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Hot Box ® Stoves
Recess Formation and Hearth Construction Dundee
We create safe, beautifully finished fireplace openings and bespoke non-combustible hearths for wood burning and multi-fuel stove installations across Dundee and surrounding areas.
Hot Box ® Stoves
Fireplace Recesses & Bespoke Hearths
Recess formation and hearth construction Dundee is our specialist service for creating safe, attractive and regulation-compliant settings for wood and multi-fuel stoves. We carefully form or enlarge fireplace openings, size and install structural lintels where needed, line chambers with suitable heat-resistant finishes, and template non-combustible hearths in slate, granite, limestone or porcelain.
Every detail is shaped around the appliance you have chosen. We follow manufacturer clearances, Building Regulations and HETAS guidance so the finished result performs safely and looks right in the room. From clean-lined porcelain chambers to more traditional brick-slip interiors, our recess formation and hearth construction Dundee service helps create the right focal point for homes across Dundee, Angus, Perthshire, Fife, Stirling and the wider Central Belt.
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Recess & hearth, done right.
From structural fireplace openings to safe, durable hearths, our Dundee team delivers compliant recess formation and hearth construction for stove installations across Scotland. We work to Scottish Building Standards, appliance guidance and HETAS-led best practice so your project performs safely and looks exceptional.
100%
Compliance-led preparation on recess dimensions, non-combustible linings, clearances to combustibles, ventilation and CO alarm requirements for every opening we prepare in Dundee.
What is recess formation?
We create or adapt a fireplace opening for a stove by assessing the structure, supporting it with a suitable lintel where needed, lining the chamber with non-combustible materials, and ensuring clearances match the appliance specification. This can also include routing for the flue or liner and provision for an accessible register plate.
Related: Stove Installation Dundee | Twin Wall Chimney Systems
Clearances & finishes
We confirm safe distances to combustibles, coordinate cable routes and specify finishes such as board, plaster, chamber panels or slips that can cope with heat while complementing the room.
Explore brands that suit recess installs: Spartherm | Dik Geurts | Burley
Survey & quotation
We survey, measure and provide a clear itemised quotation covering structural works, hearth construction, flue requirements and commissioning.
12 mm
12 mm decorative hearths may be suitable where the stove has been tested for a 100°C hearth. We confirm compatibility and specify glass, stone or porcelain options that satisfy size, edge and finish requirements.
Decorative hearth rules (typical)
For suitable freestanding stoves on combustible floors, a non-combustible hearth of at least 12 mm thickness may be used, subject to the appliance instructions and standards. We also verify the correct footprint and safe edge distances.
Materials & detailing
Glass, slab stone and porcelain can all work well when detailed properly. We design hearths to complement the recess, maintain neat thresholds and suit the layout of the room.
Compare styles on: Stûv | Jydepejsen
Smoke-control areas
In smoke-control zones, we recommend suitable DEFRA-exempt appliances and ensure the opening, hearth and installation route align with Scottish Building Standards.
125 mm
For open fireplaces, deeper build-ups or appliances that require it, we construct a 125 mm constructional hearth with the correct footprint, projection and protection to suit the installation.
Constructional hearth essentials
Set-out includes front and side projection, non-combustible build-up, level finish and safe transitions. We also coordinate with liners or twin-wall systems where no chimney is present.
Aftercare & maintenance
Protect edges, keep joints and sealant lines in good condition, and schedule regular chimney sweeping and stove servicing to maintain safe performance.
Ready to start?
We can handle recess formation, hearth design, stove installation and HETAS-led commissioning from our Dundee base.
Recess 🧱
Carefully formed and sized to suit the stove and its clearances.
Hearth 🔶
Slate, granite, limestone or porcelain, templated to fit beautifully.
Finishes 🎨
Brick slips, porcelain slabs and heat-resistant chamber finishes.
Recess formation and hearth construction Dundee
What’s included.
Our recess formation and hearth construction Dundee package typically includes opening up blocked or undersized fireplaces, enlarging the chamber to suit the chosen appliance, specifying and installing structural lintels where spans increase, lining the chamber using non-combustible materials, and templating a bespoke hearth construction in the correct material, thickness and projection for the installation.
We also take care of dust control, room protection and a tidy handover ready for appliance connection, commissioning and certification.
Why it matters.
Getting the recess and hearth right is fundamental to safe, efficient stove performance and straightforward sign-off. Correct clearances to combustibles, proper hearth sizing on timber floors, and a well-proportioned opening all support better usability and a cleaner finished result.
Design-led choices — from minimalist porcelain chambers to classic honed slate hearths — ensure the final installation complements the room while still satisfying the practical demands of the stove.
Areas we cover.
We provide recess formation and hearth construction Dundee and across wider Scotland, including Dundee, Angus, Perthshire, Fife, Stirling and the Central Belt. If you are outside these areas, contact us and we will confirm availability.
Coordinate with flue works.
Pair this service with the correct flue route for a smoother installation programme. Where a chimney already exists, see our Flexible Flue Liners. Where no chimney is present, choose our Twin-Wall Chimney Systems. Aligning the flue route with recess formation and hearth construction Dundee helps keep the job efficient from first fix to commissioning.
Choosing your wood burner.
At Hot Box ®, we offer a carefully curated stove range to suit contemporary rooms, traditional fireplaces, compact openings and larger statement installations.
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