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Chimney Repairs Birmingham
CHIMNEY REPAIRS BIRMINGHAM
A chimney is an integral feature of most properties, particularly older ones. They have been seen as one of the most important parts of a property for their generation of heat and warmth for cooking or comfort. As chimneys and flues age, they become damaged and lose their effectiveness with holding heat so they require regular chimney repairs Birmingham to keep them performing at their best.
In recent years, chimneys in the UK have been mostly used for wood-burning appliances or for Aga’s, open fires, or gas stoves to supply heat in the winter months and to provide a welcoming ambience to your home or business.
During the summer and in more and more homes in the UK, they are left unused, or even taken down if no longer used. Even if it is not used, both the flue and the chimney must be properly maintained and any chimney repairs Birmingham must be undertaken.
If a chimney is being used with a stove or open fire, it is of utmost importance that it is regularly maintained. A regular sweeping is an important part of a good chimney maintenance programme.
The type of fuel type that your chimney and flue is exposed to alters the frequency that you have it cleaned. At Turner Baker, we recommend you have your chimney swept at the following intervals:
- Smokeless fuel: At least once a year
- Wood – Quarterly when in use
- Bituminous coal – Quarterly when in use
- Oil – Once a year
- Gas – Once a year
Additionally, it is important to remember that the inside of your chimney is likely to degrade with age and use, in much the same way as the external structure does. If your chimney and flue is very old and has been used to burn coal in the past, it may also have issues with salt deposits, which continue to wear away at the brickwork long after being deposited.
Having your chimney and flue professionally lined is the best way to ensure that the internal structure of it stays intact for a longer time.
A flue liner is, in simple terms a tube that fits down inside an existing chimney or even an existing flue in an older property. Flue liners are available in many different materials including stainless steel, pumice, silica polymer and thermosetting resin.
Flue liners are an obligatory requirement for new build properties in accordance with building regulations Document J. This means that if you are building or moving into a newer property with a chimney that you intend to use for heating purposes, then it must be suitably lined.
Below is a list of different liners that we at Turner Baker can supply and install in your chimney and flue:
Furanflex liners from Turner Baker
Furanflex thermosetting resin lining system is a relatively new product available on the market. This liner is supplied as a soft malleable material which can be inserted into a chimney and is then steamed or ‘cured’ into a hardened structure that is resistant to heat and high temperatures. Perfect for chimneys and flues.
The Furanflex liner was introduced to the UK in 2010 following a long, rigorous testing process to ensure that the product met high UK standards. It was then certified by BBA for usage in properties (British Board of Agreement see website here www.bbacerts.co.uk).
We want to give you the best service, which is why we use Furanflex lining system in our work. Firstly, the product is installed as a flexible tube. This is useful for chimneys that have bends in them, which is often older properties.
The liner can be installed freestanding and it is able to mould to take the existing shape of the chimney which maximises the cross-sectional area of the flue. Various other lining systems are a set shape which may reduce the size of the flue, therefore effecting its’ performance.
Additionally, the Furanflex liner doesn’t adhere itself to the chimney. This allows it to be removed if necessary. This makes it the ideal choice for heritage properties that hold listing restrictions which won’t allow for permanent changes to the structure.
The Furanflex lining system is guaranteed to protect your chimney and flue for 25 years. In the event of a chimney fire, other lining systems such as stainless steel will need to be replaced before a flue can be used again. The Furanflex system is able to withstand very high temperatures. In theory, it should be able to withstand a chimney fire. However, any flue that has suffered from a chimney fire, we advise should always be inspected along its length prior to being reused to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
Stainless steel flue liners from Turner Baker
The entry point into chimney and flue linings is stainless steel.
Stainless steel is available in either a flexible format to accommodate bends in the chimney or flue, or as a rigid piece. Our flexible stainless steel liners are supplied as one long piece and can be used for either multi fuel stoves or gas/oil appliances, whereas rigid stainless steel is supplied in sections that are slotted together.
The Positives and Negatives of Stainless Steel Liners
Positives
- Relatively inexpensive
- Ability to be installed as a freestanding unit either on the inside or outside of a property
- Used to refurbish existing flues
Negatives
- Short lifespan – many stainless steel liners are only guaranteed for 10 years
- Unable to withstand any chimney fire
- Can corrode rapidly with the use of certain fuels
- Easy to damage upon installation
Pumice Flue Liners from Turner Baker
Isokern Flue Pumice is a natural insulator. This is the unique property that separates pumice from all other chimney materials.
The insulating properties of Pumice allow the flue gases in the chimney to quickly reach their optimum temperature enabling the heating appliance to quickly reach its optimum performance after lighting.
It also keeps the chimney heated for longer as the heat output of the appliance decreases. This improves the heating performance and reducing the likelihood of condensation and soot build-up.
DM (DOUBLE MODULE)
The Isokern Double Module block system is a high quality chimney system, used extensively in Scandinavia and many other parts of Europe. The double wall system maintains flue gas temperatures while preventing heat from being transfered to the outer casing. The separation of the inner and outer components also allows for thermal movement, reducing the risk of cracking and subsequent leaking or staining both on the interior and exterior. It is simple and quick to build. The Double Module is available in 3 outer casing sizes and is ideally suited to new builds and for the use of constructing entirely new flues and chimney stacks.
FLUE LINERS
The Isokern flue liner range consists of over 17 different sizes. They can be used for new build, extensions and relining existing chimneys on properties.
Please call Turner Baker Ltd on 01432 839123 if you are interested in any of these lining products or to book in for chimney repairs Birmingham.