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TheShrink



Member Since: 25 Apr 2019
Location: Somerset
Posts: 47

United Kingdom 
Wood burner in thatch house
This website has never failed to provide some great advice and perspective so hope to get some on this subject.

Our farmhouse has two open fires but one of the chimneys has been condemned. HEATAS engineer says wood burner would be safer but there is a lot of conflicting information on the internet on this, much of which comes from the fact that wood burners haven’t been installed correctly or had the flue cleaned.

Just wonder what others views might be on this? Any experience would be appreciated.

Thanks
Post #941024 4th Feb 2022 8:05pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I'm no expert but to my thinking wood burners burn much more efficiently than open fires and therefore you're far less likely to get embers floating out the chimney?

I'd speak with your insurers, I'm sure they'll have an opinion. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
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Post #941027 4th Feb 2022 8:12pm
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SJM2018



Member Since: 06 Jul 2018
Location: Bristol
Posts: 296

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Aintree Green
I’d check with your insurer, but I think the opposite is true; you’re far less likely to get embers with an open fire.

I’ve heard of some horror stores where insurers have refused to cover, increased the premium significantly following the installation of a log burner. 2011 CSW XS 90
Post #941034 4th Feb 2022 8:37pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Probably a good question for Clayton our resident thatcher! James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #941038 4th Feb 2022 8:47pm
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Chugga90



Member Since: 07 Sep 2014
Location: Bucks
Posts: 208

We work on two different thatched cottages/houses.
Both have wood burning stoves. One, it’s insurer never questions anything about the chimney. The other seems to make requests and requirements with regards the chimney. The most recent one, was a minimum requirement for the flue of the stove to be 2.1 metres above the thatch ridge. Most years on renewal it decides to bowl the owner a new challenge.
So definitely seek in writing what they require.
Post #941044 4th Feb 2022 9:17pm
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bodstruck



Member Since: 09 May 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 911

United Kingdom 
I understand that a common cause of fires is a failure in the structure of the chimney which allows heat through onto the thatch which then ignites. Many companies will be out there with specialist advice but i would have said that a wood burner with a liner installed in the chimney would be better than a std fire.

Built my house about 12 years ago and as well as having a fire barrier, mains linked smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and an elec inspection every year the chimney had to be 1.8m above ridge height. This was all following the 'Dorset Model' of fire prevention/protection

And insurers insist on no bonfires within 100m of the house Sad
Post #941050 4th Feb 2022 10:12pm
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10751

England 
Chugga90 wrote:
We work on two different thatched cottages/houses.
Both have wood burning stoves. One, it’s insurer never questions anything about the chimney. The other seems to make requests and requirements with regards the chimney. The most recent one, was a minimum requirement for the flue of the stove to be 2.1 metres above the thatch ridge. Most years on renewal it decides to bowl the owner a new challenge.
So definitely seek in writing what they require.


Agree with Chugga90, they raised the height from the thatch ridge to the top of the chimney / flue from 1.8m to 2.1m so a lot of chimney flue making firms have started to make them taller so you don't have to build your chimney up higher. The other item to think about is if your roof has wire netting on one side or all over, some insurer's are ok with the netting on and some don't like it on at all, this is the same if you have a spark arrester on top of the flue, you must check this as it will be another excuse for them not to pay out.
bodstruck is right as well with NO fires within 100m of the thatched roof Thumbs Up

TheShrink
A wood burner would be safer than an open fire as it's the pointing between the bricks that deuterate over the years and then start leaking into the thatch, we have come across a few thatched property's that were still lucky to have the thatch on as we found evidence ( what we call " blackened thatch " ) when stripping the coats of reed off for re-thatching, if you have a chimney that has been re-pointed / rebuild from where it starts to the top then you will be good to have a open fire. 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.
Post #941051 4th Feb 2022 10:30pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5699

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
I work in two thatched properties that have stoves installed. They have had to have the chimney stack increased in height, which is a pain due to access, and also requires a fair amount of messing about with getting council, parish, and listing approval. They both require sensors in the chimney, yearly camera surveys, and swept at least once a year. They have two different tops to the chimneys as rules changed. I also know of at least four thatched houses that have burnt down due to their own fires all with slightly different outcomes all down to how insurance / rules were interpreted or complied to.
Post #941066 5th Feb 2022 7:57am
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walfy



Member Since: 29 Aug 2007
Location: Frome
Posts: 2658

 
bodstruck wrote:
I understand that a common cause of fires is a failure in the structure of the chimney which allows heat through onto the thatch which then ignites. Many companies will be out there with specialist advice but i would have said that a wood burner with a liner installed in the chimney would be better than a std fire.

Built my house about 12 years ago and as well as having a fire barrier, mains linked smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and an elec inspection every year the chimney had to be 1.8m above ridge height. This was all following the 'Dorset Model' of fire prevention/protection

And insurers insist on no bonfires within 100m of the house Sad



That last statement is a bit strange. I get that bonfires can cause sparks and cause a thatch fire. But what your insurance is basically saying your neighbours can't have a bonfire either. How can they insist on this? If you have a neighbour from hell, how could you enforce the no fire rule. 110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD
RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it
VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys

Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD
Post #941131 5th Feb 2022 4:17pm
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
Ask them how they are going to fund the rebuilding of your house if their bonfire is found to be responsible?
Post #941253 6th Feb 2022 2:07pm
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walfy



Member Since: 29 Aug 2007
Location: Frome
Posts: 2658

 
Id assume it would be hard to prove 100% who was to blame. 110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD
RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it
VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys

Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD
Post #941627 8th Feb 2022 12:53pm
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
In a civil court it would be 51% ~ The balance of probability standard means that a court is satisfied an event occurred if the court considers that, on the evidence, the occurrence of the event was more likely than not.

It's a Clint Eastwood moment "do you feel lucky..."
Post #941628 8th Feb 2022 1:04pm
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