Terms & Conditions

Website Terms and conditions

Company Information

The Tinderbox Woodburning Stoves & Fireplaces Ltd

Company Registration Number: 8972908 (England and Wales)

Registered Office: 45 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5QA
Business Address, Workshop, Showroom, and Office: Unit 7B Riddings Farm, Goose Hill, Headley RG19 8AU

VAT Number: 407 8451 89

Definitions and Interpretations

“The Tinderbox” refers to The Tinderbox Woodburning Stoves & Fireplaces Ltd.

“Customer” means the person or company so described in the quotation/order.

“Conditions” means the standard terms and conditions as set out in this document and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes any or special terms and conditions agreed in writing between The Tinderbox and the customer.

“Specification” includes any plans, drawings, data, or other technical requirements or information agreed upon.

“Installation Information” The information supplied by The Tinderbox for each accepted quotation, to be read and agreed by the customer before the deposit is paid.

“Contract” means the agreed terms as set out in the agreed quotation and correspondence of the sale and supply of the goods and/or services subject to these conditions.

“Goods” means the goods (including any instalment of the Goods or any part of them) described in the order/quotation/specifications.

“Order” means any written quotation of The Tinderbox which is accepted by the customer, or any written order of the customer which is accepted by The Tinderbox for the supply of goods or services.

“Price” means the price of the Goods and/or Services as set out in the agreed quotation/specifications.

“Supplier” refers to the manufacturer/wholesaler used by The Tinderbox to supply goods to the customer.

“Works” means the goods and services supplied as agreed in the accepted quotation/order.

Confirmation and Specification of Goods and Services

Confirmation of Goods and Services

The Contract will only be established between you and The Tinderbox once a quotation has been accepted, the Installation Information has been reviewed and agreed upon, and a deposit has been made or dates confirmed (in cases where a deposit is not necessary), or upon the initiation of works.

The payment of a deposit or the confirmation of dates for the commencement of the works, in response to an order placed by the customer, is considered to signify acceptance of both the order and these Terms & Conditions. A contract does not exist between the customer and The Tinderbox until a deposit has been made or dates have been booked against an agreed order. The remaining balance on the order is required upon the completion of the work.

Wood and Other Natural Goods

Where any Goods consist of stone, granite, slate, wood, or other natural products, variations in the colour and appearance between different items (and any samples shown to you) may occur as a result of the natural characteristics of such materials. You acknowledge that such variations do not constitute a breach of these Terms by The Tinderbox, and natural flaws, such as fissures, pitting, colour variation, and markings in granite and stone, along with knots and splits and colour changes of wood supplied will not be accepted by The Tinderbox as defects and do not justify rejection by you. The decision of the supplier to The Tinderbox in questions raised by the customer will be final, and The Tinderbox will not be held responsible for the final decision.

Changes to the Quotation/Specification

If the customer seeks to modify any aspect of the specification outlined by The Tinderbox in the order or quotation (referred to as the “Specification”) after the Contract has been entered into (for instance, if you request additional items or services for The Tinderbox to supply and install), such modification will only be considered valid if it is accepted in writing by The Tinderbox. Furthermore, The Tinderbox’s consent may be contingent upon your agreement to pay the extra costs for the goods and services, as communicated to you by The Tinderbox.

The provided quotation is contingent upon the materials and labour necessary for the project. If we encounter unexpected issues that necessitate additional materials and labour, we will consult with the customer prior to moving forward, and the associated costs will be included in the final invoice. If you choose not to continue or the work is paused while a decision is being made, you will be charged for the works, materials, and goods supplied up to that point before we resume works.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon Monoxide alarms to be installed with solid fuel & gas appliances in accordance with Hetas / Gas Safe, and manufacturer’s instructions.

Building Sites / Contractors

All requests for method statements and required documentation for building sites or contractors must be submitted prior to the commencement of the works. Requests for such documentation should be made in writing, allowing a minimum of 5 working days for the documents to be provided.

Building Contractors are required to indicate any request of CIS deduction and DRC prior to the start of the works.

When requesting a zero-rated VAT invoice this must be accompanied by a copy of the planning consent, which should be submitted to The Tinderbox.

If other VAT rates are requested, a copy of the HMRC scheme must be provided along with supporting documentation to demonstrate that all aspects of the scheme have been complied with and that a reduced rate is applicable in this instance.

Liability for structural defects, Pipes & Electrics.

The Tinderbox shall not be held responsible or liable for any damage to your home resulting directly from structural defects or weaknesses, unless:

The customer has made The Tinderbox aware in email or writing that there are pipes or electric cables in the area where the works are to be undertaken
The defect or weakness in question was reasonably detectable by The Tinderbox during a standard visual inspection of the area where the Services are to be conducted before work begins (it is important to note that The Tinderbox is not required to perform a comprehensive structural survey of your entire home or inspect areas that are not immediately visible, such as pipes or electrics concealed behind plaster or beneath floorboards).

Unforeseen Brickwork and Structural Variations

Discovery of Defective Brickwork: During the course of the agreed-upon works, should our engineers discover existing brickwork that is loose, structurally unsound, unstable, or otherwise compromised, we reserve the right to immediately pause the primary project to address these safety and structural hazards.
Mandatory Remedial Action: For reasons of health and safety, structural integrity, and compliance with building regulations, any loose or unstable brickwork identified during the project must be remediated, stabilised, or rebuilt.
Additional Charges: The rectification of such structural defects is considered out-of-scope from the original estimate. All labour, materials, and disposal fees required to stabilise the brickwork will incur extra charges beyond the initial quote.
Cancellation or Non-Proceeding of Original Works: In the event that you (the Customer) choose not to proceed with the originally contracted works after a structural defect has been uncovered, you remain fully liable for all costs incurred to make the brickwork safe and structurally sound. We cannot leave a site in an unsafe or hazardous condition. You will be invoiced for, and agree to pay, the full cost of the stabilisation works completed up to that point, alongside any materials already purchased or utilised for the project.

Building consent

It is the responsibility of the customer to secure any required building consent for work performed by The Tinderbox, if necessary. Additionally, particularly for Grade 1 and Grade 2 listed buildings.

The Tinderbox shall not be held responsible or liable in any way if modifications or alterations are required due to the absence of such consent; this encompasses the removal of goods and restoration back to the original structure. Any such actions will incur additional costs, which will be charged to the customer.

Testing Limitations & Atmospheric Conditions

To determine the correct size for your fireplace opening, we perform a standard smoke test. While this test is highly effective for assessing the chimney’s draw under the specific conditions of the test day, please be aware of the following terms:

Weather-Dependent Results: A smoke test only provides a snapshot of how your chimney performs under the exact atmospheric and weather conditions present at the time of the test (including wind speed, wind direction, outdoor temperature, and barometric pressure).
No Guarantees on Future Draw: Because weather and atmospheric conditions are constantly changing, we cannot guarantee, nor be held responsible or liable for, the failure of the fireplace to draw properly on any other day or under different weather conditions.
Draft Variability: Factors such as “cold face” chimneys, seasonal temperature inversions, high winds, or changes in home ventilation can affect draft performance post-testing. Our test is an assessment of viability at the time of service, not a permanent guarantee of draft performance.

Stove Performance and Post-Installation External Factors

All solid fuel appliance and flue installations carried out by The Tinderbox are completed and tested in strict accordance with current Building Regulations and manufacturer guidelines. A successful commissioning test is performed on the day of installation to ensure the appliance is fully functional and drawing correctly.

Consequently, The Tinderbox cannot be held responsible or liable for any subsequent issues regarding smoking back, poor draw, or downdraft caused by external, environmental, or structural factors beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to:

Adverse Weather Conditions: High winds, atmospheric pressure changes, or sudden temperature drops that temporarily disrupt the natural draft of the flue.
External Obstructions: Growing trees, vegetation, or newly erected neighbouring structures that interfere with wind patterns and cause downdraft.
Negative Air Pressure: The effects of mechanical extraction fans (e.g., kitchen extractors, bathroom fans), air recovery systems, or high levels of property draft-proofing that starve the appliance of necessary combustion air.
Cold Flues and Chimneys: Standard operational difficulties arising from starting an appliance when the flue or chimney is exceptionally cold, which can temporarily prevent a thermal draft from establishing.

Please Note: Once the installation has been signed off and commissioned as working on the day of completion, any subsequent visits required to investigate draft issues caused by the external factors listed above will be subject to a standard call-out charge.

Price, Deposit, Payment, Ownership

Price

Prices offered are subject to fluctuations in the availability, quality, and cost of raw materials. The Tinderbox can, upon giving you notice, vary any prices offered. The quotation provided to the customer will be valid for 10 working days from the date on the quotation.

Deposit and Installation Information

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all orders require an initial advance deposit as set out by The Tinderbox. The remaining balance must be paid on completion of the works. The Installation Information supplied by The Tinderbox for each accepted quotation is to be read and agreed by the customer before the deposit is paid. Paying the deposit confirms the installation information has been read and agreed to unless the customer informs The Tinderbox to the contrary in advance of the deposit payment. Any adjustments by the customer must be agreed by The Tinderbox before the contract can proceed regardless of the deposit being paid.

Ownership

All goods supplied by The Tinderbox remain the property of The Tinderbox until your account has been paid in full.

VAT

Prices are stated exclusive of VAT. The Tinderbox shall be entitled to adjust the price payable by you to reflect any subsequent changes to the rate of VAT or special VAT circumstances.

Payment

Payment is required upon the completion of the works as specified in either the quotation/order or the mutually agreed adaptation of the works should unforeseen issues arise.

Any additional goods and services requested after the customer has made the initial deposit will not postpone the payment for the originally agreed works/quotation being fulfilled. Payment options include cash, cheque, or BACS (The Tinderbox bank details will be provided upon request for payment); all cash transactions must include the VAT amount. The Tinderbox does not accept card payments.

Late Payments

If the Customer fails to pay any amount owed to The Tinderbox under these Terms, then The Tinderbox may suspend without liability further deliveries of any Goods and/or services until the customer has paid all overdue amounts. In addition, The Tinderbox may claim interest on any late payment calculated on a daily basis at 7% above the Bank of England base lending rate.

Image Usage

All images on this website are protected by copyright and may not be copied, reproduced, or used for any purpose without the explicit permission of The Tinderbox Woodburning Stoves and Fireplaces Ltd or the respective owners. We reserve the right to use images taken during installations on our website and promotional materials. However, no personal information, including customer names or addresses, will be associated with these images.