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When you need a Chimney Expert
When May You Require a Chimney Expert?
It is not uncommon, for us to get calls from homeowners or building companies half way through a build or restoration project, along the lines of “We’ve tried to line the chimney and the liner has got stuck” or “we’ve lined the chimney and it doesn’t work”.
When considering lining your chimneys there are various things to think about. The really important things are:
- If you reduce the size of the flue, during the lining process or increase the size of the original fireplace opening, it will affect the performance of the fire.
- Stainless steel chimney liners are not the only solution. Recent innovations in the chimney lining industry mean that there are many different ways of lining your chimney and it is a good idea to consult an expert at the start of the project to discuss your options.
For example, if the chimney has several bends in it a stainless steel liner is not a good solution as even a flexible stainless steel liner will get caught on the bends and become damaged.
Which Chimney Liner is Best For Your Requirements?
Also, if you have a very large flue a stainless steel liner is not the best option – the larger the liner, the weaker it becomes, leaving you with a liner that is difficult to install, prone to damage and with a limited lifespan.
Turner Baker were recently involved on a project to reline the chimneys at Oakfield House, the Victorian Conference and Wedding venue at the heart of Chester Zoo. Various restoration tasks were being c
arried out including the relining of the flues to the main function rooms which are used extensively in the winter as open fires.
Turner Baker was not the first company to be approached to undertake the project. The original contractors recommended that for the very tall, narrow chimneys with multiple bends of Oakfield House that stainless steel liners would be a workable solution.
Unfortunately, as the lining work got underway it became obvious that stainless steel liners were not a good solution. The liners got stuck within the flues, unable to negotiate the narrow bends. The liner is shown wedged in the flue in the photograph.
The architects responsible for the project then contacted Turner Baker and we were able to 
recommend that for these particular flues, there was a better solution – a Furanflex liner.
Turner Baker are Furanflex Liner Installers
Furanflex is a thermosetting resin lining system. In laymen’s terms this means a liner that is supplied as a soft malleable material which can be inserted into a chimney and which is then steamed or ‘cured’ into a hardened structure that is resistant to heat and high temperatures.
What made Furanflex the best option for the chimneys of Oakfield House? Firstly, the flexibility. When the liners were dropped into the chimneys they were flexible tubes that could be manoeuvred into place around the narrow bends without damaging either the existing chimney structure or the liner.
Secondly, the Furanflex liner moulded itself to the existing shape of the flue and didn’t reduce
the size of the already narrow flues.
Thirdly, the Furanflex liner doesn’t adhere itself to the chimney and can therefore be easily removed if necessary. This makes it an ideal option for a heritage property like Oakfield House with listing restrictions which won’t allow for permanent changes to the structure.
Furanflex comes in two different formats – the Furanflex Black has been tested to 400 degrees Celsius and is suitable for all Decorative Fuel Effect type gas fires, gas and oil heating boilers – especially high efficiency, ductwork, pipes and re-sleeving applications.
The Furanflex RWV which we used on Oakfield House has been tested to 1000 degrees Celsius and is suitable for solid fuel appliances and solid fuel open fires.
If you would like to see a video showing a Furanflex installation, please click through to the Furanflex page on the Turner Baker website here http://turnerbaker.co.uk/linings-products/furanflex25/
Contact Turner Baker Today!
The team at Turner Baker have all been trained to carry out Furanflex installations. We have been successfully installed them in residential properties, schools and businesses for the past four years.
If you would like more information on Furanflex lining or any of our other chimney lining services please contact us on 01432 839123.
Alternatively; please contact by calling any of our regional branches:
Cheltenham: 01242 649660
Shrewsbury: 01743 343544
Worcester: 01905 611663
Hereford: 01432 839123
Oxford: 01865 236763
Bristol: 0117 336 0470
Cardiff: 02921 151303
Leamington Spa: 01926 257404