Great for starting the fire and getting the chimney to draw well. Oak is a slower burner but gives off more heat per kilogram. Depends a bit on how the particular log burner is working. I had trouble burning my oak when I arrived as the flue terminal wasnt working properly. After I changed it the fire could again draw well and burn the oak.
I felled a large ash tree so have plenty for next year and will see how that goes as its favoured by some.
2 Likes
Oak needs to be stored for 3 or 4 years to season otherwise it wonāt burn well. @Corona I used to have a fair bit of Ash, always found it a bit ādisappointingā, it burnt well enough but wasnāt that hot.
Have to buy wood these days, it seems to be mainly beech around here but it does the jobš„
1 Like
Beech, great for furniture but not really liked for burning as water content is high. Yes agreed about oak seasoning, the incredibly damp start to the year could well have affected my oak pile.
1 Like
@AngelaR that pot roast/stew sounds delicious! We did jacket/baked potatoes (wrapped in foil) in our fire too during the power cuts - a hot meal was very welcome! I hadnāt considered cooking anything else in them BBQ style (other than toasted marshmallows!) - good idea.
@SarahL We had a grill on legs from when we only had an open fire. It took years before we realised we could d the same with the wood burner if we opened the doors 
This sort of thing only heavier duty and nothing like as expensiveā¦ (check depot ventes)
https://www.manomano.fr/p/grille-bali-petit-modele-pour-cheminee-ou-barbecue-13632933
2 Likes
I thought beech had a lower moisture content than oakā¦
Maybe once fully dried?
Have you looked at the France Renov website from the French government? Here is the link about wood burning stoves. If you scroll down, you can check to see if there are grants available:
https://france-renov.gouv.fr/renovation/chauffage/poele-buches
1 Like
Saw this in Valreas (Vaucluse) 300ā¬: Redirecting...
1 Like
Thanks for the info and the links @StirlingMouse - much appreciate.
Unfortunately that one is a bit too far for use as weāre near Toulouse and I donāt think we meet the requirements for the government grants 
.
Ah, OK, thanks @AngelaR 
We bought ours from the local Briconauteā¦who determined the correct size, ordered and fitted a large double sided glass door one . I THINK they still do it, but it is worth looking at https://www.maprimerenov.gouv.fr/prweb/PRAuth/app/AIDES_/BPNVwCpLW8TKW49zoQZpAw*/!STANDARD
It was over 3 years ago we had ours fitted, but we were able to claim back around 90% of the cost. You have to get it approved before you buy/install.
1 Like
Thank you @Gprit
Just make sure you follow the right procedure in the correct orderā¦it was actually quite painless. Make sure the supplier is also qualified under the schemeā¦I think it is RGEā¦but the Briconaute should be able to confirm.
Presumably not exclusive to Briconaught?
correctā¦
I prefer Briconautes (great name!) to Bricorama for most things, but the latter probably has a much wider range of stoves - theyāre big on Invicta, which are fairly cheap and have a good variety of trad and contemporary designs.
Brico Cash arrived up my way, determined to undercut like Brico Depot used to.
Hello
I would recommend a Jotul I have one in my house in Ireland and one in France with a pretty glass front, but the burn properly only on well seasoned or kill dried wood. Make sure you check the baffle plate and sides for warps although I believe thats unlikely in a Jotul as they are very solid. 2nd hand ones are snapped up in France, I bought mine in Ireland as it was cheaper, they seem to cheaper 2nd hand in the UK and I nearly took the ferry to get one in Wales! so be quick! I believe in 2010 they upgraded to clean burn system for the new regs.
In a larger room I took a chance on a Saey Blenheim- a Belgian makeā¦OMG its a monster multifuel and throws out unbelievable heat and doesnāt eat the logs. Its discontinued now really solid and you could cook on it!
Happy stove hunting.
Tricia
1 Like
I think JOTUL are the best, but I believe they are expensive, but I think you get what you pay for. We have one in our sitting room, with ceramic hot plate on top, which throws out huge heat all around the house, so absolutely no other heating required!
1 Like