‘When we renovated our listed thatched cottage, we decided on installing a Camelot Thermovent open fire and canopy in our dining room, and a woodburner in our lounge. We are absolutely delighted with everything that Paul and the Crown team did for us, particularly the Thermovent which burns and draws beautifully with no smoke in the room, provides plenty of warmth and has really brought our inglenook to life. We must also commend them on the determination and ingenuity when installing the insulated flues, as one was particularly challenging. The quality and workmanship all round is excellent. We heartily recommend them!’
Miles and Debbie, Alresford, Hampshire
This wonderful customer testimonial is the inspiration behind our blog which describes the customers’ journey from the point of enquiry to the customers feeling moved to write to us after lighting their Camelot fire on a rainy day.
The customers first got in touch with us when their renovated cottage was being re-thatched. This created an opportunity for them to have new flues installed, along with two new fires. Our customers had specific fire ideas in mind: an open fire for their inglenook fireplace: What Is An Inglenook Fireplace?, and a woodburning stove for their lounge, but also needed a technical way forward. The challenge for us was to find a way to combine thatch safe installations with the sensitivities of the customer’s property, and meet their design aspirations whilst sticking within their budget.
What evolved was a partnership between us, the customer, and their thatcher all working hard and collaborating together to achieve the project.
Paul Shaw visited the customer to assess the feasibility of the project, taking with him an example Anniversary Edition Thermovent fire so the couple could see one of our fires as part of the show survey visit. Design options were discussed as part of the visit and the couple decided on a beautiful and classic Thermovent open fire to fit their inglenook fireplace.
Paul then put together a sketch of the proposed Thermovent for the customers. This particular fire consisted of a hand forged steel canopy featuring hand rolled and riveted seams with domed cap rivet covers, finished with a dark gunmetal top coat, hand forged ball top dog irons and hand forged scroll top grate front. Our customer’s were delighted with Paul’s proposed final design, soon after confirming their approval and the go-ahead for the creation of their perfect open fireplace.
Paul also liaised with the customer’s thatcher regarding the installation work and timing the installation to suit/work around their thatching work. Their thatcher was very accommodating and willing to work with us to find a successful way forward, allowing for a smooth and organised installation to compliment their thatching work.
Our customer was keen to have the open fire for the coming Christmas when the family were all gathering together – creating the perfect homely feel for all to enjoy. As access to install the fire was clear, the project was divided into two parts, the first involving a thatch safe installation of the open fire before Christmas by our sister company, Crown Fire Installations. This included an insulated twin wall flue section through the thatch area plus a flexible liner on top of the fire to ensure maximum efficiency.
Here is the final product fire bringing to life their traditional inglenook fireplace with our authentic design:
The second element of the project involved similar careful working in relation to distance, combustibles and shapes of bends in order to do a thatch safe stove installation to meet the customer’s wish to have a woodburner in a different room.
A third chimney was discovered during investigations which the customer hadn’t previously known about and this was used as part of the installation solution.
We started the chimney system off at the top of the stove with a twin wall insulated section. This went through the top of the bread oven into the cupboard above and then took a first turn in to the recently discovered chimney system where we went into flex liner to carry through into the first floor chimney system, and made the third turn to join onto the second section of insulated liner to carry it up to the top of the stack. The stack was not straight, so we created another turn in this section for which we needed access to the loft above, involving working in a very restricted space which fortunately proved to be very successful.
This project perfectly showcased our ability to be innovative and flexible when required, to work closely to the couple’s needs and requirements and give them the perfect fireplace and wood burner they asked for.
We are delighted that they are so pleased with the results and that the fires have made such a difference to them- here’s to many more successful family Christmases around their new Inglenook fire. Merry Christmas!
If you have a thatched roof property and would like a beautiful, thatch safe open fire, contact Camelot Real Fires on 01905 820181.