Airwash system

Just a quick video really that shows the effect of the airwash system on a smoke bomb. The system draws fresh in from a top vent and then across the glass. This keeps the smoke from touching the glass, keeping it cleaner for longer. This video also shows the draw on the cold flue that I've got.

Plastering is much harder than I thought!

It's been a while, but with the Mrs recuperating and me being busy at work, I've just not had the time to get anything done other than fire cement the vitreous pipework and get the stove tempered with a series of increasing fires. For someone who is a self-confessed firebug, this was difficult to do!

Last weekend though, I did get the Sunday morning to have a go at the plastering. And it's something I've never done before, so I was a little apprehensive. I started off by removing a few loose/hollow sounding bits around the edge of the existing hole:

Then the wall was given two coat of watered down PVA. It maybe should have been just one coat, but it seemed to dry out fairly quickly, and the instructions on the bag of plaster said to wet the wall, so I did. Given that I've never plastered before, and this is a repair patch rather than an entire section of wall, I opted for Wickes One Coat plaster. It mixed easily, but seemed a funny colour. I'm used to plaster being a dark brown/tan sort of colour and this stuff was grey. Not that the colour matters, it just wasn't what I had expected.

So with the plaster mixed and poured into a bucket, I started with the edge bead around the cement board. This gives edge a hard metal finish that is also straight. Cutting and sticking the stuff in place with plaster was a bit of a fiddle due to the short sections needed, but it was done. I should have taken a photo, but forgot. With the plaster glue drying, I set to with filling the big hole in, starting on the left. To begin with, it seemed fairly easy to do. And building up the depth was going well until I got to the right hand edge and discovered the wall had what now seemed a massive bow in the existing plaster which I hadn't noticed before. I only realised this was the problem when I was struggling to match the levels. I could move the trowel one way and level the plaster, only to go across it again and score it quite deeply. However, I decided to persevere and sand smooth what was left once the plaster had dried. Whilst this photo is of the finished (well as finished as it's going to be for now) plaster, it shows the bow quite well.

With the top bit mostly done and now drying off a little, I made a start on the two narrow sections either side of the recess. Given that the bricks aren't straight, an edge stop bead would look a bit odd and just point out how uneven the brick work is. So I made the decision to attempt a hand formed angle. I doubt this was wise on my first go, but I figure I can always sand it back should I need to. There will be a certain amount of sanding and tidying to do anyway to clean the bricks, so a little more is no real hardship to ensure a smooth surface.

Once the corners were done, the top was given a smoothing over as best I could. This is clearly the bit that takes the skill. I was getting drag marks and bits sticking all over the place, no matter how wet I made the surface. But I did the best I could, and the rest will need sanding back to see how much filler I need! OK, it may have been better to pay someone to do this bit properly, but I'm glad of the experience if nothing else.

And with that it was left to dry. 5 days later and it's almost finished, so I can get the stove lit again. Whilst the surface finish isn't great, I hope to fix that this weekend with some sanding and filling. I also hope to get the metal closure plate sections done, the CO detector properly mounted and then find a pen that writes on metal so I can fix the information plate in place. All of this needs doing as the BCO calls on Thursday to hopefully sign off on it all!

Arrgghhh, I've been left in charge!

Due to my partner having gall stones, and a related pancreas issue, I'm home all alone with my helper and have been since Friday! So I doubt I'll be getting much done with, well, anything I suppose!

The only thing I have managed to do is get my car's battery on charge and give the thing a quick hoover. And I've only done that because he loves sitting and playing with the wheel and buttons.

Building Control

Well that took all of 10, maybe 15minutes with my questions. But the upshot is the BCO is happy with the install and will be back this time next week to sign off on the full install.

I've got a few things to do, but they're things I either expected or haven't done yet. They are

1, Fit a CO detector. Got one waiting to go.
2, Fit the information plate. Now I know what they want on it, that'll be done later.
3, Make and fit the closure plate plates. I've got the sheet metal, but wasn't going to risk fitting or making them before today.
4, Plaster the chimney breast. It needn't be finished or painted, but it's needed as part of the fire protection.
5, Seal the stove to the vitreous pipe. The BCO is happy with just cement for this, but I may fit a bit of fire rope just for my usual belt and braces approach.

So those things will be done over this week and weekend, ready for 11am next Tuesday when the man comes to sign off on everything. And they expect that to take 10-15 minutes too!

Flue fitting and the view from my roof.

Well Saturday came around, and the wet weather went on it's way too. So with my brother on hand with a set of roofing ladders, it was time to set to with fitting the flue.

The first thing to do was unwrap the flue and have a look at it. It's a 316 grade 5" DURE-FLUE liner as I don't intend burning much, if any, coal. Given that I forgot the nosecone, one end was slotted and taped up to form something resembling a cone and a hole drilled in the liner for some of BT's finest draw rope. 9M of liner doesn't look like much when sat on the driveway.

So with the liner ready, tools in hand and the ladders set up, I was off up to the ridge line and chimney pot. There was a bird guard fitted recently by the local stove shop, so I knew the pot would be good for the all-in-one cowl I had. This is the view from up on the roof before I started work.

So once I had stopped nosing into the neighbours garden's and otherwise admiring the view, it was time to start feeding the liner down the chimney. We'd uncoiled it on the ground, and I had then dragged it up by the draw rope. Thankfully I'm not fussed by heights so thought nothing much of standing on the ridge, holding the stack with one hand and playing about with the liner with the free hand. I suspect Mr HSE would have had a fit, but never mind!

I had feared that the liner wouldn't go down, would jam, tear or any number of things would go wrong. Turns out to have been quite the opposite. Feeding the liner down took all of 5 minutes and it only got caught for a few moments about a metre and a half in. Otherwise it almost feel in under it's own weight! This is what I was left with at the chimney end, and also the reason I ordered 9m when I think 8 would've done.

This was the fireplace end once we'd attached the adaptor. Plenty of liner left over, as there's nothing worse than ordering what you think it enough, only to find it 6" short. Also note that the liner will clear a lot of bits out of the chimney when you feed it down. The liner is ridged and much stiffer than a sweeps' brush so may knock mortar snots off too.

So from there we set to with getting the vitreous pipes sorted out too. Whilst the BCO wants to inspect the flue, I was told I could fit the other pipes too so long as the inspector can get at all the joints. This is why I had to alter the closure plate, but more of that in a bit.

Given that there will always be some wiggling about and altering of the joints as you go, the vitreous pipes were screwed together and the adaptor fitted and fire cemented too. It doesn't go off for hours so you have time to fit the flue into position without cracking any joints.

And then the only way of knowing if you've got it right is to fit the stove into place. It's not fitted to the pipes or sealed as yet, but without it you can't gauge the height or final position of the pipework within the chimney so I don't see how it can be done any other way. Especially given that my chimney tracks to the right, so it turned out I had to twist the pipework that way too. Well, it was that or try to knock four more bricks out of the stack without making a mess of things again. The photo was taken later on, when I had the fire guard back in place. I would've preferred it to be straight up, but I don't mind it being twisted to one side either.

Now the bottom end was sat right, I could get back to the roof to trim the liner and fit the cowl. Once up there, I was faced with this much spare liner, some lovely sunshine and blue skies:

I had a few choices of how to trim the liner: angle grinder with a 1mm cutting disc, a hacksaw or tin snips of one form or another. I ended up using a hacksaw as the grinder is massive overkill for something so thin (as well as a bit dodgy on a ridge, even for me) and the tin snips can be awkward to use when you can't get all the way round what you're cutting. Cutting it with the saw took maybe 30 seconds, so don't worry about time when it comes to this stage! The cowl is then a bit of a PITA to fit as you cut the liner to the top of the pot. But you need it sticking out to get the securing band done up. So I ended up stood on the ridge trying to pull a few inches of the liner up to get access. Eventually, I got it done but not with out scratching the back of both hands to bits on the sharp liner, the pot and cowl edges. There's no need to do the fancy folding with the securing straps, but I feel it looks more professional than just leaving them hanging. In an effort to prevent draughts, I have also sealed the cowl to the chimney pot.

Another thing to note at this point is how slippery the liner can be. It's already acting as a flue and channelling warm, damp air from the house. And by the time that air gets to the top, it has cooled and the water condensed on the liner.

As far as the liner goes, that's it fitted and all done. Well, I think so and I hope the BCO will agree on Tuesday too! The only other thing to do was the closure plate. I should really have fitted this at an earlier stage before arguing the liner and vitreous pipes into place, but I forgot in all the excitement of fitting the liner. So a slight change was made to it so I could fit it round the pipework. The hole has also been enlarged to act as an inspection hatch and will be covered over with a pair of thin metal plates. One will sit each side of the pipe so they can be easily removed in the future. I'll make these one I know the BCO is happy with this.

So that's it for now. The next update depends upon what the BCO thinks and what advice he has for me. Hopefully, it'll be good news!

Stove and wood have arrived!!

Wooo, much excitement yesterday.

I spent the morning working from home, and awaiting the delivery of the stove and all it's bits. I was like a child at Christmas, twitching the study curtains at every passing vehicle, just in case it was the delivery man.

And finally it was! I wasn't sure what to expect, or just how big the pile would actually be. Turns out, not that big after all. The stove sits on the pallet, the liner coiled round it and over the boxes of vitreous pipe bits. I should really have taken a photo at this stage, but I had to unwrap it all to check it was OK before signing for the pallet. The other pleasant surprise is just how light the liner is. At 9M long, I had feared it would be a bit of a weight to try either shoving up the chimney or dragging up onto the roof. Thankfully, it weighs about half of what my son does, about half an 18 month old child, or 5-6Kgs. So hardly anything at all. Although I did notice I had forgotten to order a nose cone for the liner, which I may live to regret. I'm sure I can fashion something from all the stuff knocking about in the garage though.

Once I had the bits and liner in the garage, I moved the stove into the house. Whilst it doesn't feel as heavy as I thought it would, now I've thought about it, 65Kgs is going to a right pain to position carefully within the fireplace once the flue's built up. I just hope the liner is as springy as I imagine it to be so I've got some wriggle room on it.

And now I've cleaned some of the overspill of black grout off the brickwork, this is the stove sat in the recess where it will be finally fitted. At this point I'm glad I didn't go for a bigger stove, as I think this fits just right. It fits with a 4"/100mm gap to either side and a 5"/125mm gap to the rear.

The vitreous enamel pipe that comes off the top of the stove is also a good fit. The second 45 deg bend sits just below the closure plate, so by the time I have the third bend in place it'll look just right. The third bend is to aim the adaptor straight up the chimney, as it leans off to the right. I may not need this bit if the liner will turn enough, but I've got the bits should it be needed. I also think it was wise to go off the top of the stove, as a rear T piece would mean it sat a good few inches further forward, which would look odd. As it is, it just sticks out from the recess with a good 14 1/2"/375mm gap to the front edge of the hearth. Building Regs require a minimum of 225mm to the door.

The other thing that surprised me is just how big the all-in-one cowl is. It's not far off the size of the damn stove! I also had a delivery of wood turn up late in the day, which was a builder's bag or 0.75m3 of wood for £45. It's wood rather than logs, but it's still at least 25% cheaper than the other local places. It's now stacked in the garage whilst I think about building a wood store.

Boxing in finished and grouting sorted too

Following on from my trial fit of all the boxing in boards, I made a slight change of plan and managed to screw the two horizontal boards into place too. The bricks were just about thick and strong enough to take a rawl plug. But I did still use loads of dri-wall adhesive anyway, as it seemed daft not to since I'd already bought a 10Kg bag of the stuff.

So with the adhesive mixed, and the holes drilled I stuck it all back together again. I also used a little of the adhesive as filler between the panels were I could and it now looks like this:

Whilst it still needs a touch of caulk in places and then the adhesive sanding flat, I'm quite pleased with how it's gone. It's even stopped the fireplace whistling for now too!

So with the adhesive drying, my attention turned to the grouting. This is not something I've been looking forward too, as I dislike pointing, grouting and other fiddly activities like that. I also wasn't sure how the black cement dye would work and what it would stain. But it needed doing, so I mixed a small tub of mortar and chucked in what I suspect was far too much dye. But it did indeed turn the mortar black, along with the bucket, the trowel and my hands. Thankfully, it turns out it does wash off. Equally, it turns out to not stain slate either. That's the thing that had me most worried, that I would end up applying it, only to later clean it back to find the slate stained a funny colour.

But my worrying was for nowt as it turns out. The grout went in easily when my little helper wasn't in the way, and it cleaned up just as easily too. To keep things as neat as I could, I did end up having to almost paint a border along the mortar joints in places to keep it all even. The stains on the plaster will get sanded back and painted over later.

The lines look a touch wavy in the photo as the grout hadn't fully dried yet, and wet slate goes black. But overall, I'm quite happy with it.

The next update won't be for a few days as I'm now awaiting the delivery of the stove, flue liner and other bits and bobs. I also need to contact Building Control to arrange that side of things. So hopefully, I'll soon have a fitted functioning stove.