Chimney Lining
Chimney Lining & Existing Fireplace Installations
Installing a wood burning or multifuel stove into an existing brick chimney is one of the most popular ways to bring warmth and character into a Kent home. However, older masonry chimneys were originally built for open fires—not modern, high-efficiency stoves.
At Whitstable Stove Shop, our HETAS-registered engineers ensure your existing chimney is properly lined, insulated, and certified to keep your home safe and your stove performing at its best.
Why Your Existing Chimney Needs a Flexible Flue Liner
Modern wood burners and multifuel stoves produce cooler, slower-moving flue gases than an open fire. Without a properly sized stainless steel liner:
Poor Draw & Smoke Spillage: Gases cool down too quickly in a wide masonry flue, reducing upward draw and causing smoke to enter your room.
Tar & Creosote Build-Up: Cooler flue walls encourage condensation, leading to flammable creosote deposits and an increased risk of chimney fires.
Carbon Monoxide Hazards: Ageing mortar joints in Victorian, Edwardian, or 1930s Kent chimneys can crack over time, allowing dangerous fumes to leak into upstairs bedrooms or loft spaces.
Installing a continuous, flexible stainless steel flue liner from the top of your stove right up to the chimney pot creates a smooth, sealed pathway that improves efficiency, protects your brickwork, and simplifies annual sweeping.
Our Chimney Installation Process
Whether your fireplace is ready to go or needs opening up, our family team handles the entire project from start to finish:
Free Home Survey & Chimney Inspection: We visit your property anywhere in Kent to check the condition of your chimney stack, measure your fireplace recess, and verify air ventilation requirements.
Fireplace Preparation & Hearth Construction: If your builder's opening is bricked up, we carefully knock it out, install a new concrete lintel if needed, line the chamber with non-combustible board or brick slips, and lay your chosen slate, granite, or limestone hearth.
Dropping the Flue Liner: From the roof or scaffolding, our engineers lower the continuous 316 or 904 grade stainless steel liner down the chimney and connect it securely to your stove via a vitreous enamel flue pipe and register plate.
Weatherproofing & Cowl Fitting: At the top of the stack, we fit a dedicated chimney pot hanging cowl and weather collar to prevent rain ingress and stop birds from nesting.
Testing & HETAS Certification: We install a mandatory carbon monoxide alarm, smoke-test the flue to confirm a strong draw, light a commissioning fire, and register your installation for your official HETAS Certificate of Compliance.
Ready to Upgrade Your Fireplace?
Visit our Whitstable showroom to see our live stove displays or arrange a free, pressure-free home survey anywhere in Whitstable, Canterbury, Faversham, and across Kent.
