Stone fireplaces
Natural limestone, sandstone and gritstone surrounds, made to measure.
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Timber surrounds
Timber fireplace surrounds, made to suit the room
Beautifully crafted timber surrounds in a wide range of hardwoods and softwoods, tailored with bespoke mouldings, mantels and finishes, and fitted with the correct clearances and heat protection. Available on their own or as a complete fireplace and stove package.
The surrounds
0 designs, supplied and fitted
Where timber works
A warmer frame for the fireplace
A timber surround is for rooms that need softness, proportion and furniture-like detail around the fire. It suits cottages, Victorian terraces, Edwardian houses, farmhouses and rooms where a plain opening would look unfinished. The surround gives the stove or inset fire a proper frame, with legs, mantel and moulding that relate to the skirting, doors and other timber already in the room.
Solid oak is the main timber we fit because it has weight, grain and a natural link with older homes. Pine is also an option, particularly where the brief is a painted surround, a lighter period look or a finish that needs to sit quietly with existing joinery. We confirm the right material on the home survey, then size the surround around the opening, hearth, chamber and appliance rather than forcing the room around a standard piece.
The Longridge oak surround shows the approach well: a proper mantel and legs, available in a range of finishes, fitted as part of a complete fireplace rather than treated as a separate decorative item. If the house already has period detail, we can keep the new work sympathetic. If the room is more modern, the profile can be cleaner and simpler.
Built as a system
Surround, chamber, hearth and making good
Timber around a stove has to be planned properly. The surround is only one part of the fireplace: behind it may be a brick, stone, porcelain or paintable chamber; below it is the non-combustible hearth; above it may be a lintel and made-good plasterwork. We handle the fireplace installation as one job, so the heat protection, clearances and final finish all work together.
On older chimney breasts the useful work is often hidden at first. We may need to open out a blocked fireplace, tidy the brickwork, rebuild the edges of the opening, fit border slips and make good the plaster before the surround can sit cleanly. That careful preparation is what stops a new mantel looking bolted onto an old wall. It also gives the stove installer the right base to work from if the fireplace is being paired with a new appliance and flue.
A good timber surround works best when the chamber and hearth are planned with it from the start. The surround, chamber and hearth should do the visual work together, which is exactly the standard we aim for on every timber fireplace.
A bespoke option
A mantel designed around your home
As well as our standard designs, we offer a bespoke timber mantel design service. Whether you want to replicate a period feature or design something completely unique, we can produce a custom mantel to complement your chosen stove, chamber and hearth, and finish it in the colour that suits your room. Every installation is designed with the correct clearances and heat protection for a safe, long-lasting result.
Care is straightforward once the surround has been fitted correctly. Keep timber dry, dust it with a soft cloth and avoid strong cleaning products around waxed, oiled or painted finishes. The more important point is heat: a timber surround should never be treated as a shortcut around stove clearances, which is why we check the appliance instructions, hearth size and chamber build before agreeing the final layout.
HETAS registered
Installed with care, certified with confidence
We self-certify eligible installations and notify Building Control on your behalf, so the work is signed off properly and your certificate of compliance is issued for your records.
- HETAS-registered installer
- Certificate of compliance issued
- Meets your home insurance
Common questions
Timber surrounds, answered plainly
Can a timber surround be fitted around a stove?
Yes. We build the chamber and fit granite border slips that act as a heat barrier between the stove and the timber, and confirm the correct clearances and heat protection on the home survey for a safe, long-lasting installation.
What timbers and finishes are available?
Solid oak is the most common choice, with pine also available where a painted or softer traditional finish suits the room. The Longridge, for example, comes in twelve standard colours from Matt Oak through to Slate.
Can you design a bespoke timber mantel?
Yes. We offer a bespoke timber mantel design service, whether you want to replicate a period feature or create something completely unique to suit your stove, chamber and hearth.
Is the surround sold with the stove?
It can be. Our surrounds are available as complete fireplace and stove packages, including the surround, hearth, chamber finishes, stove and installation materials, professionally fitted by our team.
How do I look after a timber fireplace surround?
Keep it dry, dust it with a soft cloth and avoid harsh cleaners around the finish. During the survey we also check clearances and heat protection, because correct installation is the most important part of keeping timber looking right around a stove.
Related
Other things we fit
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HETAS-registered installs. We cover Lichfield, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Cannock, Walsall, Aldridge, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Burton upon Trent, Stafford and Derby.
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