builder recommendations

[lyn]

Does anyone know of someone who could put a wood burner in for me. I have been let down by the person who had promised to do it, and the nights are getting coldhttp://aroundmontmorillon.com/images/smilies/sad.gifer!

[Admiral]

Hi lyn,

I assume you're talking about the whole shooting match here; steel chimney liner, possible chimney base plate and of course installation.

The problem with employing an English builder etc to install the full works is that they are probably not aware of all the legal "niceties" that now complicate this once simple matter.

Thanks to new EU directives the kilowatt output of wood burners must legally match the size of the room. Some chimneys must not only have the steel liner right to the top but they must also have a base plate and the gap between liner and chimney filled with vermiculite.

I only know this through bitter experience. Won't bore you with the details.

I would recommend going native and using a French firm. We have always used Beauchesne in Montmorillon. See my ramblings about Beauchesne in this section under "Chimney sweeping."

If you went French you might well be surprised that their work is very good, usually cheaper than Anglais "experts" and of course legal so that if something unpleasant does happen, the insurance company can't duck out of your claim.

Sorry to rain on your parade but I think it's a better option than using an English "expert."

Happy hunting.

PS: As a word to the wise - I knew the English pork butcher from Bristol who, once he stepped off the ferry at Dieppe, became an expert in-ground swimming pool installer. He was eventually deported back to the UK.

[Fred]

I'll second what Admiral said about the British, be careful I've been here ten years and heard many horror story's. I'm not saying they are all bad, and I feel very sorry for those rare genuine ones that are getting a bad name because of the ones that pass there apprenticeship by practising on the unfortunate.

You may think the French are expensive, but they tend to do a good job and will probably still be there should you get a problem. By all means give the British a chance, but be very careful who you choose.

And make Sure you get a proper Devis before paying anything

[lyn]

Thanks for the replies. It is french builders that I want, so that I can get the all important guarantee for the insurance. The house is semi detached, so we would be faced with burning two residences down if anything went wrong. I tried Beauchesne when we were thinking of a pellet stove, but he said that unless he sold it to us, he would not be able to give us a guarantee on his work. I will try him again on Monday though. It is a Godin we have bought so perhaps he might agree to do that. What a maze it is. I don't like the idea of the right kilowattage. The one we have bought may be too hot. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!