HETAS Certified · Inset
A firebox flush with the wall, architectural, uncluttered, and engineered into the chimney breast rather than perched on the hearth. Same HETAS certification, same 12-month guarantee.
20+ years installing across Windsor & Berkshire · HETAS 3869 · Written quote within 24–48 hours.
20+ yrs
Installing in Windsor & Berkshire
HETAS
Registered installers (3869)
£5m
Zurich Public Liability cover
12 mo
Workmanship guarantee minimum
24–48h
Fixed written quote turnaround
Overview
What it is
Inset and cassette stoves are appliances designed to sit inside the chimney breast opening rather than freestanding on a hearth. The firebox face becomes part of the wall, framed by stone, brick or a modern plaster reveal, producing a linear, architectural fireplace with the heat and controllability of a modern Ecodesign stove.
Who it is for
Ideal for contemporary interiors, minimalist renovations and knock-through living rooms in Windsor, Ascot, Sunningdale and Maidenhead where clients want the fire as a design element rather than a period feature. Also excellent in smaller rooms where a freestanding stove would visually crowd the hearth.
When to book
Best specified early in a renovation, the chamber depth, chimney breast structure, lintel height and hearth level all need to be right for the model chosen. We routinely work with architects, interior designers and main contractors from initial drawings through to hand-over.
Why professional help matters
Inset installs are less forgiving than freestanding. The stove and the building fabric become one, flue routing, non-combustible chamber lining, air circulation around the firebox, and hearth compliance all need to be right first time. Redoing it after plastering is expensive.
If it's ignored
Cassette stoves need a specified convection air-gap around the firebox to shed heat safely. Fitters unfamiliar with the appliance regularly close it up with insulation, causing overheating, warped bodies and voided warranties.
We measure every dimension at survey and pre-order any structural adjustments (lintel raising, chamber deepening) so install day is a fit, not a rebuild.
The reveal around a flush firebox is scrutinised at eye level daily. We coordinate the plasterer, stone-mason or joiner so the finish matches the stove face to the millimetre.
Our process
The same disciplined sequence on every project, whether it's a Georgian townhouse in Windsor or a new-build media wall in Ascot.
01
Chris visits your home to measure the chimney, hearth, room volume and ventilation. We inspect the flue, discuss aesthetics and confirm what is achievable in your specific property, from Georgian townhouses to sealed new-build breasts.
02
Every line item priced: stove, flue components, hearth, chamber works, building control. Potential extras (unforeseen chimney issues, structural adjustments) are itemised in advance so the number you sign off is the number you pay.
03
We refine the stove choice, materials, chamber finish and flue route with you. Deposit: cost of the stove plus 50% of installation, secures your slot within 72 hours of quote acceptance.
04
Dust sheets and protection go down first. Our HETAS-registered team completes the install to Building Regulations, cleans as we go, and treats your home like our own, no shortcuts, no mess left behind.
05
Smoke test, draw test, first light with you present, plus a full walk-through of controls, fuel and maintenance. HETAS certificate issued to you and your insurer. 12-month workmanship guarantee starts the day we leave.
The benefit
Six specific, measurable outcomes we deliver on every job. No vague marketing claims.
The stove reads as part of the wall, perfect for contemporary and minimalist interiors.
No hearth projection means more usable room around the fireplace.
Modern insets have wide, low panoramic glass, cinematic flame view without the bulk of a cassette wood-look.
Cassettes shed heat via convection channels around the firebox, warming the room quickly and evenly.
Every inset we install is Ecodesign 2022 compliant, high efficiency, low particulate output, legal in smoke-control areas.
We work directly with your builder or designer so the reveal, chamber and hearth land as one considered composition.
Deep detail
The engineering, materials and decisions behind the finished job.
The firebox chamber must be lined with a non-combustible board to the correct thickness, with the specified convection air-gap around the appliance. Missing this is the single most common failure we see when asked to correct another installer's work.
Most cassettes take a rear or top flue exit into a purpose-lined flexi-liner in the existing chimney. Where the chimney is offset, we design and install offset kits or short twin-wall runs to reach a compliant termination point.
We work in slate, honed granite, Portland stone, brick slip and polished plaster reveals. Every project is finished by a trade that specialises in the chosen material, not the fitter with a trowel.
Modern insets have single-lever airwash controls and, in some models, secondary combustion pre-heat. We commission each appliance with a full draw test and hand you the controls with a live demonstration.
Recent installations
Every image below is a job we finished, no stock photography, no staged sets. Full portfolio on our work page.
Frequently asked
Installation starts from £1,700 excluding the stove where the chimney breast is sound and the chamber only needs modest preparation. Where structural work (lintel, breast deepening, external flue) is needed, we itemise it in the written quote so the number is fixed before you commit.
Yes, when specified correctly. Convection channels around the firebox distribute heat efficiently, and modern models match freestanding output on a like-for-like kW basis.
Often yes. We survey the chamber depth, lintel height and chimney condition and tell you honestly whether the chosen model will fit or whether structural preparation is needed.
In almost every case yes, a stainless steel flexi-liner correctly sized to the appliance is what makes the install compliant and safe.
No. Airwash on modern insets keeps the glass clear during normal use; occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth and cooled ash is all that is needed.
Yes, several models are available in wood-only and multi-fuel variants. We help you decide based on how you actually plan to use the fire.
We coordinate the full finish. Depending on the material chosen, our team completes it in-house or we bring in specialist trades we work with regularly.
Minimum 12-month workmanship guarantee, 15–30 year flue component warranty, and 5-year to lifetime stove warranty depending on manufacturer.
Related services
Areas we serve
Next step
Chris personally attends every survey, measures the chimney, discusses the design, and prices every line item transparently. No sales pressure. No hidden extras on invoice day.
