Fireplace restoration

You may not know that we don't just sell stoves and fires at Westcombes, we also offer a restoration service for fireplaces.  Many of the fires in Edwardian, Victorian or Georgian properties start to look rather tired if they haven't had any love and attention. Some may have been painted over in the past, or may be stained or damaged. Our craftsmen can restore them to their former glory and customers are often amazed at how beautiful a grotty fire can look once it has had some care. We're member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen and you can be confident that your fires are in the best possible hands when you bring them to us for restoration.  You can see our details on the Guild of Master Craftsmen website here.

Free with every stove...

At Westcombes, we know that customers don't always feel confident about lighting their stoves for the first time, and that's why we're providing a free fire starter kit with every DEFRA-approved woodburner we sell at the shop.  Containing matches, natural firelighters, kindling and logs, the starter kit has everything you need to get your stove going - and we've found that once customers try the kiln-dried logs we sell in the shop, they're reluctant to use wood sold elsewhere which is often damp and hard to light.

So, if you're considering buying a stove, come and look at our extensive range of more than sixty stoves in a dedicated stove showroom here at Westcombes - we have gas, electric and multi-fuel stoves as well as DEFRA-approved woodburners and we're sure you'll find something you like!

An energy efficient home

It's always great for us to see happy customers with warm fires and stoves to keep their homes cosy - but it's important to make sure you're not losing all that lovely heat you're creating. Thinking about energy efficiency at home won't only conserve heat, it can save money too. We've put together a few tips to help you make sure you aren't wasting money and energy -

• Poor window fittings can lead to drafts, letting in cold air. Make sure your windows are properly fitted and insulated.  You may want to consider double glazing.
• Drawing your curtains as soon as it gets dark helps to keep your home warm.
• It's surprising how much heat can be lost through the roof.  Is your loft space insulated?  Having an insulated loft can soon save money on heating bills.
• If you are burning wood, make sure you come to Westcombes to stock up on kiln-dried wood which is far more efficient than the damp, unseasoned wood you may get elsewhere. 
• Adjusting your heating thermostat by just a degree can cut your bills by as much as 10%.  If you don't have a thermostat - get one!
• Make sure you turn electrical appliances off rather than leaving them on standby which is using electricity all the time.
• Dripping hot water taps cost you money! 
• If you don't use them already, try energy-saving light bulbs.
• Make sure you turn the lights off when you leave a room.
• Only boil the water you actually need when you put the kettle on for a cup of tea.

Westcombes on TV!

We're all excited here at Westcombes today as we've just heard that a date has been set for our TV appearance - well, actually a TV appearance for a Westcombes fire!  We were selected by ITV to be part of their interior design show, "60 Minute Makeover".  We supplied a Westcombes fire to provide a focal point for a newly-decorated room at a house in Erith.

If you want to catch Westcombes on TV, the show is due to air on ITV on Tuesday 22 May at 2pm.