Open fire or log burner

When we installed our first log burner, we found three other fireplace behind the one we removed. A very dusty job! We restored the original one and strengthened it.

Ours had formerly had a Yorkshire Range in it, been boarded up and a horrible 1960's gas fire inserted. One of our first tasks on taking on the house was to open it up, get the chimney checked out, and we then used an open fire in it for years. We decided to open wall between kitchen and back room up when OH retired, transforming these two rooms was a big project, OH did everything himself bar fitting the stove, that was done by a stove specialist as we wanted the certificate, and a sparky friend helped him install a new range cooker. 

We've got an open fire, we burn logs and occasionally other fuels. We had to rebuild our fireplace after a previous owner had blocked it off and with hindsight a small stove would have been more efficient. We do have access to reasonably priced logs or our own from the garden. I think logs are quite expensive unless you know a good source. At present nearly all our wood is from home due to trees dying or needing cutting back.

We don't always light the fire and it creates quite a bit of dust, but it's nice and cosy too. 

I pay just under £200 for 1.6m3 bulk bag 25cm  kiln dried logs.

They burn really well with quite intense heat

Occasionally we do burn other wood but it needs to be well seasoned, at least a couple of years 

Most of our wood is from garden, or neighbour's gardens. Plus we have an Arborculturist and Tree Surgeon in family! 

If your main source is to buy in, I would do a bit of pricing up though. As with other "trendy" things, it doesn't take long for sellers to realise they can up the prices! Shop around, get to know a wood yard owner. Kindling for starting fires is often most expensive bit, but you soon become proficient with a different range of axes! 

SIL is a joiner so he gives us loads of off-cuts for kindling so that's FOC.

I have brought cheaper wood locally but it's not as good (not seasoned properly so too much water) so I think I will stick with my present supplier.

Yes, a small stove in the room does give off heat quite efficiently.

MOH and I prefer an open log fire if only because the chuckling sound of the flames seems to make everything more cosy and despite the drawback of the occasional spit and having the chimney swept every couple of years or so..

We use a carpet offcut to protect the carpet in front of the fire and remove it when burning season is over.

At present have about 5 yrs. supply of logs, stacked in various corners of the garden, so it is usually well seasoned before being burnt.

Stoves tend to project forward into the room taking up a little space whereas an open fire in the grate does not, on the whole.

I pay £85 for a cubic metre of logs from our local supplier and probably only get through two loads a year and supplement it with smokeless fuel, used mainly for the initial lighting. I always have 'todays' logs in the log basket and another armful next to the stove, drying ready for tomorrow as I find that even having been stored in a proper log store, they are still slightly damp when they come inside.

We have 2 multi fuel stoves, one in a large kitchen and one in the front lounge and I wouldn’t be without them. Keeps us toasty warm. (Too warm at times!) Much more usable heat than an open fire. We also have an open fire and it’s  lovely when the coals are burning but with 85% of the heat going up the chimney I think a wood burner every time!  However, they did lead to the purchase of a chainsaw, all the safety kit and a saw horse!! 

There are all sorts of stoves available nowadays. Some very traditional, some very contemporary. Quite a few don't need a fireplace, and you can get some suspended!