Chimney Liner Cost

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Chimney Liner?

In the United Kingdom, wood-burning stoves are quite popular, and many homeowners are looking into whether they can use their old conventional chimneys to accommodate modern solid-fuel burners. An older chimney, on the other hand, may require lining for a variety of reasons.

The present flue may be far too large for modern equipment, but the main problem is that many old chimneys may fail the smoke test, indicating that smoke and gases are escaping into the building.

In most situations, a class 1 flue liner made of stainless steel, Thermocrete, or stiff pumice is required for a modern, efficient wood burning stove.

Flexible 316 grade stainless steel liners are the most common choice for existing chimney linings. This is because they are the most cost-effective and can usually be completed in one day or less with minimal disruption and mess.

A properly placed stainless-steel liner will survive for many years, and they are frequently guaranteed for ten years or more. Gas stoves only require Class 2 Flue Liners, which are significantly less expensive and lighter while still meeting safety standards.

Lining a chimney can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the state of the chimney, the age of the home, and the appliance it will be servicing.

Chimney Lining Prices

The cost of installing or replacing a chimney liner is determined by several factors, beginning with the size of your chimney. This will have a big impact on the cost of installing a chimney lining because you'll have to think about how many materials you'll need.

The average cost of installing a chimney liner ranges from £600 to £1,000.

The overall cost will be determined by how long it will take the tradesperson to complete the installation, if you hire a professional.

Most tradespeople charge a daily or hourly rate, so a more thorough job will almost certainly be more expensive to complete, because the professional will be working on your chimney for longer.

The type of chimney you have will also influence the cost of installing a chimney lining. There are numerous types of fireplaces and chimney vents, some of which are more complicated than others.

The typical cost of installing a stainless-steel chimney lining is between £450 and £600. You should expect to pay more than the national average if you live in London or the southeast of England, but you can expect to pay less if you reside in the north of England, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

The type and size of the chimney, as well as the ease of access, will all influence the final cost. The state of the installation area, along with the scaffolding, will also play a part.

The below table sets out the costs of installing different chimney liners:

What are the Supply Costs of a Chimney Liner Installation?

Installing a chimney liner is not a project for inexperienced DIYers. Flue installers must be able to deal with a variety of chimney linings, as well as link the flue liner to a stovepipe or install a fireplace liner. Therefore, experience with this job is needed for safety reasons.

A person's health and life could be jeopardised if a chimney liner is not installed appropriately. Therefore, local governments use Building Regulations to regulate the installation of a flue liner. You can also expect to pay a premium for competent labour.

However, if you are a confident DIYer and want to install a chimney liner yourself, you will need to consider the supply costs.

If you wish to purchase a stainless steel flexible liner, you should expect to pay between £15 and £20 per metre. Other options include pumice liners that cost from £12 to £18 per metre, and clay liners which range from £30 to £40 per metre.

A line adaptor costs between £40 and £50, a twin wall connector costs around £50 and £60, and a chimney flue ranges from £300 to £600.

The cost of the brickwork should cost approximately £40 to £100, depending on the size of the chimney in question. The table below will show you the average supply costs of different chimney liners without any labour or additional costs.

What are the Additional Costs of Installing a Chimney Liner?

Here we will show you the additional job that may be completed alongside a chimney liner installation:

New Chimney Installation

To create a whole chimney, you'll need to build a fireplace first, then add a chimney breast to link the fireplace to the house's roof. Additional components, such as the chimney liner and cap, will be required.

For a full chimney installation, you should expect to pay between £1900 and £3500. The labour charges will range between £150 and £250 per day. The work should take around 1.5 to 4 days to complete.

Chimney Cowls

Chimney cowls help minimise the amount of rain that enters your chimney and prevent downdraughts from entering. A chimney cowl typically costs between £180 and £250 to install depending on the type chosen.

A static chimney cowl will most likely set you back between £50 and £120.

Anti-draught chimney cowls are likely to cost between £140 and £240, while cheaper variants can be found on websites like eBay and Amazon.

A rotating chimney cowl can range in price from £25 to £110. High-end models are available but can cost several hundred pounds.

Chimney cowl installation takes between 1 to 2 hours.

Roof Tile Repair

If you find any cracked tiles on your roof, have them repaired as soon as possible to avoid leaks or further damage. Depending on the type of repair, the average cost of roof tile repair will vary.

For example, repairing fallen or damaged tiles may cost between £170 and £500, while re-cementing ridge tiles will cost between £150 and £600.

Other roof tile repairs include installing a dry ridge system to repair tiles, which costs between £750 and £950 and repairing valley tiles, which costs between £350 and £450.

A roofing contractor normally charges £150 to £250 per day or £15 to £25 per hour for simple roof repairs.

Chimney Repairs

If your chimney is old, you may need to pay for chimney repairs.

The type of repairs you may need to budget for include chimney repointing and chimney flashing repair. Both types of repairs help with the longevity of your chimney stack.

Chimney repointing is an important job to have done as a chimney with crumbling or damaged pointing can not only be dangerous for people passing by your house but also to your family. Prices start from £200 up to £1500 depending on the size of the chimney and where it is on your house.

Chimney flashing is the main cause of chimney leaks and, therefore, can lead to major problems if not addressed immediately.

Getting the flashing repaired with a cost between £200 to £800, depending on if you need to weld a few cracks or if you need all of the flashing replaced.

You should have your chimney inspected at least once a year to prevent any long-term issues arising.

Chimney Breast Removal Cost

After looking into the costs of lining and repairing your chimney you may decide you no longer want a chimney in your home. Here are the prices for chimney breast removal:

The cost of removing an entire chimney breast is approximately £2,290 to £2,770.

The cost of removing just a chimney stack ranges from £925 to £1,670.

The cost of removing both is approximately £2,880 to £3,925.

A two-person team is usually used to remove the breasts from the chimney. Some tasks, however, may be completed by a single labourer or even more than two (although this is unlikely).

Removing a chimney stack will likely take less than a day, but removing both a chimney breast and stack could take three to four days.

Tradesmen Costs for a Chimney Liner

You should expect to pay between £150 and £250 per day for labour. A competent flue installer can estimate how long it will take to complete the work on your chimney. As a result, rather than a day fee, you may charged a fixed rate for the project.

For access to the chimney stack, you may need to hire scaffolding, although this will depend on the liner type. Don't worry; this expense should be included in your quote.

Regardless of the style of liner you select, most installers operate in two-person teams.

The cost of labour varies based on where you live in the country. The cost of living in London and the southeast of England is up to 20% more than in the rest of the country.

How Long Does It Take to Install a Chimney Liner?

The most common flue liner is a flexible stainless steel, which can typically be installed in one day. The twin-walled stiff stainless-steel liner is more time consuming and will take 1-2 days to complete.

Flue liners made of concrete, clay, or pumice that fit together in a tongue and socket method are more labour demanding and can take up to 4-5 days to complete. In most cases, a ceramic pumped liner system may be completed in one day.

However, the timescale can sometimes be affected and may take longer than wished for. Issues like structural faults inside the chimney stack can make the installation difficult and cause delays in the project's completion.

There could also be materials inside the chimney that have become dislodged, such as bricks, stones, or cracked clay liners. Before the chimney can be swept, which should always be done before the flue liner is put, these will have to be removed.

High winds and/or rain can hinder an installation. Thus weather conditions should be adequate for work at height to be accomplished safely.

Types of Chimney Liner

In this section, we will have a look at the many varieties of chimney liners on the market. Each option has its own set of features, costs, benefits, and drawbacks.

Stainless Steel Chimney Liners Cost

Flexible stainless steel liners mould to the inside of a flue, allowing for curves and kinks. They can also be fed in one piece from the chimney pot to the hearth or vice versa.

One person on the roof and one in the house is usually the ideal approach to install a flexible liner. A rope is typically tied to the chimney liner and it is then lowered down the chimney.

If you have a gas appliance, you should generally use a single–skin liner because gas exhaust gases aren't particularly hot and don't transfer a lot of heat. A solid–fuel appliance, on the other hand, requires a double–skin liner to retain the heat within. During installation, all liners are cut to length to fit the length of your chimney.

A stainless-steel liner costs from £500 to £700 to install. As a result, it is the most cost-effective alternative.

SSFLs have the disadvantage of being less durable than most types of chimney liners, having a life expectancy of roughly 20 years.

Pros:

• Most affordable option
• Quick and relatively easy to install
• Flexible design suits chimneys with bends or curves
• Suitable for both gas and solid-fuel appliances (with correct type)

Cons:

• Shorter lifespan (approx. 20 years)
• May require replacement sooner than rigid or ceramic liners

Concrete Chimney Liners Cost

Organic rock is used to create this type of chimney liner. In dry places with minimal precipitation, either concrete or clay chimneys should be used for the greatest results.

This type of chimney liner is a wonderful natural insulator and may thus work successfully even in hot weather. Concrete liners are expected to endure 30 to 50 years.

The installation will cost between £750 and £1000 or more.

Pros:

• Excellent in dry climates
• Very good insulation properties
• Restores structural strength to older chimneys
• Long lifespan (30–50 years)

Cons:

• Higher installation cost
• More complex installation process

Clay Chimney Liners Cost

A concrete chimney flue liner and a clay chimney flue liner have a lot in common. Clay chimney liners, for example, are excellent natural insulators and are particularly well suited to dry climates.

They're also a good choice for relining an old chimney. Clay chimney liners should endure between three and five decades on average.

The cost of installing a clay chimney liner ranges from £750 to £1000.

Pros:

• Great for relining older chimneys
• Performs well in dry climates
• Strong insulation properties
• Long-lasting (30–50 years)

Cons:

• More expensive than stainless steel flexible liners (SSFLs)
• Not suitable for chimneys with curves or kinks
• Can crack under thermal stress or due to moisture exposure

Pumice Chimney Liners Cost

Pumice liners make for a lightweight liner section and they also have built-in flue liner insulation.

Pumice chimney liners, like the other two alternatives, are excellent insulators and are best used in warm climates. Pumice chimney liners have the distinct advantage of being well-suited to open fires.

They can also be used to reline a chimney that is already in place. Pumice chimney liners, on the other hand, will set you back between £900 and £1500. This implies that, together with ceramic chimney liners, they are the most expensive option.

Pros:

• Ideal for open fireplaces and solid-fuel systems
• Excellent insulation built into the material
• Durable and resistant to thermal stress
• Suitable for both new builds and relining

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to most other liner types
• Heavier and more complex to install

Ceramic Chimney Liners Cost (Thermocrete)

Thermocrete is a proprietary ceramic chimney lining technology that reinforces the chimney while also providing a stable conduit for waste gases to escape.

Throughout the length of the chimney, the installer inserts a rubber former with a diameter sufficient for the appliance. The former adapts to the chimney's curves and kinks while being centrally always located.

Thermocrete slurry is then pumped from the roof level into the void between the chimney and the former. The slurry fills the chimney's cavities, cracks, and damaged areas.

In addition, ceramic fibres are used to reinforce the slurry after it has hardened. Thermocrete can also be used to insulate flue liners.

The complete height of your chimney is divided into manageable portions and poured separately, depending on the height of your chimney. The installation engineer then deflates and removes the rubber former, leaving a flawlessly smooth cylindrical flue duct.

It's usually made by heating a non-metallic material to a very high temperature. Ceramic may often be used to dramatically improve a chimney's energy efficiency.

This type of liner costs around £900 to £1500+ to install, making it the most expensive option on the market.

Pros:

• Highly heat resistant and energy efficient
• Smooth, continuous flue improves draft
• Strengthens damaged chimneys
• Ideal for chimneys with bends or irregular shapes

Cons:

• Brittle, can crack if struck or impacted
• Highest cost among liner options

Gas Flue Block System Cost

These have a small flue that connects to neighbouring masonry and is built specifically for gas fireplaces. Under no circumstances should you use a gas flue block system with any other fuel. Otherwise, the temperatures will get dangerously high.

Depending on the intricacy and size of your fireplace, a competent installation specialist can install one of these systems for £300 to £700. Finally, you should expect to live for 15 to 25 years on average.

Pros

• Durable with gas appliances
• Affordable and straightforward to install
• Space-saving flue system for gas fireplaces

Cons:

• Unsafe for solid fuels—gas-only use
• Lower lifespan compared to clay or ceramic liners

Benefits of a Chimney Liner

Because the inside of your chimney isn't something you see every day, you might not realise how important a chimney liner is for keeping your fireplace hearth safe and comfortable.

The liner's job is to enable combustion material from the hearth fires to escape up the chimney and prevent harmful residue like creosote from forming.

So, why should you install one?

Here are some of the advantages of using a chimney liner:

Protects Your Home from Fire Damage

One of the most important tasks of a chimney liner is to prevent heat from the inside of the chimney from reaching the flammable material on the outside. Heat can easily escape from older chimneys with gaps in their masonry and spark a conflagration in regions such as the second floor or the roof.

Prevents Creosote and Moisture

Creosote is the enemy of every chimney. This gleaming black substance is unburned wood energy that accumulates because of poor venting or incomplete combustion.

It's extremely flammable, and it's one of the most common causes of chimney fires. By assisting with adequate venting, a liner reduces creosote build-up. The liner also prevents water moisture from becoming trapped in the chimney, which poses a serious risk of cracking if it freezes during the winter.

Increases a Home’s Energy Efficiency

Liners create a layer of insulation inside a chimney, reducing the number of downdrafts that can occur when there is no fire in the hearth. As a result, less cold air enters your home, causing you to use your heater more frequently. It also means that the fuel within the fireplace burns more efficiently.

Easy to Install

Installing chimney liners is a breeze. If you install liners inside the flue, you won't need to replace your clay liners inside your chimney. Your best bet is to hire a professional installation company so you can be sure you're getting high-quality service at a reasonable price.

This means your chimney liner will endure much longer, from the peak winter months, when staying warm is critical, through the summer months, when your chimney is more likely to remain stagnant.

How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Chimney Liner?

To replace a broken or worn-out liner with a new one, install equipment that requires a different flue liner, or permanently close off the chimney, the chimney liner must be removed.

It's probably best to hire a professional to remove an old chimney liner, just like it's best to hire a professional to install a flue liner.

They'll have the proper tools and know-how to cope with most types of liners and how to safely remove them. For example, if there are multiple flue liners in the chimney and only one needs to be removed, it may be difficult to do so without damaging the others.

If you're doing it yourself, make sure you have secure access to the chimney and don't work alone. Protective equipment, such as gloves, safety goggles, and a dust mask, should also be worn.

The liner must be removed from the chimney pot or cowl because it is attached to it. Working at a height is dangerous and should be done with extreme caution. If the liner is connected to a wood burner or similar device through an adapter, it must be disconnected.

A HETAS qualified engineer will be able to carefully remove a chimney liner from the interior of the stack, ideally without causing any harm. For a day's work, and installation with additional labour assistance would cost around £250.

The old liner will need to be disposed of, and you can include this expense in the installer's quote if they are prepared to do so. It will cost approximately £150 to hire a man and van.

The removal of a chimney liner should not necessitate the use of a skip, but if you did, a 6-yard skip would cost around £230 a week. A 6-metre scaffold tower, which will cost £150-£200 for a week, can be utilised as a safe working platform.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a flue in my chimney?

A: If you're installing a wood-burning stove, gas fire, or open fire in a new construction property, you'll need a chimney flue to meet with Document J of the current Building Regulations. If the flue inside your chimney is no longer safe to use, a chimney liner may be required in an older home.

Q: How long does a chimney flue last?

A: The life expectancy of different liners varies. A stainless-steel flue liner with an entry port will be guaranteed for ten years. A stainless-steel liner with a higher price tag will come with a 20-year warranty.

Q: When should a chimney flue be repaired?

A: If the clay flue tiles inside your masonry chimney are cracked or busted, chimney flue repair may be required. It's critical to repair a busted tile as quickly as possible, particularly if you notice a mortar joint between the tiles beginning to collapse.

Q: What is a chimney liner?

A: A chimney liner is a channel within a chimney that safely transports combustion by-products to the atmosphere. Stainless steel, concrete, clay, pumice, and ceramic are among the materials used to create them. It also protects the chimney's walls from heat and corrosion.

Q: Do I need planning permission to install a chimney liner?

A: Replacement of a chimney liner does not require planning approval unless the house is a listed building or located in a conservation area, in which case the local authority should be consulted.

Sources

1. https://www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com/blog/chimney/chimney-liner/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-chimney-liner/

Author: Emma M

I am a Liverpool-based freelance writer with a degree in Media and Communications. I specialise in product reviews, home improvement and DIY content. I am also experienced in social media management and content marketing.