ali-s Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Two days early Got a phone call this morning from the wood burner guy asking if he could start today. There is a big dirty hole in the living room wall where the coal fire used to be. Unfortunately the fire wouldn't come out intact so a sledge hammer was needed. I took a photo of the fire before it was destroyed which I will post. Photobucket won't let me edit the picture at the moment so it is too big Luckily I was off work today so was in to take the call. I had booked a day off work on Thursday which was the day the work was supposed to start, I will take the day off anyway Every room in the cottage smells sooty but thankfully hardly any mess apart form around the fireplace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 How exciting - photos essential! Bet you can't wait - remember you'll have to let any new plaster dry out before you can light it, and then you're supposed to light a few small fires to 'cure' it - the fitter will advise you on that though. I had to put the central heating on to help dry the plaster out, I was so impatient - rather defeats the object of the woodburner, I admit, but I just couldn't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 Here is a photo of the fire, sorry a bit blured. The photo doesn't really do the fire justice, it looked really pretty when lit. The ovens either side were tiny, each oven had a oven shelf inside. The fireplace is now back to sandstone, the grotty hearth gone and fresh concrete put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 twas beautiful though but impractical for to-day and your new one will be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 yes, lovely but not practical. Shame it couldn't be salvaged. Looking forward to seeing pics of the new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 The stove should be in place today. The job has turned out to be more complicated than first thought. Yesterday was taken up with chipping away at the sandstone and what looks like pebbles from the beach which had been very roughly put inside the fireplace. Lots and lots of soot behind the place the fire was positioned, over 100 years worth. Even with everything covered up in the room and having the chimney swept the soot and the dust from the sandstone got everywhere. You should have seen the state of my sofas All the walls and the celing will have to be washed down if not re painted. Archie dog who is mostly white is now mostly grey after rolling about on the carpet last night That was after I had been over the carpet with the dyson for half an hour. I don't like the carpet anyway and is being replaced at some point. I had better get used to this kind of mess as the builders are starting on the loft conversion on Monday. Anyway the liner is now up the chimney and the slate hearth is in place. We had to keep off the hearth last night so that it could set in the cement, Andy came home from work and promptly stood on it When S left last night he said that the hearth was dead level, bet its not now after Andy stood on it Today the Stove should be put in place and the sandstone round the back and the side of the fireplace rendered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 You can guarantee there's always one who'll stand where they shouldn't..... push when they should pull....speak when they shouldn't...etc etc etc Usually me Glad things are going fairly well........and good luck with the loft conversion next week, how long do you expect that to last? Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 good luck with the loft conversion next week, how long do you expect that to last? Sha x The builders are putting in a dormer window, two velux windows and the staircase, the rest is being done by Andy so will be an ongoing project. The builders are going to be here about 2 weeks. Andy has already done the electrics which included moving the electric meter boxes. The boxes were in a cupboard which will be where the staircase is going. They are now on a wall in the hall, very attractive. Andy has also done some plumbing in the loft, some water pipes from the hot water tank up there were in the way. Oh and Andy has cleared the loft of at least a dozen dead Mice , he screamed like a girl at first and then was very brave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I have this vision of a hulking great Scots man screaming like a girl at a dead mouse Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 I have this vision of a hulking great Scots man screaming like a girl at a dead mouse Sha x He was born in London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I just love the old fire Ali, shame you're so far away or I'd have taken it off you. I hope the mess clears soon and the log burner is useful - mine is the best thing I ever bought and I never have to pay for any wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 I just love the old fire Ali, shame you're so far away or I'd have taken it off you. ! We have an even better one in the bedroom It is a proper range with two ovens and a chain to hang a kettle/ pot from. It is boarded up though as our bedroom is tiny and I needed somewhere to put a chest of drawers. S is still chipping away at the sanstone/ beach pebbles and has found that the fireplace goes back further than first thought. The sandstone he has found behind the rubbish at the front is blackened as though this was once the original fireplace. He is just back after going away to find another piece of slate to put behind the one he laid yesterday. I have decided to leave this new lot of stone exposed, the sides will probably still have to be rendered, we will see. I just love old properties, you just never know what you will find I must admit I thought this job would take a couple days, I think S will be back tomorrow at this rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Don't ... I want that! I found a cast iron fireplace behind some boarding in my bathroom - it used to be a bedroom, with the bathroom being outside in a lean-to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I like the old stove We had our loft converted last year ... there seemed to be a lot of dust! It took a lot longer than 8 weeks as they hed to take half of the roof off on the one side to raise it to get the stairs in and the same with the back ... it looks good now its done and you wouldn't know it was never there because they matched everything up with the banisters etc we used to have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 Its finished I think S had gone by the time I got home work, so I need to call to find out when I can light it. Had a rubbish day at work, so tired I need to tidy up a bit before I take a photo of it Tomorrow after work I shall be log basket shopping and trying to buy some logs. With everything happening at once here we forgot about logs there are a few in our woodstore but they need chopping. The stove is multifuel so if need be we can use coal, we have plenty of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 The coal wil be useful to keep the fire in if you go out and aren't there to pop wood on it. I try not to use too much coal though as it's horrendously expensive, especially as I can get wood for free. You''l find that stove nuggets such as Phurnacite or Homefire burn better as they are desinged to burn really hot for use in stoves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 I will look into Phurnacite and Homefire I have never heard of those. The normal coal can be used in the open fire in the kitchen as I really want to use wood only in the stove. S came back last night and did the first lighting of the stove, a few pieces of newspaper. He was really pleased how the fire was drawing. He said to make little fires every 24 hours for about five days before using the stove properly. Each fire should be slightly bigger than the one before. I want a proper log fire now Still working on the photos. I put them on the computer and now I can't find them to load onto Photobucket and my computer whiz kid is away swimming for the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Normal coal won't last 5 minutes in a stove - it can't withstand the temperatures. Nuggets will make it burn hotter and last longer though. I only use about 3 nuggets at a time, then it stays in if I don't get to load more wood on quickly enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Here is the fully installed woodburner. Can you make it out ? The picture quality is not good, I think my camera is on its last legs Two more days and we can have a proper fire in it, maybe when you can see the flames the woodburner will stand out more. I can't wait to get rid of the beige swirley carpet I spent 4 hours yesterday washing down three of the living rooms walls, two doors, the window, windowsill and the window frame, everywhere was black . Ceiling still to do and one more wall when Andy gets home and moves the TV and cabinet. Sometime this week I am also going to have to find the time to shampoo the grotty carpet. Even after all that I still love the stove, it heats up really quickly even though I have only been lighting little paper and stick fires. I'm not happy with the photo so will try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 It'll all be worth it! I love my two woodburners and we're about to install a tiny one in the open fireplace in the kitchen too. They're so warm and cosy, not to mention infinitely more practical than an open fire. Don't get me wrong, I love my hissing, spitting logs, but you can't control the heat and you can't leave it in if you're going out. I prefer to use just wood on my stoves and once you get the hang of it, you'll find you can stoke it up, turn it right down and leave it for hours on end. I find with the multifuel-friendly coal thingies, they either burn out too quickly because you haven't turned it down enough, or they don't burn at all because you've turned it down too much. Burning them together with wood just makes everything burn out more quickly. And of couse it's much nicer to be left with just woodash as that can go on the garden or the compost heap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 And of couse it's much nicer to be left with just woodash as that can go on the garden or the compost heap. or in the chooks dustbaths !! Looking lovely Ali...I am very Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 First proper fire in the stove last night and I have to say I was dissapointed the fire roared away with the newspaper and kindling but I just could not get the logs to burn properly. I followed the instructions regarding the primary and secondary air vents and spent most of the evening open and closing the vents and re lighting the fire several times. Needless to say I got nothing else done as I was on constant fire watch. I think the logs were too damp although I was told they were properly seasoned. I now have several logs on the fireplace drying out. The logs hissed alot and the stove glass blackend. I had switched the storage heater off in the living room in anticipation of being warm and cosy from the heat from the stove. We were all cold and had to bring in a fan heater to warm us up, Natalie was sat wrapped in her duvet. The storage heater is now switched back on. I am on a split shift at work today so won't be around to nurse the stove tonight. I can't see Andy having the patience to tend to it like I had to last night. It took me 18 months of hard sell to convince Andy a stove would be a good idea I need to learn how to work this stove quickly. Any advice would be gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I always find that the first proper fire (after not being used for a while) is a bit touch and go. Does sound like your logs are damp though.. they need to be seasoned for 18 months after felling, then brought in to dry out before using. I have to say though that I've used damp logs before and it has been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 You just have to find the knack for your woodburner, then you'll have it down to a fine art. We have two different woodburners and an open fire in this house - we only ever turn the heating on if we have visitors and we're lucky enough to have access to as much wood as we can burn. Okay we have to go in with chainsaws and a trailer to fetch it, but it's worth it!! People have different ways of lighting their fires, but this is the one that works for me. - Open all the vents fully, light one firelighter and then add kindling a bit at a time. - Give it a minute to get going then start adding small logs, carefully so as not to put the fire out. - Until you've got the hang of your fire, keep watching to make sure it's drawing well and once the small logs are burning well, add more to fill it and wait for them to burn well too. - Once it's obviously going a treat, add some larger logs and start closing the air vents, not completely but I can get mine down to half a turn from closed which keeps the fire in and throws out a huge amount of heat. - Bingo, nice warm and cosy room. If the logs were hissing then they definitely weren't seasoned, but even seasoned wood that has become saturated won't burn well. It can be difficult to find a good supplier of logs because there are so many cowboys out there selling unseasoned softwood logs like pine and spruce and these just sizzle and spit everywhere. They also contain too much resin and cause tar build up which is not good either. The netted bags you see for sale at garages and garden centres tend to be like these - an absolute rip off! Maybe you can find someone to recommend a supplier of seasoned hardwood logs for you? My preference is for something like birch or sycamore for easy burning wood to get it going, then maybe ash or oak for larger logs to keep it in, but dry, seasoned hardwood is the way to go. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 You will struggle a bit at first until you have an ash bed, presuming that you don't have the multifuel grate in the stove. I find a good layer of double sheets of newspaper twisted in the middle, with a couple of pieces of kindling laid front to back then kindling built into a wigwam shape on top works well. the paper burns quite fast setting light to the kindling and the front to back pieces keep an ait gap as the paper collapses. We are lucky to have a supply of soft wood offcuts from building sites that we then add bit by bit, leaving all vents open fully for about 10 minutes until the fire is really going well. It is recommended that you burn your stove hot for the first 15 minutes or so every day to stop the tar buildup in the chimney. A tip for cleaning the glass is to have scrunched up newspaper slightly dampened with water ( or spitting on it works well and seems to keep the glass cleaner too - a chimney sweep tip) then dipped into the previous days ash. rub this over the glass and it brings the black deposits off a treat. We spent a fortune on nasty chemicals the first year then the chimney sweep gave us this tip, it sounds revolting but it really works and now our glass rarely gets dirty unless we have had the stove turned right down. We had quite a few damp logs last year and you can get away with it if you have got the fire going well with dry stuff first, but ideally you need good dry hardwoods. There are loads of suppliers in our area advertising on ebay so that might be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
