From the workshop
Advice, and a few opinions
69 pieces written over 2015–2026 — about chimneys, stoves, gas fires, and the things that go wrong with them. Some of it is seasonal, some of it is a warning, and one or two are simply a good fire we were pleased with.
29 July 2026
Inset Fires vs. Freestanding Stoves: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to choosing a new fire for your home, one of the first big decisions is whether to go for an inset fire or a freestanding stove. Both offer impeccable comfort, but…
15 July 2026
The Best Fireplace Accessories to Buy This Year
There’s nothing quite like a real fire on a cold evening, and the right accessories can make a huge difference between a fireplace that’s functional and one that’s a genuine…
21 March 2025
Transitioning Your Fireplace from Winter to Spring
The onset of springtime is the perfect opportunity to transition your fireplace from winter to spring. While your fireplace may have been the heart of your home during the autumn…
9 December 2024
How to Prepare Your Fireplace for Winter
Winter is almost here, which means it’s almost time to get the fireplace started up for the first time. But if you haven’t lit the fireplace since last winter, there can be some…
29 November 2024
Signs It’s Time for a New Fireplace
One of the best things about fireplaces is how it creates a cosy ambience in your home during the winter months, but how do you know when it’s time to part ways with your old one…
9 September 2024
The Dangers of Not Sweeping Your Chimney and Servicing Your Fireplace
With the colder seasons approaching and winter festivities on their way, fireplaces and log burners are sure to see a steep incline in usage in the coming months. That’s why, at…
29 August 2024
Birds Nesting in Your Chimney? Here’s What You Need to Know
In the early spring, birds begin to nest, and it’s common for them to set up shop in your chimney. Although you may not think much of it, birds nesting in your chimney can…
29 August 2024
What Are The Regulations Around Wood Burning Stoves?
Wood burning stoves are a wonderful addition to any home. They bring warmth, cosiness, aesthetic, and are an efficient source of heating. Burning wood can also be relatively…
2 July 2024
A Introductory Guide to Smokeless Fuels
If you’re looking into having a stove installed in your home and you’ve come across the term ‘smokeless fuels’, you may wonder what it’s all about, particularly if you thought…
2 July 2024
What is HETAS?
Around the Wakefords website, you may well spot the HETAS logo – a sign of quality and compliance that we proudly display to our customers. But what exactly does it mean for…
11 June 2024
A Guide to Fireplace Inserts
If you thought that to transform the look of your fireplace or the way you heat your rooms you had to spend out on a completely new fireplace, think again; fireplace inserts are…
10 May 2024
Summer Maintenance Jobs for your Fireplace
It may not be the season for using them, but it’s definitely the season to give them a once over; whilst our fireplaces aren’t in use for the next few months, it’s a great time to…
10 May 2024
What to Consider When Choosing a Stove
Right now, it may not be the time of year to be firing up the stove, but it sure is the perfect time to upgrade or replace your current stove, or switch to stove heating for one…
11 April 2024
Top Gas Fire Safety Tips
A gas fire can be a quick and relatively low maintenance way to heat your home; with an instant and constant supply of heat whenever you need it, it’s easy to see why people…
11 April 2024
What Does Gas Safe Registered Mean?
When you’re dealing with a substance that is as potentially dangerous as gas can be, you want to know that everything has been done properly and to a specific set of safety…
22 March 2024
A Guide to Cast Iron Fireplaces
When it comes to a fireplace that adds character and charm to your home, you can’t go far wrong with a cast iron fireplace – they’re certainly a very popular option amongst…
22 March 2024
What is a Multi-Fuel Stove?
You may well have heard of wood or log burning stoves, but did you know that there is such a thing as a multi-fuel stove? We’re here to tell you all about them… What is a…
12 January 2024
5 Top Safety Tips For Log Burners
The UK’s love affair with log burning stoves isn’t set to fizzle any time soon, and it’s no wonder – they look good, they’re effective, and they save you money on your…
12 January 2024
Top Accessories For Your Fireplace
Whilst your fireplace is, of course, the main event, there are some companionable accessories that not only enhance the look of your fireplace, but increase its functionality and…
20 October 2023
What happens when your gas fire is serviced?
Getting your gas fire serviced is an essential part of its annual maintenance, not only to keep it working correctly, but to ensure it’s operating safely too. A gas fire service…
20 October 2023
Why do you need to keep your chimney swept?
Despite it not being the most glamorous part of owning a stove or open fire, getting your chimney swept is essential. The good news is that you don’t need to do it yourself; the…
25 August 2023
Beat the Rush: Get Your Flue and Chimney Checked and Swept
As the summer days slowly begin to fade, thoughts of a cosy, crackling fireplace become more and more appealing. However, before you indulge in the warmth and comfort of your…
12 May 2023
The Benefits of Installing a Wood-Burning Stove
If you’re considering installing a new heating solution in your home, you might want to take a closer look at wood-burning stoves. These stoves offer so many benefits from lower…
5 May 2023
Top Trends in Fireplace and Stove Design for 2023
As the world of interior design continues to evolve and adapt, so does the world of fireplace and stove design. If you’re planning on upgrading your fireplace or stove in…
28 April 2023
How to Clean and Maintain Your Fireplace, Stove, or Log Burner
Fireplaces, stoves, and log burners are a great addition to any home. They provide a focus to your room as well as warmth and ambience during the colder months. However, as with…
4 April 2023
How Fireplaces Can Add Value to Your House
If you’re looking to increase the value of your home, a fireplace can be a great investment. They provide great warmth and aesthetical appeal whilst providing functionality and a…
4 April 2023
The Benefits of Having a Fireplace or Stove in Your Home
If you’re considering having a fireplace or stove in your home, you’re onto a great idea. Not only do they add a rustic touch to your living space, but they also come with so many…
16 May 2022
Top 9 Fireplace Design Options to Try Out in 2022
Have you ever considered adding a fireplace to your living room or family room? They bring a sense of cosiness and comfort to any room. A fireplace is a great design option that…
21 January 2022
Why Do Fireplaces Smell? Here Is All You Need To Know
What is better than sitting in your warm cosy living room while enjoying your favourite TV show? The Winter season is thriving, and we all love to snuggle on a warm couch. But…
20 January 2022
Which Fireplace Is Best For The Environment
Here is All You Need to Know About Different Types of Fireplaces! There are no doubts over the fact that the fireplace is an integral part of the living room. However, with so…
13 December 2021
Here Is Why Log Burner Can Be Your Best Friend This Winter!
Winters are just around the corner, and so are the festivities of Christmas and New Year. Will these celebrations come ahead, and of course the chilly weather, you wonder to think…
22 November 2021
What Are The Essential Fireplace Tools You Need? An Ultimate Guide to Safety!
Fireplaces provide your living area with a cosy vibe and relaxing ambience. However, there is a high risk associated with fireplace handling. But that’s not you to worry…
28 October 2021
Unusual Uses For Fireplace Ash Around Your Home
As we move into the colder winter months one of the biggest by-products of your fireplace, ash, will develop at the base of the fireplace. Typically, most people will throw it…
28 September 2021
Colder Winters In Surrey
Over the last 30 years, Surrey has experienced some of its coldest winters ever. With temperatures getting more extreme in recent history, this trend of hotter summers and colder…
28 September 2021
Prepare For A Cold Surrey Winter
October is about to start, a chill is in the air and the days getting shorter. Now is the time of year that we all start thinking about keeping warm for the winter. We can look…
28 July 2021
What are the best woods for your fireplace
It is safe to assume that all types of wood burn, but it might surprise you to know that not all woods burn the same way. Some will burn at a higher temperature, some woods will…
21 June 2021
The Benefits of a Professional Fireplace Cleaning Service
Everyone who has owned a fireplace for a long period of time can tell you that it is very important to have it regularly cleaned, either by a professional or getting on your hands…
11 May 2021
Will I Need Fireplace Tools?
If you are considering getting a fireplace or have recently made a purchase, you may need to get yourself some tools and accessories to use it. Fireplace tools are there to be…
29 April 2021
Cleaning Your Fireplace and Keeping It Tidy
To ensure maximum performance and enjoyment from your fireplace, you will need to keep it clean and functioning at its best. A fireplace is an excellent addition to your living…
18 February 2021
Traditional Vs Modern Fireplaces
If you’re in the market for a new fireplace or you want to replace your existing fireplace, you will be met with the decision between purchasing a traditional fireplace or a more…
27 January 2021
Do Electric Fireplaces Really Heat A Room?
How Do Electric Fireplaces Work? There are a huge range of fireplaces available on the market these days and depending on your household, some options will be better suited than…
18 August 2020
The Best Wood Burning Stoves By The Telegraph
The Telegraph has written an article on the best wood burning stoves and covers some of the latest developments in the world of wood burning stoves. Having a wood burning stove is…
1 July 2020
We Are Open and Safe
Well, it has certainly been a trying few months, and we are all clearly still very worried about the future. However, we are very pleased to be open again as are many Surrey…
11 March 2020
Domestic Wood Burning Stoves are NOT Being Banned
Contrary to some recent national media coverage, the announcement last month by DEFRA to phase out the sale of coal and wet wood for domestic burning does NOT mean that wood…
7 February 2020
Gas Fireplace – Advantages
Fireplaces are an incredibly popular feature in people’s homes. They give a great sense of focus to a room, and a cosy heat in the colder weather. Whilst fireplaces might first…
27 January 2020
What wood would be best?
It’s definitely the time of year to enjoy the wonderful warming atmosphere of a fire. It’s so satisfying and comforting. But have you ever found that sometimes your wood burning…
21 October 2019
The Ultimate Guide to Wood Burning Stoves – everything you need to know
Are you considering buying a wood burning stove? A stove can be a stunning addition to your property and can make for a very cosy winter night! But it is important to understand…
23 September 2019
Surrey in Autumn – Top Things to Do!
It is not hard to work out why we love autumn; it means we get to light our lovely fires and enjoy all the comforts and hygiene type feelings they bring, but we also love our…
15 September 2019
How To Choose An Electric Fire
When many of us think of electric fires, we think about the 3-bar type from the post-war era which our grandparents huddled around – but they’ve actually been undergoing a…
9 September 2019
Lighting Your Fire for the First Time This Autumn
For some, the autumn means and end to warm evenings, and an end to holiday fun and so much more…but these people clearly don’t have a lovely real fire or log burner…
11 July 2019
Why Visiting a Showroom is so Important
A stove or fireplace is an important purchase. It’s a home feature that often takes a prominent place in your living space and is not changed for many years. You want to make sure…
17 June 2019
The Warming Efficiency of a Modern Stove
One of our engineers testing a newly installed stove There is something mesmerising about the flames of a fire, making them comforting as well as warming. A stove is an incredibly…
31 May 2019
A Book About Wood for Stoves
As wood burning stove experts, you’d expect us to be lovers of wood but this is an understatement. We love wood! The smell, the sound of it burning, the texture and colour of the…
31 March 2019
4 Reasons Buying A Stove Online Might Not Be Right
You may be tempted to buy a wood burning stove online. After all, you’ve done all your research online and found out about all the different models and heat output. You’ve decided…
28 March 2019
Fires Choices for Homes Without Chimneys
One question we get asked a lot is “what type of fire can I have when my house doesn’t have a chimney?”. The answer is often surprising and very positive, there…
21 March 2019
The Pros and Cons of Electric Fires
There is no doubt modern electric fires are a million miles away from those many people will remember from the 80s and 90s. Gone are the cheesy plastic fake coals and the all too…
3 November 2018
Burning Solid Fuel and the Environment
With ever more focus on the health of our environment and clean air, many of our customers ask about the different types of fuel you can burn in stoves and which ones we should be…
3 July 2017
Focus Fireplaces Workshop and Showroom Tour
It’s always a pleasure to be invited to see a manufacturer’s showroom as it can be hard to visualise the products in a catalogue but seeing them in the flesh can make…
20 June 2017
A chimney Horror Story – Part: 2
When installing or owning a fire, fitting protection can be seen as an extra cost that seems unwarranted and it can be hard for installers to stress the importance of fitting rain…
25 April 2017
Multifuel Stove Package Deal – Limited time offer
31 October 2016
A Chimney Horror Story
In the sunny September of 2016, we were called to a client’s property to replace a stainless steel liner that was fitted by another company a few years before. Before arriving at…
7 May 2016
DESIGN DREAMS FULFILLED
Article taken from EXODRAFT A man had a vision, and thanks to his persistence he finally got what he wanted with help from Wakeford Fireplaces and exodraft A developer took great…
5 January 2016
Smartphone apps
Most of us have smartphones these days and there are plenty of apps to download, some are good fun, others only stay on the phone for a short period of time before being deleted.…
16 July 2015
The Wessex Stone Ashton fireplace, with the Aarrow Ecoburn 5Kw stove
Supplied and fitted in the pleasant village of Pyrford, just outside of Woking, Surrey, a wonderful Wessex Stone ‘Ashton’ fireplace, made in a natural bath stone and…
25 June 2015
The modern Termatech TT20 Warms up the traditional home
This Termatech TT20 worked very well in this traditionally furnished room. Sat on a glass hearth against a brick feature wall, it proves even the ‘simple’…
25 June 2015
The Wakeford Clear, working with Faber again
Although it’s yet to be decorated, this picture shows another stunning installation completed this week, creating the perfect feature of any room. Faber fires have a…
20 June 2015
Evonicfires at the 2015 ‘Hearth and Home’ Exhibition
Attending the 2015 ‘Hearth and Home’ exhibition at Harrogate last week, we spotted this very impressive electric fire. Made by Evonicfires , they have the ability to…
20 June 2015
The Wakeford and Faber Clear
We were invited to view the completed room in which we supplied and fitted one of our own limestone designed fireplaces, along with a Faber ‘Clear’ gas fire. Forming a…
21 May 2015
Welcome
From everyone at Wakefords we would like to welcome you to our new blog. Just like every fire or stove we install, a new website is a unique build process and a unique end result.…