Stoke Fireplace Studio

Distressing experience for my wife and I over the last 2 years. Fireplace cabinetry is not fit for purpose due to not being able to put our valuable items on the shelves due to heat damage. Their designer failed to allow for the hot flue pipes in their design. The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has failed the plumbing installation done by the… Read more

Stoke plumber (who owns Stoke Fireplace Studio) on two separate occasions for two different safety reasons. This is now non-compliant and deemed by the Victorian Building Authority as unsafe, and not to be used. We have asked Stoke and the builder for a refund and to cancel our contract due to breaches of the relevant standards and regulations. The plumber ( the owner of Stoke) now has a permanent record with the VBA for his conduct because the VBA have written to us to advise, and the plumber has been warned against the consequences of further related breaches by the VBA. The builder that Stoke gave us is being investigated by the Victorian Building Authority for tampering with the plumbing installation, and has been fined by Energy Safe Victoria for tampering with the electrical work and doing unlicensed electrical work. Both of the above break the relevant regulations in Victoria. There are also multiple failures under Australian Consumer Law. The work has been left incomplete for the last 2 years, and every day we are looking at an incomplete shell. Neither Stoke or the builder have replied to our refund request. Apart from Consumer Guarantees that come with every installation, the plumber's own fireplace installation is a dismal failure and even under the terms of Stoke's own contract for the fireplace, they have failed to deliver a compliant and working fireplace. Their contract states that "All installations are carried out in accordance with VBA and the manufaturer's specifications." This is false. The VBA have failed the installation and have instructed us not to use it. We are awaiting VCAT to hear the matter and the project will need to be demolished and re-designed and executed by a team of professionals. Stoke could and should have fixed the matter quickly under Consumer Guarantees. They chose not to do the right thing. Buyer beware.