Why choose Avenir Renovations?
Why choose a wood stove?
A radiant heat
The wood stove emits a gentle heat that warms walls and objects as much as the air. The visible flame adds an ambiance that no radiator can replace.
An independent heat source
A log stove operates without electricity. In case of a power outage or boiler failure, the living space remains heated.
Many homeowners appreciate it as a safety measure during cold spells.
An efficient supplement
Current devices have a much higher efficiency than old stoves and open fires, and emit significantly fewer particles than a device installed twenty years ago. In a well-insulated house, a few logs are enough to heat the living room for an entire evening.
The different types of wood stoves
Choosing a wood stove suitable for your home allows you to enjoy pleasant, controlled heat tailored to your daily needs. Between classic log stoves, mass models, double combustion, or boiler stoves, each solution has specific characteristics in terms of efficiency, autonomy, and installation.
Procedures, rules, and best practices for a wood stove in Flanders
- Every new stove must meet European Ecodesign requirements
- Only dry, untreated wood is allowed: burning painted wood or waste is prohibited
- According to the recommendations of the Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, the flue should ideally exit through the roof, at least fifty centimeters above the ridge
- Municipalities can temporarily ban decorative fires during pollution episodes, generally with an exception for homes without other heating
Dry wood, with less than twenty percent moisture, burns better, creates less soot, and heats more. Oak, beech, and ash remain the reference species. Flanders does not offer a subsidy for wood stoves. Regarding VAT, the rate of 6% is applicable for a house over ten years old.
Logs should be stored protected from rain but well-ventilated, ideally for two years after cutting. Wood that is too green smokes, clogs the glass and flue, and heats much less.
The relaxed Flemish rules in March 2026 exempt, under certain conditions, most traditional chimney flues from omgevingsvergunning. Your fire insurance must be informed of the installation, and it may request a compliance installation certificate and annual sweeping. There is no regional subsidy for a wood stove, but the reduced VAT rate may apply in a house over ten years old.
Safety distances, floor plates, insulated floor and roof penetrations, flue exit at the correct height: each point is executed according to the manufacturer's instructions and best practices. A combustion air supply is provided in well-insulated homes.
What is the price of an installed wood stove in Leuven?
The type of stove and its power matter, but it is mainly the condition of the flue that affects the bill. Indicative prices including VAT, at 6% for a house over ten years old.
| Type of work | Factors affecting the price | Indicative price including VAT |
| Ecodesign log stove (6 to 9 kW), installed | Brand, glass, cladding | 2,500 to 5,000 € |
| Insert in an existing fireplace | Fireplace dimensions, finishing frame | 2,500 to 5,500 € |
| Masonry stove, installed | Material, weight, floor reinforcement | 6,000 to 14,000 € |
| Boiler stove connected to central heating | Power, hydraulic connection | 6,000 to 11,000 € |
| Flue lining of an existing flue | Height, diameter, condition of the flue | 1,200 to 2,500 € |
| New double-walled flue up to the roof | Length, penetrations, roof exit | 2,000 to 4,500 € |
| Floor plate and wall protections | Material, dimensions | 200 to 800 € |
On-site, the existing flue is first inspected, its exit height relative to the ridge is measured, and the air supply from the room is checked, especially in a recently insulated house. The quote separates the appliance, the flue, and the protections.
Example: for a terraced house in Heverlee with an old fireplace in the living room, a seven-kilowatt log stove, the flue lining, and a steel floor plate often total between 4,500 and 7,500 euros including VAT.
Where to place your stove?
Ideally, the stove should be placed at the center of the area to be heated, often between the living room and dining room in a deep town house. This way, the heat is distributed on both sides. Against a poorly insulated exterior wall, some heat is lost.
The stove respects the safety distances with combustible materials indicated by the manufacturer. A glass, steel, or stone floor plate protects the floor in front of the fireplace, and the flue remains accessible for cleaning.
Why call Avenir Renovations?
- Flue diagnosis before choosing the stove
- Devices compliant with Ecodesign, power suited to the room
- Lining, connection, and protections compliant
- Commissioning and usage advice
- Chimney sweeping and maintenance offered upon request
Chimney sweeping, consumption, and installation
In an apartment, it's rarely possible
An individual flue up to the roof and the agreement of the co-ownership are required. In most buildings, other solutions are sought.
A pellet stove or another heat source is more suitable in this case.
Annual chimney sweeping
It is essential for safety and often required by the fire insurance. The chimney sweep provides a certificate to keep.
A dirty flue is the leading cause of chimney fires.
Wood consumption
It all depends on usage. As a supplement a few evenings a week, two to three steres per winter are often sufficient. For primary heating of a living space, significantly more is needed.
Reuse an old chimney flue
It is possible after inspection and, most often, lining, to ensure tightness and good draft.
In old houses in Leuven, brick flues are often too wide or cracked for a modern stove. Lining with a stainless steel sleeve addresses these two issues and improves draft.
In a very well-insulated house
A low-power model is chosen; otherwise, the room heats up quickly. An air supply for combustion must also be provided, as a sealed house does not allow enough air to feed the fire.
Stove, insert, or suspended fireplace
The classic stove is placed against a wall or in the middle of the room. The insert fits into an existing chimney and transforms an inefficient open fire into a real supplementary heating source. The suspended fireplace, more contemporary, requires a flue and a ceiling capable of supporting it.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Wood Stove in Leuven
How to light a wood stove without smoke?
The top-down lighting method works very well: large logs at the bottom, kindling and fire starter on top. Open the air supply wide at first, then adjust it once the fire is well established. Dry wood remains the basic requirement.
How to keep the glass of a wood stove clean?
With well-dried wood and a lively combustion, the glass blackens much less. The air wash system in modern stoves also helps. When cleaning is necessary, do it cold, with a damp cloth soaked in a bit of fine ash.
Can you cook on a wood stove?
Some models have a cooking plate on top or a small built-in oven. They allow you to keep a dish warm or cook slowly during winter evenings, and remain usable in case of a power outage.
Insert or stove: what to choose?
The insert transforms an inefficient open fireplace into real heating, without changing the look of the room. The stove distributes heat better all around and can be placed more freely, but requires a suitable flue.
A stove ready for winter
A flue to be installed or created adds a few weeks of delay. To light the first fire as soon as the cool evenings arrive, the project should ideally start before the end of summer. Also think about the annual chimney sweeping, essential for safe operation.
The technical visit is free. We start with your chimney.
Agency Avenir
Rénovations
for Wood stove installation in Leuven
An expert to take charge of your renovation projects and guarantee deadlines, budgets and quality of all services.
