Comparisons & Choices
This is the first decision most people face, and it is worth getting right because it is not something you change later. The distinction is mechanical: wood burns best on a bed of its own ash with air fed from above, while mineral fuels need air drawn up from beneath through a grate.
How they differ physically
A wood-only stove has a flat firebox floor. You let a layer of ash accumulate, the logs sit on it, and combustion air comes in above the fuel bed. A multifuel stove has a raised riddling grate with an ash pan beneath and a primary air supply that comes up through the grate, which is what mineral fuel needs to burn properly.
Most multifuel stoves handle wood perfectly well, so the flexible option is not usually a compromise. The reverse is not true — burning coal in a wood-only stove damages it.
Fuel supply and running cost
In practice, fuel availability decides this for many households. If you have access to logs — woodland, a supplier nearby, or your own supply seasoned over a couple of years — wood is often the cheaper and more satisfying route. If not, buying kiln-dried logs by the bag is not necessarily cheaper than smokeless fuel.
Smokeless fuel gives longer, steadier burn times with less refuelling, which suits people who want consistent background heat rather than a fire to tend.
Maintenance implications
Wood produces more tar and requires more frequent sweeping — typically twice a year for heavy use. Mineral fuels produce less tar but more acidic deposits and a higher carbon monoxide risk, so annual sweeping and a working alarm are non-negotiable.
Multifuel grates and ash pans are also wearing parts that need occasional replacement, particularly where the stove is run hot on mineral fuel.
Which we would suggest
For most households in our area, a multifuel stove is the sensible default because it keeps the options open — burn wood while you have it, switch to smokeless if supply or price changes. Choose wood-only if you are certain of long-term log supply and want the cleanest wood-burning geometry.
Either way, get the output matched to the room at survey stage. That decision affects your comfort far more than the fuel type does.
Frequently asked questions
Can I burn coal in a wood-burning stove?
No. Without a grate and underfloor air, mineral fuel burns poorly and the concentrated heat sitting directly on the firebox floor damages the appliance. It also invalidates warranties.
Can I burn wood in a multifuel stove?
Yes. For best results close the primary air under the grate and run on the secondary air above the fuel, and let a shallow ash bed build up, which mimics wood-only conditions.
Which is better for a Scottish winter?
Both work; it comes down to supply. Where the stove is a primary heat source running long hours, many households prefer multifuel for the longer unattended burn times overnight.
Does the choice affect flue requirements?
The flue must be correctly sized and lined either way, but mineral fuels produce more acidic condensates, which makes an appropriately specified liner particularly important in older unlined chimneys.
Talk it through before you buy
We will look at the room, the flue and how you plan to use the stove, then recommend accordingly.