Prostyle Tunnel in Adel, set into the stone-clad breast and raised 350mm above the floor.

The same fire from the room on the other side, showing the second set of glazed doors and concealed handles.

Manufacturer line drawing for the Prostyle 700 Tunnel, showing dimensions and flue positions.

The thinking

Why a tunnel stove suited this room

A double-sided stove is only the right answer when the two spaces genuinely belong together. Here the layout meant one appliance could serve both rooms, so instead of choosing which side got the fire, the opening was formed through the wall and chimney breast and the stove was set into it.

It also changes how the room is used. With glazed doors on both sides and concealed handles, the appliance reads as an opening in the wall rather than a box against it, and fuel can go in from whichever side you happen to be standing.

The detail

Air supply, height and hearth

Setting the stove around 350mm above the finished floor was a deliberate choice so the flames sit at a comfortable height from both rooms. The masonry breast then had to be extended with non-combustible metal studwork to take the depth of a tunnel appliance.

Because the house was in full refurbishment we could run a direct external air supply, drawing combustion air from outside rather than relying on a room vent. That suits airtight, modernised homes and removes a cold draught most people dislike. See how we install and the wider work we do around Adel.

Questions about this kind of job

Asked and answered

Can a wood burning stove be double-sided?

Yes. A tunnel or double-sided stove is designed to be viewed and loaded from two rooms, set into an opening formed through the wall or chimney breast. It needs the opening, hearth and flue designed around it from the start rather than added later.

Does a double-sided stove heat both rooms?

It radiates into both spaces, but not always evenly. Room sizes, ceiling heights and how open the two spaces are to each other all affect it, which is why output is matched to the combined space at survey rather than to one room.

What is a direct external air supply?

It is a duct that feeds combustion air straight from outside into the stove instead of drawing it from the room. It improves combustion, reduces draughts and removes the need for a traditional room vent, and it suits well sealed or newly refurbished homes.

Can you form a new opening through a chimney breast?

Often yes, but it is structural work. Reinforced concrete lintels are installed where required to support the masonry above, and the flue route and hearth are planned at the same time so the finished opening is both safe and properly proportioned.

HETAS registered

Installed with care, certified with confidence

Carl self-certifies every installation and notifies Building Control on your behalf, so the work is signed off properly and your certificate of compliance is issued for your records.