Chimney flue liner installation in Gotha

Before relighting a fireplace that sat unused

A chimney that has not been used for years may hold debris, nests, cracked tile or old deposits. The first step is an inspection and cleaning, and relining is decided only after that.

We tell you what the flue needs to be used safely and what can wait, and we put both lists in writing. If the house changed hands in the meantime, we also ask what appliance was last connected, because the lining that suited it may not suit the way you plan to use the fireplace.

What a relining estimate should list

Our written relining estimates list each part of the job, so you can compare them fairly with any other proposal. If a line is missing from a quote you received elsewhere, it is worth asking whether that part was left out or simply not written down.

• The liner product, diameter and length
• Insulation, and whether it is required or optional
• Top plate, liner cap and any extension
• The tee, adapter or other base connection
• Cleaning, tile removal and other preparation
• Separate lines for crown or masonry repairs

How the installation day runs

Relining day follows a set order, and we tell you the plan the day before, including when the fireplace and the roof will be in use and roughly how long each stage takes for your chimney.

• The flue and smoke chamber are cleaned
• The route is proven with a test piece or guide cone
• Insulation, where required, goes on the liner
• The liner is lowered from the top
• The base connection is made and checked
• The top plate and liner cap are fitted and fastened

Planning around a future appliance

If you plan to replace the appliance soon, tell us before relining. A liner sized for today's equipment may not suit the next one, and the new appliance's instructions may set a different size or product.

Relining once, for the appliance you will actually use, avoids paying for the job twice. Where the timing cannot be aligned, we explain what a temporary arrangement would and would not cover.