Hohoho... the chimney does not bring Santa nor chaleur (warmth)
In fact, I was not prepared for reparation work today. I understood that the proprietor was coming to view the problem and discuss the proposed "modification" BUT... I had to say "STOP, STOP, STOP" (that is FRENCH for arrête! ) and tell the young man to slow down!!!!! He had already trodden on the hearth into the gunge and was about to spread this on my oak floor!!!!!!! Oh MY!
So I went in haste for sheets of cardboard, and my friend went in haste for sheets of chipboard and I returned to find that they were uninstalling the woodburner.
First, I rushed to clean the gungy, glass hearth with warm water and a cloth. We had to tell them repeatedly to slide cardboard under the legs of the woodburner as they edged it forwards off the 8mm thick glass onto a sheet of chipboard. I emphasised how much it cost, as they later moved it out of position; it is very heavy. By then they had already removed the rigid steel tubes after I had pointed to the dribbles on the exterior and how this gunge went into the next tube.
So it seems that one of the problems since May has been that:
They have flouted the clear instructions in the woodburner manufacturer's installation instruction manual. I have a copy. The installers had not installed the correct "raccord" which transforms the female into a male which is then inserted into the female part of the next tube.
All male ends should point down into the female ends. The sexual comparisons have all been aired and shared!!!!!!
I had to stop them rushing about and explain what I knew about the evaporation and condensation of gases and liquids from burning any fuel carburant and in this case burning 3 yr old seasoned oak logs. I spoke about the height of the chimney and that the flue liner is not protected against keeping the flue hot as it gets further from the source of the heat and that perhaps it is cooling too quickly because there is no vermiculite surrounding it. He said it wasn't essential but if it's what I want, it could be arranged. He said that of course it is my responsibility to pay for that whether he did it in the first place or if I have it done now. I have always known and accepted that. He agreed that he was at fault and many times apologised. I too am sorry .. for him, but more for me and my friend for all the stress that this palava has caused and most importantly for the time and energy that the damage has absorbed and prevented us from getting on with bathroom and other work. As the young man said they installed many woodburners and told us this was the only problem. Frankly, I do not believe that mine has been the only problem. That would be too unique! I've counted 7 incidents / problems of their making, during the course of having employed this company.
It looks as if the water and creosote stain will be removed from the oak relatively easily but it has highlighted the need to oil the wood every year. None of the installation information discussed after-care. Once the solid oak flooring was laid it should have been further oiled with the correct product and polished! If you need a solid oak floor speak to me! You will need more than the engineered oak lengths. The beauty of the finished oak floor relies on preparation of the surfaces beneath it and the way in which the oak planks are fitted together, be they nailed or screwed.
I am trying to discover which oil was initially used and have discovered a company that sells a maintenance kit of soaps and oils specially for oak flooring.
Eventually, after using Acetone, it was the woodburner glass cleaner which moved the sticky tar from the skirting board which will then need to be sanded in situ and repainted.
It also moved the gunge off the plasterboard wall. The bubbled plasterboard has been scraped off still leaving brown stained plaster. So we shall seal it with B-I-N, refill, sand, seal with B-I-N, paint and sand and paint and sand and hopefully the colour of the paint in the tin will match that paint on the wall.
I've vacuumed all the ash from the woodburner, cleaned the glass window and tried to remove most of the gunged-on resin from the enamelled edges within the woodburner, cleaned the rigid tubes, and cleaned the glass hearth. Everything is now ready for the extra raccord ... but I am waiting for more advice.
The installers will be allowed back to finish the repairs:
NOTE: all male ends should be pointing downwards and all female parts should be pointing upwards .... the vessels need to receive any discharge that falls!
My friend suggested we asked for further compensation that what was offered but in France this is not done! The fact of the matter is that there has been incompetence or negligence. Yes, he was not as expensive as some companies I was most interested in the style of woodburners that he was promoting. He was a brand new 'entreprise' and wanted to establish business. This year 50% of my rooms have not been used because of the damage.
Never mind.. I am sure it will all work out nicely in the end... and life is just for challenges!
In fact, I was not prepared for reparation work today. I understood that the proprietor was coming to view the problem and discuss the proposed "modification" BUT... I had to say "STOP, STOP, STOP" (that is FRENCH for arrête! ) and tell the young man to slow down!!!!! He had already trodden on the hearth into the gunge and was about to spread this on my oak floor!!!!!!! Oh MY!
So I went in haste for sheets of cardboard, and my friend went in haste for sheets of chipboard and I returned to find that they were uninstalling the woodburner.
First, I rushed to clean the gungy, glass hearth with warm water and a cloth. We had to tell them repeatedly to slide cardboard under the legs of the woodburner as they edged it forwards off the 8mm thick glass onto a sheet of chipboard. I emphasised how much it cost, as they later moved it out of position; it is very heavy. By then they had already removed the rigid steel tubes after I had pointed to the dribbles on the exterior and how this gunge went into the next tube.
So it seems that one of the problems since May has been that:
They have flouted the clear instructions in the woodburner manufacturer's installation instruction manual. I have a copy. The installers had not installed the correct "raccord" which transforms the female into a male which is then inserted into the female part of the next tube.
All male ends should point down into the female ends. The sexual comparisons have all been aired and shared!!!!!!
I had to stop them rushing about and explain what I knew about the evaporation and condensation of gases and liquids from burning any fuel carburant and in this case burning 3 yr old seasoned oak logs. I spoke about the height of the chimney and that the flue liner is not protected against keeping the flue hot as it gets further from the source of the heat and that perhaps it is cooling too quickly because there is no vermiculite surrounding it. He said it wasn't essential but if it's what I want, it could be arranged. He said that of course it is my responsibility to pay for that whether he did it in the first place or if I have it done now. I have always known and accepted that. He agreed that he was at fault and many times apologised. I too am sorry .. for him, but more for me and my friend for all the stress that this palava has caused and most importantly for the time and energy that the damage has absorbed and prevented us from getting on with bathroom and other work. As the young man said they installed many woodburners and told us this was the only problem. Frankly, I do not believe that mine has been the only problem. That would be too unique! I've counted 7 incidents / problems of their making, during the course of having employed this company.
It looks as if the water and creosote stain will be removed from the oak relatively easily but it has highlighted the need to oil the wood every year. None of the installation information discussed after-care. Once the solid oak flooring was laid it should have been further oiled with the correct product and polished! If you need a solid oak floor speak to me! You will need more than the engineered oak lengths. The beauty of the finished oak floor relies on preparation of the surfaces beneath it and the way in which the oak planks are fitted together, be they nailed or screwed.
I am trying to discover which oil was initially used and have discovered a company that sells a maintenance kit of soaps and oils specially for oak flooring.
Eventually, after using Acetone, it was the woodburner glass cleaner which moved the sticky tar from the skirting board which will then need to be sanded in situ and repainted.
It also moved the gunge off the plasterboard wall. The bubbled plasterboard has been scraped off still leaving brown stained plaster. So we shall seal it with B-I-N, refill, sand, seal with B-I-N, paint and sand and paint and sand and hopefully the colour of the paint in the tin will match that paint on the wall.
I've vacuumed all the ash from the woodburner, cleaned the glass window and tried to remove most of the gunged-on resin from the enamelled edges within the woodburner, cleaned the rigid tubes, and cleaned the glass hearth. Everything is now ready for the extra raccord ... but I am waiting for more advice.
The installers will be allowed back to finish the repairs:
NOTE: all male ends should be pointing downwards and all female parts should be pointing upwards .... the vessels need to receive any discharge that falls!
My friend suggested we asked for further compensation that what was offered but in France this is not done! The fact of the matter is that there has been incompetence or negligence. Yes, he was not as expensive as some companies I was most interested in the style of woodburners that he was promoting. He was a brand new 'entreprise' and wanted to establish business. This year 50% of my rooms have not been used because of the damage.
Never mind.. I am sure it will all work out nicely in the end... and life is just for challenges!
Good morning Sweetpea,
ReplyDeleteA sorry tale, but I'm happy to see one that you are gradually sorting out. Keep positive ...