have open fire, want to fit log burner

[JOEPRO]

They quote, you pay, whopee….great cover then after a fire, if the investigation shows incorrectly installed, faulty wiring etc. they dont pay. So really it's a gamble, if your installation is un approved you open the door to them not paying unless you can prove competency and it was correct.

NFU wouldnt cover my barn conversions until they were signed off by building control, except under a project policy. Even though the original buildings were covered on my existing NFU policy

This position is assuming the DIYr will be liable for inferior work.

What would happen then if you did have a professional carry out commissioning etc but it was flawed and the house went up?

In your opinion, would the house insurance also be invalid?

 

[addjunkie]

This position is assuming the DIYr will be liable for inferior work.

What would happen then if you did have a professional carry out commissioning etc but it was flawed and the house went up?

In your opinion, would the house insurance also be invalid?

If a pro has done inferior work, but made it appear correct paperwork wise, and the place went up, I think you’ be insured. But insurance co would counter claim from installers liability insurance.

On a different line. A builder I know well did a big extension, subbed the roof out. Hed only paid project subcontractor insurance for the duration of the job. About 18 months later, roof leaked quite badly. Insurance company paid, claimed from him, his project subby insurance had expired as hed only taken it out for the project. Roofer had gone Bump and told him to have sex and travel. Had to pay basically. Cost him about 15k.

 

[JOEPRO]

If a pro has done inferior work, but made it appear correct paperwork wise, and the place went up, I think you’ be insured. But insurance co would counter claim from installers liability insurance.

On a different line. A builder I know well did a big extension, subbed the roof out. Hed only paid project subcontractor insurance for the duration of the job. About 18 months later, roof leaked quite badly. Insurance company paid, claimed from him, his project subby insurance had expired as hed only taken it out for the project. Roofer had gone Bump and told him to have sex and travel. Had to pay basically. Cost him about 15k.

I can also provide a real world example - take a look see here



The above is a professional installation and commissioned boiler by an Oftec engineer. (Sorry to go off topic @gaz1 style)

This is at a relatives house.

No remote acting fire valve on the fuel supply line. Old solder fire valve still there - outlawed many moons ago.

As is the plastic Tiger Loop. These are now outlawed indoors also FYI!

Full metal Tigerloop is required with metal vent tube to exterior nowadays or even better mount it externally.

This boiler room is an extreme fire hazard due to these critical oversights by "experts" who should know better.

So what happens if this goes up? Does the home owner presenting an invoice and boiler passport guarantee insurance coverage for total loss?

Ironically as a DIYr who installed my own replacement oil boiler it is 100% compliant and had I brought the pros in I believe it would not have been. Difference is it is my own home and I care how work is carried out. I also fully understand the regulations. Unfortunately some (NOT ALL) tradesmen don't leave things the way they should.

 

[addjunkie]

In reality the customer on finding it not upto standard should expect the pro to put it right. If not the next stage is to contact the body he suggests it is compliant too…He should be-struck off etc. In reality cowboys everywhere.

Im lucky enough to understand the rules, so I make sure trades folk I use are aware of that!

 

[JOEPRO]

In reality the customer on finding it not upto standard should expect the pro to put it right. If not the next stage is to contact the body he suggests it is compliant too…He should be-struck off etc. In reality cowboys everywhere.

Im lucky enough to understand the rules, so I make sure trades folk I use are aware of that!

So the customer should be familiar with Oftec and Building Regulations despite paying a qualified registered engineer?

Just kidding but you know what I mean.

There are endless "ifs and buts" regarding insurance discussions and everyone's experience will vary.

 

[JOEPRO]

I might add there are also customers out there who search solely on the basis of the cheapest qoute which doesn't help matters.

 

[Gareth J]

We have a Clearview Pioneer 400, it's and amazing stove. It will run 24/7 easily without having to put coal/coke in and the glass stays clear if you have decent wood. I can light it with a decent dry log and some cardboard. They aren't cheap but I would buy another tomorrow. Woodburners are great but it gets old pretty quick if you have no control and have to re-light it every day.

Snap. It's a great stove. Though, due to it prioritising keeping the window clear, probably not the most efficient. What it does do though, is seal incredibly well. Unless yours has the DEFRA "idiot proofer" that stops you pushing the knob in all the way, next time you're off to bed and there are just glowing embers, no flames (really, none at all!), Instead of stoking it up, try shutting it down completely. It'll smother the embers and you'll be left with a pile of charcoal by the next day. That stuff is a piece of cake to light and gets a hot fire quicker. Easier than chopping kindling.

 

[dobbslc]

I trust you all have Building Control sign off for your oil tanks too as your supposed too

I'd need a sky hook holding mine up to comply
There's nowhere else for it to go!

 

[reb78]

I'd need a sky hook holding mine up to comply
There's nowhere else for it to go!

And then they would needlessly change the regs tomorrow making your sky hook a foot too low so you no longer complied.

 

[armalites]

Snap. It's a great stove. Though, due to it prioritising keeping the window clear, probably not the most efficient. What it does do though, is seal incredibly well. Unless yours has the DEFRA "idiot proofer" that stops you pushing the knob in all the way, next time you're off to bed and there are just glowing embers, no flames (really, none at all!), Instead of stoking it up, try shutting it down completely. It'll smother the embers and you'll be left with a pile of charcoal by the next day. That stuff is a piece of cake to light and gets a hot fire quicker. Easier than chopping kindling.

Mine is the full fat version that can be shut right down.

I must admit I don't chop kindling, one of my lads sells kindling from old pallets so I just use that but with really dry wood I can easily light it with just a couple bits of cardboard and no kindling.

Was chatting to a friend at a new year party, they have a Pioneer 400 and he was saying it won't run all night, turns out he had no idea they run much better with a bed of ash and has been completely clearing his out every morning, he asked how often I did mine and I told him sometimes it less than once a week

 

[reb78]

Haha. Have cleaned the ash out of my log burner twice since october! Its a giant though so I use the ash like extra firebricks around the back and sides

 

[gaz1]

i always through some ash back into the rocket stove just to layer the bottom of it and also some thicker chunks thats still left

to me it just seems better when lighting its kinda got into a bad habbit as theres very little left within the first burn chamber