Can a stove be fitted into a garden room, yurt, van etc, safely?

[@markproctor3435]

I’ve been putting a log burner in my workshop for about 6 months now and safety on the installation has been my priority. I’ve trawled the internet and KZbin for good informative content in all aspects of the fitting (mostly for regulations and safety aspects) This video is by a million miles the best I’ve ever seen and wish I’d seen it months ago. I’ve bought all my flue system from a local family run business so I can pick they’re brains and knowledge. As you say I have been through all the installation with a fine comb knowing where the possible risks are. I now feel confident in my installation BUT I am scared to light it 😅 Many thanks for a totally brilliant informative video, I wish I could tell more guys trying the same as me.

[@TheTortoise]

That’s really kind, thanks a lot. As long as you have a smoke/CO alarm there is not too much risk as you’ll be in there doing things and not be asleep. Light it up, I hope it’s excellent, but if you are struggling feel free to ask a question.

[@TheBadMadMan786]

Great content. Refreshing to hear accurate information consistently. Cheer’s from the southern tip of Africa.

[@TheTortoise]

Thanks a lot.

[@Jellyf0x]

Perfect timing, we've just finished our garden room. Thank you. I'll let you know how it goes.

[@TheTortoise]

Awesome, yea let me know!

[@knockeyecubley3700]

"You've gotta make sure the flue goes above the building," wow, this guy's a goddamn genius.

[@bobbysilver272]

This is a REALLY informative video. Thank you.

[@me.my.son.and.i]

This was an amazing watch, thank you! It was jam packed with useful, important, valuable information. I'm starting a caravan renovation project, in which I plan to live for a couple of years on my parents land and I am desperate to include a log burner. Some of your points fill me with a bit of fear, which does make me nervous, but I think the most important take away here is awareness.

[@TheTortoise]

You’ve got it. I’m glad to hear it’s caused you to question, that is the key thing. Sadly it’s arrogance that gets you in these situations, so you’re perfectly placed for success. If you have any questions during your project then feel free to just message here 👌👍

[@me.my.son.and.i]

@@TheTortoise Mostly I'm overwhelmed by all of the decisions which need to be made. I thought it was best to get a 'professional' to install it, but I've been quoted £2k install only, before I've even chosen the burner and the flue system. The most affordable option I've found, the supplier specifies I should use there 76mm single wall flue otherwise another 3inch flue can't be guaranteed to fit properly, but I'm here agreeing with your statement that really I want an insulated flue, and so then I'm back to having to work this out myself and find a suitable product haha. It's an endless circle!

[@TheTortoise]

You’ll get there. It may work better to work together with a builder or handyman. That way you get the benefit of their experience when cutting through the roof and sealing things up, but you can also take the responsibility and properly understand what you,be done and why. You can also then edit things in the future if (for example) an extension to the flue is needed etc.

[@dazpower1234]

Good video I’ve sold my smokeless coal all 600kg of it wood only now thanks to you

[@TheTortoise]

That’s a serious amount of smokeless, but to be fair your chimney will be grateful 😬😆

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Very good explanation

[@carolinebluerose]

Love the little stove , what make is it please ?? 😄

[@TheTortoise]

It’s a Saltfire Apple Pi stove.

[@mkdy218]

Proper job mate

[@pollyw4252]

Really informative but just wondering if you need to put in protection at the back of the stove to protect the wooden wall?

[@TheTortoise]

Every situation is different. No one will ever say no to that question, so it’s tricky. When it comes to safety all anyone will say is go safer, because they don’t want to be blamed for an issue. Hence why these things can often lead down a rabbit hole until they become impractical, ridiculous, and someone says “it’s health and safety, gone mad”. So the intention of the video is to encourage you to take your own risks, and edit things as you learn. We’ve fitted big 10kw stoves directly in front of softwood boards with as little as 10mm gap. Nothing has burned, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it, it’s just a silly test we’ve been doing for the last 4 years, to see at what point things go wrong.

[@pollyw4252]

Cheers, edit as you learn is my new mantra 👍😁

[@TheTortoise]

It’s a bit like life generally 😅

[@p.santos6694]

Very good explanation, thanks a lot. How much can cost your wood stove and flute ? 👍👍👍

[@TheTortoise]

You’ll need to have a look around, like with buying a car, costs will vary enormously. You can buy a stove for a few hundred all the way up to several thousand, and flues also vary this much too.

[@sidperry7748]

Thanks for the videos they are great help and entertaining, is the srove allowed in a converted garage used as a habitable room that had to comply to building regs ? The room is 2.4m x 5.5 m x 2.3 m or could you recommend something that would be more suitable, the room is used to relax in and watch TV , thanks

[@TheTortoise]

If the building is subject to building regs then you can still have a stove, you just need to also install the stove in a way that complies with building regs and sign it off. Definitely no issue with still having a stove though.

[@raymondrobertson8453]

Very educational will be buying a house and would like to have a Back boiler Burning stove. Where are you guys based?

[@TheTortoise]

We’re in Somerset, but we don’t run a stove shop, we just muck about online 😆.

[@Himoutdoors]

What make is that natty stove with an oven on top? If you were building a shed from scratch to accommodate a wood burner, would you incorporate bricks? What’s the safest way to implement? Thanks

[@TheTortoise]

Making the walls near the stove out of bricks is definitely a good idea. The stove is a Saltfire Apple Pi stove.

[@Himoutdoors]

@@TheTortoise thank you.

[@gb4780]

I'd probably use Calcium Silicate board

[@sutt16v]

Very informative, thank you for the video. We want a log burner to go in our 30SqM garden room which is being built in 6 months. Is there a recommendation on log burner size / output rate for room sizes? Christ, I’m now thinking of more questions….

[@TheTortoise]

Sizing a stove is an important question. This link is useful, it’s an older video, but the content is quite helpful as mistakes are often made here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5bHiWCPi7-Ebqssi=gB62l4Km5zIshfp-

[@sylviewheeler6237]

Thanks so much ! I have learnt so much from you !

[@TheTortoise]

You are so welcome!

[@theboycalledleaf]

Hi, I'm considering installing a small (sub 5kw) stove into a 3x3x2m garden room. The walls are stud 2x4 and clad with timber. I have two choices, roof or wall exit. Roof would be better as there would be no bends, however the roof is bitumen based Onduline. Either way I pass through a combustible material and would need insulated pipe and a sleeve. Which would you consider preferable? I'm concerned a roof gasket won't contour, seal or adhere well to the Onduline. Many thanks.

[@TheTortoise]

Definitely the roof, you could look up a product called “rapid flash” which may be a simpler fit.

[@theboycalledleaf]

@@TheTortoise thank you. The gasket looks ideal. You wouldn't have any problem with exciting through the corrugated bitumen roof? I assume a roof gap of 70mm to the twin walled flue would suffice? Thank you again for the advice.

[@TheTortoise]

@@theboycalledleaf Most flues only require a 50mm air gap, so no it's certainly do-able.

[@theboycalledleaf]

@@TheTortoise thank you so much for your advice. I have some interior lining to do and then I'll consider a stove. Top stuff. Great video too.

[@KGMakeRestore]

If you install a wood burner into a outbuilding which is under 30msq ie exempt from Building Regulations, is it exemption from Building Regulations? Thanks

[@TheTortoise]

I’m not entirely sure what your question is, but yes these buildings do tend to be exempt. The main issue is therefore making it work well, rather than just ticking off rules.

[@robertwilson3821]

You commented that an anti down draught cowl affects the draw. Does an ordinary rain and birdcage cowl reduce draw? I live in a bungalow with a relatively short chimney.

[@TheTortoise]

It could do. Every situation is different so you tend to try and solve things when you discover a problem not before. This is because it is almost impossible to pre-empt a draw issue in normal situations. Have you got an existing issue, are you planning something?

[@robertwilson3821]

@@TheTortoise Thank you. I did not expect you to be working on a Sunday afternoon. Shows dedication.

[@TheTortoise]

@@robertwilson3821 yea I probably need to look at that balance, I’ve always loved work.

[@TurnFullCircle]

just stumbled on this one....planning a summer house/garden room for this year. 4m x 3m have you any stove output recommendations ?.thanks...

[@TheTortoise]

Generally the smaller the better, given the size and modern insulation etc. The stove in here is an Apple Pi, which is very diddy, and we’ll suited to these small spaces.

[@TurnFullCircle]

Thanks for the info...all the best....Cheers@@TheTortoise

[@Dan_TheMedic]

With the current increase to fuel bills, I'm seriously looking at putting a small multifuel stove in my garden room. It's a 16x12ft (mancave) and wood construction (sorry, couldn't resist that spelling). I'd be rreally interested in working with you to document this install for others out there looking to do the same without drafting in a 'professional' installer, just to prove your point that with the right advice and guidance (the video I'll produce), this really is a project that can be carried out by those with enough ability. I built my bar from watching a series on here and had never built anything to this size or spec but have had numerous compliments on its construction so know the above would be achievable. I'll drop you an email.

[@TheTortoise]

Hi Dan, Just back from a few days off, I’ll have a look at your E-mail. There may be an issue as whatever you do it is a risk. Partly what I’m advising is personal responsibility for that risk, so I wouldn’t want you copied (not that I think you’d do anything terrible)! It’s a really hard balance to strike.

[@clarkey1977]

So what would you guys recommend on the external flue height ?

[@TheTortoise]

There are so many factors that really is a “how long is a piece of string” question 😬. The moment you’re stepping outside of regs, you’re also stepping outside of advice so a lot of this is trial and error. I tend to start by getting 2ft above the top of a typical metal corrugated roof, and I then try it out to experiment with how it works in different situations. Sometimes your first try works, but it’s more common to need to tweak things again.

[@nataliebutler]

I have this stove in my house. It fits perfectly within a 1930s arched fire surround. Sounds like you're saying it's not allowed!

[@TheTortoise]

No the stove is fine in a house, but the additional pod that the stove was sat in doesn’t comply in a home.

[@Nivekthewatcher.6372]

Not going to risk it myself as we like to nap in the summerhouse so I'll leave it to the professionals to install id would be worrying about the fumes

[@TheTortoise]

That is honestly NOT safer. There is no way of doing installs into these short buildings in a compliant way, I would strongly suggest choosing a different form of heating if you are not comfortable with properly understanding and fitting these systems. Having someone else slot pipes together will not reduce your risk at all, these systems just slot together, so there is no difference between who does it, what makes the difference is you understanding the system and the risks taken. In this case my advice is do not fit a stove, because sleeping in a building like this without being properly interested in testing the stove yourself is an incident waiting to happen. All the best, I hope this was helpful rather than bossy 😳.

[@CoconutandFamily]

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[@markmolloy8647]

if you close your eyes, he sounds exactly like boris johnson

[@TheTortoise]

No, ahh😆! That can’t be true, how has that happened?