Costs & Process
If you gather three quotes for the same installation and they differ wildly, the usual explanation is not one installer being greedy. It is that they have specified different work. One has allowed for a liner, another has not. One is certifying the installation, another is leaving that to you.
This guide is about reading the quote rather than the price.
Lining: the biggest single variable
A flexible stainless liner does two things. It brings a wide old flue down to a diameter the appliance can actually drive, and it seals a porous chimney so combustion gases cannot leak into bedrooms and voids.
The cost depends on the length of the chimney, the liner grade, and how difficult the drop is. A straight stack in a two-storey house is routine. A tall stack with offsets in a period property takes longer and sometimes needs roof access equipment.
What HETAS certification adds, and why it is not optional
HETAS registration allows an installer to self-certify the work against Building Standards. Without it, the installation still has to comply, and you have to arrange a separate building control inspection and pay for it.
The certificate is also what a solicitor asks for during a sale and what an insurer looks for after an incident. A quote that leaves certification off is not cheaper, it has moved a cost and a risk onto you.
The smaller lines that still matter
Register plate and closure plate work, hearth compliance, a carbon monoxide alarm, and commissioning with a draw test. None of these is expensive individually, but a quote that omits them all is describing a different job.
- Hearth of the correct size and construction for the appliance
- Register plate fitted so the flue can still be swept afterwards
- Carbon monoxide alarm supplied and sited correctly
- Draw test on commissioning, with the result explained to you
- Written care instructions and warranty registration at handover
Frequently asked questions
Can I install a stove without a liner?
Sometimes, where the existing flue is sound, correctly sized and suitable for the appliance. It is a survey decision, not a preference. On most unlined Victorian coal flues, a liner is the difference between a stove that works and one that spills.
How long does a liner last?
A quality stainless liner used with dry wood and swept annually lasts many years. Burning wet wood or running the appliance slowly and cold is what shortens liner life, not age alone.
Does HETAS certification cost extra?
In our quotes it is included in the installation rather than added on. Be cautious of any quote where it appears as an optional extra.
What if my existing stove was fitted without certification?
Book an inspection. We assess it against current requirements and tell you honestly whether it is safe and what would be needed to bring it up to standard.
Why is one quote half the price of another?
Compare the scope line by line. Nine times out of ten the cheap quote has no liner, no certification, or no hearth work, rather than being a better deal on the same job.
Have your quotes compared honestly
Bring us what you have been quoted elsewhere. We will tell you what is missing from it, whether or not you use us.