"Gaz" wrote in message
oups.com...

In the loft, the flue looks like it's made out of metal. I'm not sure
if the metal goes down to the fire, or if it's something else.

If it is a flueblock flue then a change to "double" skinned metal flue pipe
within the loft is normal

The hot stack is getting too much heat. The wall above the fire
surround has paint blistering off the plaster. The room upstairs has a
gloss skirting board that's too hot to touch. It seems like a fire
waiting to happen.

Have you posted details of what the fire actually is? Also is it suitable
for the fuel in use, i.e. if it is running on LPG is it an LPG model or is
it a Natural Gas model with larger injectors (jets) which would produce a
much bigger flame (and heat) than it should have.


I've been having a chat with a few people at work, and it seems like
the air vent at the top of the fire is too big. The vent on my fire is
about A4 in size. Most people's fires seem to have smaller vents. I
think the bigger the vent, the more heat is getting chucked up the
flue, rather than into the room.

Does that make sense?

It might but your description of a "vent" requires clarification. Are you
talking about an overfire flue break which will admit "lots" of cooling air
and thus could be expected to actually cool the flue products rather than
overheat the flue.
The construction of the flue may not be to standard. Has the flue been used
for a gas fire before this?
I think you should speak to the manufacturers technical department