DIY BLOG - Stove and Flue installation

When taking on a refurbishment project it may be common understanding that jobs inevitably, and invariably, begin to grow arms and legs. Quite often the excitement and vigour of taking on such a project can obscure the naivety or ignorance in what that job may actually entail, or sometimes what started out as a small intervention, quickly becomes the complete dismantling of a wall.

This was true of our valiant attempts to ‘simply’ redecorate the old living room in the traditional part of our croft house on Skye: what began as a simple redecoration became the stripping out of an entire wall.

COTTAGE TYPE No.6a

The original croft house had been built in the 1920’s when my great-great grandfather and his family moved from Aird on Lewis, over to the Minginish peninsula in the West of Skye. The move was part of a government drive to pull people closer to the mainland following the Highland Clearances of the previous century. The board of agriculture offered the incentive of land for crofting and some modest materials to form a temporary shelter before a more substantial croft house could be built.

That croft house was known as Cottage Type 6A.

The original croft house was based on a generic plan of three habitable spaces with a connecting hall and entrance the front elevation. To the rear, a lean-to provided a scullery, larder and coal store.Image courtesy of Skye and Lochalsh Archive Cen… — The original croft house was based on a generic plan of three habitable spaces with a connecting hall and entrance the front elevation. To the rear, a lean-to provided a scullery, larder and coal store.
Image courtesy of Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre in Portree

Original Type No. 6a in Fiskavaig - the Western most point of Minginish. You can make out the corrugated steel cladding and diamond pattern asbestos tiles. The building has fallen in to disrepair but the internal timber lining is still present. The … — Original Type No. 6a in Fiskavaig - the Western most point of Minginish. You can make out the corrugated steel cladding and diamond pattern asbestos tiles. The building has fallen in to disrepair but the internal timber lining is still present. The houses were modest in construction and layout but managed to provide shelter in the harsh Islands weather.

Here you can see the internal stone rubble wall, timber lining boards supported on the timber straps, fixed back into the stone with timber dooks. The fireplace shown here is an upgrade from the original - it certainly would have been a larger openi… — Here you can see the internal stone rubble wall, timber lining boards supported on the timber straps, fixed back into the stone with timber dooks. The fireplace shown here is an upgrade from the original - it certainly would have been a larger opening as all the cooking would be done here. This later alteration is purely for warmth from an open fire and not for cooking over

CUTTING OFF THE HEAD…

In our property, the fireplace had similarly been replaced and modern plasterboard lining fitted to allow for a wallpaper finish. For years a bulge in the wall, around the fireplace, made me feel a little nervous about what may be going on behind the lining - was the stone wall subsiding? My wife and I originally decided that we would just decorate this room, removing the dado band and giving it a fresh, white coat of paint - curiosity however got the better of me and I had to investigate.

The first step was to try and remove the fireplace - I had no love for the tiled surround and hearth and was not too worried about damaging it. The thing weighed a tonne and it took a little while to coax it from the wall.

At this point we discovered the timber lining behind the plasterboard and wondered whether we should stop, put the fireplace back, and pretend nothing had happened. For me the fun of finding the timber lining in place meant I was determined to see i… — At this point we discovered the timber lining behind the plasterboard and wondered whether we should stop, put the fireplace back, and pretend nothing had happened. For me the fun of finding the timber lining in place meant I was determined to see if it was in good enough condition to keep and express. Also seeing the state of the infill block wall around the fireplace, I couldn’t in good conscience leave it as it was…

SET IN STONE

The excitement of uncovering a random rubble stone wall was soon quenched by the state of the mortar and the fireplace. More importantly however it spoke volumes about the lack of care and workmanship when alterations had been made to the house - this was true of many other areas where workmanship was poor or inappropriate materials were used.

Ever the curse of the architect who can’t sit still in a space for noticing lazy or upsetting details, I had to try and recover the fireplace and express the stonework as a feature wall. This meant two things:

1. Making the wall nice to look at as an exposed finish
2. The opportunity for fitting a wood burning stove - especially since this wall would remain uninsulated.

The idea is that the wall would take on the thermal heat from the stove, storing it within the mass of the stone and throwing it back into the room like a large radiator.

We discovered the fire had a back boiler, with a pipe running up to the attic space and through to the kitchen - both tanks had long since been removed so this feature was redundant. Many stoves are fitted with back boilers to take advantage of the … — We discovered the fire had a back boiler, with a pipe running up to the attic space and through to the kitchen - both tanks had long since been removed so this feature was redundant. Many stoves are fitted with back boilers to take advantage of the heat and use it to buffer the hot water. This is especially helpful as there is no Gas network on Skye and Boiler options are either electric, oil or liquid petroleum gas/gas canisters.

The actual stone itself was in good condition but the mortar was brittle and rough - clearly it was finished to be covered up. If it were to be exposed we would need to rake out the existing and re-point with in Lime mortar

With the extents of the plasterboard and timber lining removed, we could get a picture of the state of the wall behind. Quite a bit of the block work above the back boiler came away easily enough - this had been the source of the bulge I was worried… — With the extents of the plasterboard and timber lining removed, we could get a picture of the state of the wall behind. Quite a bit of the block work above the back boiler came away easily enough - this had been the source of the bulge I was worried about.

Whilst removing the block work built around the stove, we noticed that the original lintel, comprising of iron straps between layers of rough poured concrete, had been chopped into to fit in the blockwork.

I was a little nervous about the stability of the wall because of this however the weight of the stone above was nominal due to the void formed by the chimney flue. Regardless, it made sense to fit a new concrete lintel.

Thanks to to the purchase of an SDS demolition drill, removing the blockwork was reasonably easy work, though I wasn’t aware there was still water in the back boiler and a slick of sooty water worked its way across the floor.

We purchased a 5kW multifuel stove, flue and all fittings from Alex at Bonk and Co. in Inverness. We felt the heat output would be sufficient for the space and it also keeps building regulation requirements simpler than a bigger stove. We wanted the… — We purchased a 5kW multifuel stove, flue and all fittings from Alex at Bonk and Co. in Inverness. We felt the heat output would be sufficient for the space and it also keeps building regulation requirements simpler than a bigger stove. We wanted the stove to be capable of burning peat as well as wood.

Checking the stove in the recess to see how it sits. The recess is a bit too big for the stove but we had a plan to reduce it’s size as part of fitting the new lintel.

BUILDING BLOCKS

As we planned to fit a new concrete lintel, we would need an end bearing either side to take the weight spread across the lintel. It made sense to build up a leaf of blockwork either side to provide this bearing and to reduce the overall size of the recess to something more in proportion to the stove we had purchased.

FIREPLACE RECESS:

100mm concrete block
145 x 100 reinforced concrete lintel
Premium white Portland cement
Building sand
Wheelbarrow and Spade for hand mixing
Trowel
Spirit Level
Bolster
Hammer
Grinder with stone cutting disc

STOVE & FLUE:

Charnwood Country 4 Woodburner
5" x 500mm length telescopic stove pipe matt black
1000 x 500 Register Plate 1.5mm thick galvanised
5" Register Plate Collar stainless with gasket
5" - 6" flexible liner adaptor
6" 904 grade midflex liner
6" Top hat insert
Junior Birdcage Cowl stainless
Leca 50 ltr insulating vermiculate

Drawing a sketch elevation to check the dimensions required for the flue and associated kit gives you a guide and confidence that everything will fit ok

This detailed section shows how the stove and the flue would fit together and function

We mixed cement mortar at a ratio of 4 parts Portland cement to 1 part builders sand and added water until the mix became ‘workable’. As this was my first attempt at building block, let alone mixing cement , I was dubious as to what ‘workable’ actua… — We mixed cement mortar at a ratio of 4 parts Portland cement to 1 part builders sand and added water until the mix became ‘workable’. As this was my first attempt at building block, let alone mixing cement , I was dubious as to what ‘workable’ actually meant.

In truth it became easy to determine whether the mix was too ‘dry’ or too ‘wet’. The mortar should hold its shape when mixed through but not be so thick that it appears grainy; it also shouldn’t feel ‘wet’ or have any excess water coming out of it w… — In truth it became easy to determine whether the mix was too ‘dry’ or too ‘wet’. The mortar should hold its shape when mixed through but not be so thick that it appears grainy; it also shouldn’t feel ‘wet’ or have any excess water coming out of it when you lift it up with a trowel. This photo shows the dry mix of cement and sand.

The first few stages of laying the block were relatively easy. I left 10mm between blocks for mortar and made any cuts using a grinder with a stone cutting disc.

When I got to the top level of the block I needed to cut the block horizontally. I used the grinder to cut around the edge of the block, then used a hammer and bolster to cut off the excess - this was because the grinder I used only had a cutting de… — When I got to the top level of the block I needed to cut the block horizontally. I used the grinder to cut around the edge of the block, then used a hammer and bolster to cut off the excess - this was because the grinder I used only had a cutting depth of around 35mm.

With the block work finished, the next step was to fit the galvanised steel register plate. It was pre-cut by Bonk and Co. based on my measurements and fit the space perfect - the only cutting I had to do was to form a channel in the stone to the re… — With the block work finished, the next step was to fit the galvanised steel register plate. It was pre-cut by Bonk and Co. based on my measurements and fit the space perfect - the only cutting I had to do was to form a channel in the stone to the rear so I could recess the back edge of the register plate

As well as closing of the chimney and providing a base for back-filling, the register plate has to allow the flue from the stove to pass through. This meant fitting the plate and marking out the centre line, then drilling a hole with a metal bit to … — As well as closing of the chimney and providing a base for back-filling, the register plate has to allow the flue from the stove to pass through. This meant fitting the plate and marking out the centre line, then drilling a hole with a metal bit to allow a jigsaw and metal cutting blade to cut out the circle

Here we see everything lined up - looking good so far!

FLUE

Looking down it, you could see the chimney was far from straight - there was a little kink in it

The flexible flue liner is, as one would expect, reasonably flexible and quite capable of following the kink in the chimney - if somewhat cumbersome to handle! Note - this flue has a direction and must be fitted the correct way up! This is to do wit… — The flexible flue liner is, as one would expect, reasonably flexible and quite capable of following the kink in the chimney - if somewhat cumbersome to handle! **Note** - this flue has a direction and must be fitted the correct way up! This is to do with the flow of condensate back down to the stove

With the flue down the chimney, it was time to connect it to the liner adaptor. Self tapping screws made the connection and fire cement helped seal it

Mineral wool is fitted above the register plate for a couple of reasons: 1. It returns heat from the top of the stove rather than lose it to the chimney, 2. It softens the back-filled vermiculate which is poured from above, down the sides of the flu… — Mineral wool is fitted above the register plate for a couple of reasons: 1. It returns heat from the top of the stove rather than lose it to the chimney, 2. It softens the back-filled vermiculate which is poured from above, down the sides of the flue.

With the insulation in place, the last thing to fit before the vermiculate back-fill, was the concrete lintel. This had to be measured and cut - including the steel reinforcing rods which commanded quite a bit of effort!

With the existing lintel trimmed and the new concrete lintel fitted, the new recess was complete. It also mean that as the chimney was now sealed, it could be back-filled with vermiculate. Unfortunately I have no photos of this process, suffice it t… — With the existing lintel trimmed and the new concrete lintel fitted, the new recess was complete. It also mean that as the chimney was now sealed, it could be back-filled with vermiculate. Unfortunately I have no photos of this process, suffice it to say it involved standing on the roof pouring 10kg bags of small insulated chips down a tiny gap between the flue and the chimney…

I left the flue around 40mm proud of the top of the chimney pot, backfilling the vermiculate to the bottom and packing in wool insulation to bring it up to the top. I mixed sharps sand and cement 4:1 and formed concrete haunches to the top of the fl… — I left the flue around 40mm proud of the top of the chimney pot, backfilling the vermiculate to the bottom and packing in wool insulation to bring it up to the top. I mixed sharps sand and cement 4:1 and formed concrete haunches to the top of the flue and fitted the ‘top hat’ on top. Once this was done, all that remained was the bird cage cowl

POINTING

We mixed 3.5 NHL Lime to building sand 3.5:1 and added water until we had a ‘fatty’ mix. We kept mixing for some time and left it to become as fatty as possible before working it - thankfully we had an electric mixer for this!Working with Lime morta… — We mixed 3.5 NHL Lime to building sand 3.5:1 and added water until we had a ‘fatty’ mix. We kept mixing for some time and left it to become as fatty as possible before working it - thankfully we had an electric mixer for this!
Working with Lime mortar was also a first and I was a little intimidated by it. It takes a longer time to dry but I wanted to use a material that would allow the stone wall to ‘breathe’, allowing water moisture to pass and therefore allow the wall to dry inwards

All that remains is to fit the stove. At this point my wife and I took a sabatical to Edinburgh for the birth of our first child - a cold, damp croft house in the sticks was not an ideal scenario for the impending addition!

When I returned a month or so later, the Lime had dried enough to be ready for it’s first limewash. We are still in two minds about leaving the stone exposed or giving it a white finish with the limewash…

MOVING ON…

MAY 2022

After something of a hiatus, work has begun on the property once more. The last couple of years have been hard wearing for everyone finding their way through the Covid pandemic. People more than ever are realising the importance of the spaces they occupy and seeking to make improvements wherever they can… more blogs to follow

This plate is a bit of a mess and I struggled to get it aligned properly. The plan will be to fill the holes and spray out black grey.

The fire cement is used to seal the flue at the top of the stove - fire rope is inserted first, to coil around the outside of the stove pipe, prior to finishing with the cement

Looks good to go! I bought the stove from Bonk & Co. in Inverness and specify them for all my jobs

DIYDonnie Duncanson22 March 20191 Comment