Off-Grid Living – 1. How to install a tiny wood stove in a shed

This article will show you how to install a small wood burning stove into a shed that has a corrugated metal roof. You can also watch the video below, which will take you through each and every step of the process!

For your installation, you will need to consider the following:

  1. The tools required for the job
  2. Your hearth/plinth for the stove to stand on (for our little Hobbit stove, you will need to use a non-combustible material that’s at least 12mm thick)
  3. Shielding (here, we decided to use some 25mm thick vermiculite boarding)
  4. Your flue kit
  5. The stove itself
  6. Your safety – carbon monoxide alarms and ventilation

Tools Required

You will need a few tools for this job, these include:

  • A drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Spirit level
  • Screw driver
  • 10mm drill
  • 4mm drill
  • Cartridge gun
  • Knife
  • Marker pen
  • Extension lead
  • Step ladder

The Hearth

If your stove is independently certified to heat the hearth beneath it to no more than 100 degrees celsius (check your manufacturer’s stove details), then the hearth regulations are very simple, as a constructional hearth is not required.

When it comes to installing your small wood stove into a shed, then the hearth needs to be at least 12mm thick, and it will need to be made out of a non-combustible material. For example, you could use a piece of glass, some slate, concrete, or patio tiles. Providing your hearth is at least 12mm thick, you can lay it onto a carpet or a wooden floor, for example, and your stove will sit nicely on top.

In this case, the hearth must be a minimum size of 840mm x 840mm. There must also be at least 150mm of hearth space at either side and towards the rear of the stove. You will also need to have 225mm of space in front of the stove door as a minimum (300mm if the stove is designed to burn with doors open). This is a safety measure in case a log or some embers roll out of the fire when you open the door to refuel your stove.

Do I need a hearth if I have a stone floor?

Yes! The hearth must provide a “visually apparent warning” (see Approved Document J 2.26).

This prevents you just simply placing your stove onto a solid floor such as a tiled kitchen floor for example without any discernable visible edge.

We used a glass plate. (It was undersized as only 700 x 600, but the stove is very small and with this size we were able to maintain the 150mm to each side and 225mm to the front).

The most important reason for the provision of a hearth is to guard against the potential resulting problems in the event of a hot ember falling out of the stove when the door is opened so the frontal hearth requirement is the most important one to adhere to.

Summary: 12mm thick non-combustible material, 225mm of space at the front, and 150mm of space at either side and the rear.

Shielding Combustible Surfaces

How close can the stove go to the wall of my shed?

In order to position the stove and/or flue closer to combustible materials then they can be shielded using insulative board.

Safe distance of 200mm when shielding combustibles with a 25mm thick board with a 15mm air gap behind.

Does the flue pipe need shielding?

Single wall flue pipe must be 3X diameter from combustibles. To a shielded combustible surface the safe distance can be reduced depending on the amount of shielding used.

Twin wall pipe must be 50mm from combustibles

Hardie-Backer board is a great product for using as shielding as is vermiculite board. A good online place to source your shielding is VITCAS.

FLUE KIT.

The flue kit installed in this instance is a mixture of single skin flue pipe and twin wall flue pipe. Made in the UK this is the highest quality British made flue money can buy. A combination of VITRELUX and HT-S it is a system designed to provide an effective draw on a system of approx. 3.6m high. The flue size increases from 100mm diameter to 125mm diameter and an A?D Swedish cowl have also been utilised to negate the relatively short flue height.

tiny wood stove flue kit has a 10 year guarantee

This ‘SHED FLUE KIT’ comprises of the following components;

1 x 1000mm with door MIDTHERM VITRELUX SINGLE WALL FLUE PIPE.

1 x 45 elbow MIDTHERM VITRELUX SINGLE WALL FLUE PIPE.

1 x 45 elbow with door MIDTHERM VITRELUX SINGLE WALL FLUE PIPE.

2 x stainless steel joint clips MIDTHERM VITRELUX SINGLE WALL FLUE PIPE.

1 x adaptor 100mm single wall flue to 125mm twin wall flue MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE

1 x wall band support bracket MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE

1 x 500 mm length of 15mm fire rope. MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE

1 x 500 mm  MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE (stainless finish)

1 x 500 mm  MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE (black finish)

1 x Storm collar  MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE (black finish)

1 x Swedish A/D cowl  MIDTHERM HT-S TWIN WALL FLUE PIPE (black finish)

1 x Silicone flashing

1 x Silicone flashing fixing kit

1 x cartridge heatproof adhesive

1 x cartridge heatproof silicone

1 x cartridge fire cement

The cost of this exact shed flue kit with the additional black powder coating is £585.

 

The stove.

Small stoves are the best choice for small spaces such as sheds. If you install a stove that is too large then you will never be able to run it properly and you will quickly soot up the flue. Choose a small stove that has a small footprint to maximise the small space you have. You may want to consider having an additional back boiler for supplying hot water or to run a small radiator if your shed has been partitioned and has separate internal areas.

The Hobbit stove with stand is what we suggest is the best ‘shed stove’ to install and will heat a 20′ x 10′ shed no problem.

Safety & Ventilation

Installing a CO and smoke alarm in the shed is essential for the safety of everyone inside especially if the shed is very air tight.

Good ventilation is also essential and installing an air vent is always a good idea to insure the stove has a good supply of air.

If you are intending to sleep in the shed then you must install the stove in accordance with the current regulations.

ApprovedApproved Document J

Download the regulations for fitting stoves for free.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/468872/ADJ_LOCKED.pdf

Another very helpful guide to assist you in understanding the requirements of Approved doc. J is BS 8511:2010. There is a helpful graphic which can be viewed at the link below.

http://www.soliftec.com/Boat%20Stoves%201-page.pdf

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR TINY WOODSTOVE.

STEP 1.

The hearth needs to be secured on some pads of carpet, adhesive or sand or a stiff mortar. Once the hearth has been positioned the stove can be positioned and the centre point for the flue found by using a plumb line or spirit level.

STEP 2.

Attach the shielding using the heat proof adhesive and a couple of screws to hold it in position until the adhesive cures.

Here is a guide to the typical shielding that will be required.

installing a stove in a tiny home

 

STEP 3.

Mark the edge of the hole and drill with a 10mm drill and then cut out the hole using a jigsaw.

STEP 4.

Attach the wall band support bracket in position ready to accept the fist 500mm length of twin wall flue pipe. Firstly attach the single to twin adaptor to this length. You can assemble the single skin flue parts and offer everything up to make sure you position the twin wall at the correct height.

STEP 5.

Cut the silicone flashing and then attach to the roof. Seal everything using the heatproof silicone. The upcoming video will help you identify all of thee places and details the installing of the silicone boot flashing.

STEP 6.

Attach second black 500mm length with the Swedish cowl already attached.

STEP 7.

Attach the storm collar

STEP 8.

Assemble the single wall parts and join each with a seal of fire cement and use a joint clip between each part also.

STEP 9.

Attach the trim plate or fill the visible void with the length of fire rope.

STEP 10.

Light your stove to test all is properly connected.

 

 

Watch the video for how to install a wood stove in a shed. 

This video shows you how to install a silicone flashing onto a metal corrugated roof

 

Small Stove Review 9

Our Hobbit Stove Has Been Fitted!

"We had a Hobbit stove fitted this week by Alex Reay from Flues and Fires, and I just wanted to get in touch to say it is AMAZING and we love it! We have a lovely cast iron tiled fireplace which I was desperate not to lose when we installed a small wood burning stove, but until I found the Hobbit on Google, everyone told me it would be impossible to keep the fire surround. The Hobbit is perfect - not only does it fit very snugly, but it looks fantastic and the blue door complements the tiles very nicely. We are sitting enjoying a fire now and absolutely loving it! Thanks for creating such an amazing product."

Nicola Williams

Small Stove Review 10

The Best Stove Ever!

"It’s the best stove ever! It’s easy to light, very efficient, burns anthracite and stays in overnight (ours has been in for three weeks now). It even keeps a kettle of water at the ready for a cuppa! What more can I say, we love it! Just the thing to make our Yorkshire home cosy, and the cat loves it too!"

Lynn and Andrew, West Yorkshire

small stove review 16

First Small Stove Installation

Was looking for a small stove for my first self-install. Found Mark very helpful. Knowledgeable, friendly service. Stove burns well and generates lots more heat than the previous open fire. What is not to like?

Sam

Small Stove Review 15

A Huge Thank You!

"Dear Mark and Gill, a huge thank you for designing and making the Hobbit stove! We had two different London-based fireplace companies tell us that we simply had to knock out the old cast iron and tile fireplace to fit in a woodburning stove, and that there was no other option! Then we found you online. We are delighted with our little Hobbit, which swallows up logs and kicks out a good amount of heat. Perfect for the winter! I will also be writing to the London-based fireplace companies to put the Hobbit on their radar. Best wishes."

Nat

Small Stove Review 14

Delighted With Our Hobbit Stove!

"Mark, Gill, thank you for your assistance, we are delighted with our Hobbit! I fired it up this evening after taking all afternoon making a register plate to fit the opening."

Alan

Small Stove Review 5

It's Brilliant!

"Hi Mark, here's a photo of the Hobbit installed in my Yorkist grate. It’s brilliant! It also throws out a lot more heat than the grate did."

Roger T

Small Stove Review 3

Just to Say Thank You!

"I just had a chat with Gill saying how delighted we are with our little Hobbit stove, and to also thank you both for your attention to detail and excellent customer service!"

Derrick

Small Stove Review 4

The Little Hobbit Has Stepped Up To The Challenge!

"We just wanted to say how impressed and how much of a life saver our little Hobbit has been! It was fitted a few months ago in our holiday home in Rhu, Scotland, which is a large open plan conversion in a Victorian house. This weekend our boiler decided it was not going to play ball. The little Hobbit has stepped up to the challenge, providing heat to a very large area, about twenty eight foot by twenty four foot with a high ceiling of about eighteen foot, keeping the room reasonably warm, warm enough for us not to use cardigans!”

Alan W

Small Stove Review 8

Very Pleased With Our Hobbit!

"We are very pleased with the stove and think it looks great! We restored our fireplace (it was hidden under plaster!) and the whole look is better than we hoped!"

Neil

Small Stove Review 2

Absolutely Delighted!

"Just had our Hobbit SE installed in our Victorian fireplace and we are absolutely delighted with the end result. We felt passionate about preserving our lovely fireplace!"

Andy

Small Stove Review 13

Our Pride And Joy!

"What a fantastic fireplace with the beautiful Hobbit stove. It fits perfectly into the small space and throws out a lot of heat. Here's a photo of our little stove, now our pride and joy and much admired by all who see and feel the warmth."

Chris and C

Small Stove Review 11

Fantastic!

"Just to bid you all a Happy New Year and to say how much we’re enjoying having our Hobbit stove! It was easy to fit with the help of your excellent ‘how to’ videos and we’re just awaiting our inspection by building control for the certification. The Hobbit has fitted neatly into the hearth vacated by the old gas back boiler (with a little cosmetic rendering) and never ceases to surprise us how much heat it can deliver to the point that the new condenser boiler is having an easy life, thereby saving us on gas bills too! Everyone loves having a ‘real fire’ in the living room."

Philip Baird

Small Stove Review 6

A Brilliant Little Wood Burner!

"The stove we bought from you is really starting to come into its own as the weather cools down. Here is a photo showing how much one of our dogs is enjoying it!"

Small Stove Review 1

Brilliant Product!

"Just wanted to share a picture of our newly installed Hobbit. Absolutely delighted with it, and so pleased we were able to retain our existing fireplace as well. Brilliant product, thank you!"

Marion

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