Buying guide to fires and surrounds

First here's your quick tour of the types of fire we offer:

a. Wall-mounted fires

Simple and versatile, this fire fits neatly on a flat wall without the need for a chimney or flue. Great space-savers, wall-mounted fires create a focal point in a variety of rooms, including kitchens, dining rooms and even conservatories. And they give you instant, easy-to-control heat.

b. Suites and fireplaces

A complete fire suite gives you everything you need. You get the gas or electric inset fire, matching fire surround, mantle, back panel and hearth. Choose our simple but stylish modern designs or premium marble surround sets.

c. Inset fires

Coming in contemporary and traditional styles, gas and electric, our inset fires are an excellent starting point for transforming a room. Use them to replace an old inset fire or be the focal point for a new fire surround set.

d. Stand alone stoves

Stand alone stoves add real character to any room. You get instant heat that's simple to control, and the stoves come in a range of traditional and modern styles.

e. Mix and match

Create your very own fireplace by choosing from our range of fires, surrounds, hearths and back panels. In store we have a fabulous selection of real wood veneer surrounds, eye-catching hearths and double-sided laminate back panels.

Mix and match is available in store only.

It's good to know...

For your peace of mind all fires come with a 28-day money back guarantee

For extra reassurance why not take our fire breakdown plan? You're covered against damage for the duration of the plan - that means no repair bills for up to five years.

Don't forget to order additional accessories for your fire.

We also stock a range of fuel in store - check for the latest offers.

a. Electric

Electric fires are the easiest fires to install and maintain. Most of our electric suites come ready-built or with minimal assembly needed. Simply take out of the box, fix it to your wall, plug it in and go! Electric fires bring your room instant heat and create the atmosphere of a gas fire with its flickering flame appearance. For the best 'real fire' look, try Dimplex fires and their unique optiflame effects.

b. Gas

Gas fires create more warmth and deliver clean, instant heat to your home. Most gas fires come assembled, but it's best if you hire a Gas Safe Register-approved fitter to do the installation. See gassaferegister.co.uk for details.

c. Solid fuel

Solid fuel stoves stoke up heaps of atmosphere on a cold winter's day. Keep it blazing away with our range of fuels from kindling to coal to get your perfect fire started. By the way, you can customise your solid fuel stove with our own range of accessories.

Something you should know:

Take into account how much your fire will cost to run. Calculate this by multiplying the heat input of the fire by the gas or electricity tariff of your provider:

Heat input * pence per kWh = running cost

Most of our fires are electric so what chimney you have isn't an issue. But when you're going for a gas fire, you'll need to check the type and size of your chimney. Here's how to identify your chimney and which fire it can take.

a. Brick chimney

Most old properties have this kind of chimney, also called a class (1) flue. It features two alcoves on either side of the chimney breast.

What to look for

External chimney stack with chimney pot on the roof and an internal chimney breast.

Fires you can have

All fires.

b. Pre-fabricated flue

Also known as a class (2) flue, it's normally made from metal ducting.

What to look for

External metal flue pipe on top of the roof or internal false chimney breast built around a metal flue box.

Fires you can have

All multi-flue gas fires and any electric fire.

c. Pre-cast flue

Most new properties without a chimney have pre-cast flues. These are normally rectangular and run up through the centre of a cavity wall.

What to look for

Raised ridge tile on the roof, a metal flue pipe on the roof and no chimney breast (either internally or externally).

Fires you can have

All multi-flue gas fires and any electric fire.

d. No chimney

If your property has none of the above, then you will not be able to buy a gas fire, however we have plenty of electric fires to suit every customers needs.

Please remember the following:

All gas fires will require a recess, please check this on the individual fires and make sure that you have sufficient recess currently to accommodate the fire you choose.