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Milford, Connecticut Finnish Contraflow Masonry Heater.
18 January '09 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
The fireplace is finished before the rest of the ambitious home improvement project.
This simple stucco Finnish contraflow heater warms the center of a 100 year old home in Milford, Ct. The old home is being completed upgraded by the new owners.
When considering the home’s energy plan, the family started by increasing the home’s efficiency and lowering the home’s heat load. The family gutted the old plaster and lathe walls and filled the uninsulated empty voids with insulation. The old single pane windows were replaced next with modern low emissivity energy efficient windows.
The home also had an existing original fireplace. The fireplace was not energy efficient nor safe by modern code standards. When considering energy efficiency in their plan, this fireplace had no place.
The front and rear of the old, traditional fireplace.
The fireplace and chimney were demolished and removed leaving the space open for a wood burning appliance and vented with a new metal double wall insulated chimney pipe.
When considering a heat source for the old home, the family decided on an old wood burning solution; a clean burning masonry heater. The family contacted Amazin’ Masons and the heater design work began.
The family wanted a simple heater to fit the space and design style of the home. They liked the idea of a clay stucco finish on a heater with clean straight lines. A few possible designs were sketched for review.
Once the design for the new heater is finalized, the work can begin on the core. The heater’s core goes up quickly using Masonry Stove Builders’ Heat-Kit.
The firebox is completed and the core continues.
The block veneer continues above the loading door.
The block veneer rises above the heater core.
Once the block shell and chimney are completed, the first scratch coat is applied.
The second coat of thin-set plaster.
Once the stucco plaster is completed, the doors are installed and the first curing fires begin.
One of the first fires burns down inside the firebox.
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West Chester, PA Stone Finnish Contraflow Heater
19 October '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This project is a large stone masonry heater in a West Chester, PA home. The family’s old natural gas boiler was due for an expensive repair and servicing or complete replacement. The family decided to go for clean burning masonry heater instead for the home’s primary heat source.
After several design consultations the location and layout of the heater and chimney are determined. The first design was for a basic stone heater with a short bench.
After some deliberation, the family opted for a large stone heater with long bench runs. This heater would aesthetically and functionally better suit the space available.
The heater layout is finalized in the space. The heater’s rear wall will replace a load bearing beam so special design attention is placed on structural considerations as well as meeting or exceeding building codes.
The job begins with some demolition. A non-load bearing framed wall and flooring are removed to prepare for the heater installation.
A load bearing, steel reinforced concrete pad is tied into the existing concrete floor. This will be the base for the new heater construction. The heater starts with a load bearing block wall behind the heater. This will serve as the rear wall of the heater as well as support the floor above.
The heater’s core begins next. The construction goes quickly with the use of a Heat Kit core.
The core is completed as well as the base of the chimney up to the chimney shut-off damper. The chimney is lined with firebrick splits.
Next the internal masonry for the long heated benches are constructed. The benches are built using 8×12″ clay flue tile liners as well as firebrick channels for the more intricate bench turns. The multiple ash clean-out doors are visible.
With the core and heat exchange channels completed, the stone veneer starts.
The pictures below show the completed side stone panel as well as the bake-oven arch and large bluestone door lintel.
The heated benches are faced and capped in stone.
The heater doors are mounted to the stonework.
The colorful completed stone chimney.
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Rock Hill, NY Finnish Contraflow Heater.
12 October '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This very simple heater warms this renovated barn in the New York Catskills. To accommodate for an upcoming bridge improvement, the town had scheduled this small barn for demolition. The new owner of the property decided to move and renovate the old barn as his new home instead.
With acres of woods on the old farm property, an open floor plan and very cold winters, the owner decided to heat this new home with the most efficient wood burning appliance there is: a masonry heater. The homeowner wanted an aesthetically simple look for the Finnish fireplace. A basic heater shell and chimney would be constructed and coated with plain stucco.
The Finnish contraflow Heat-Kit core is finished in a single day working with heater expert Norbert Senf from Masonry Stove Builders. Here is a view of the completed core from the loft space above.
The outer wall, or veneer of the heater covering the core is simple firebrick on edge. The chimney is made of 4″ masonry blocks.
The doors and masonry to metal chimney transition are installed.
The metal chimney is completed. Work on the rest of the home progresses as well. The heater is part of a divider wall between the master bedroom and main floor living space. This wall is also completed in the photo below.
The rear heater wall acts as a vertical radiant panel warming the bedroom on even the coldest winter nights.
The homeowner's bed moves to the rear wall of the masonry heater in the coldest winter months.
The homeowner liked the simple, “honest” look of the firebrick and block. He choose to not go forward with the final stucco layer for the present time.
For more great pictures of this home, check out the homeowner’s blog.
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Kutztown, PA Hand-Built Finnish Contraflow Heater.
10 October '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This hand built Finnish contraflow masonry heater warms the center of a masterful Amish timber frame home surrounded by Pennsylvania farmland. The owners designed an energy responsible home including passive and active solar, high insulation ratings, and a masonry heater in the center of the open floor plan. The heater lays between the kitchen and main living space of the home. The thick concrete floor and the massive heater also compose the thermal storage battery for the ample southern exposure windows providing passive solar heat storage .
The clients excavated the heater’s local limestone veneer stone from the partially buried foundation remains of a building on the farm property. Two inch thick bluestone slabs cap the heater and small benches. There is a soapstone mantle above the loading doors. There is an additional small soapstone shelf before the bakeoven door as well as a spacious soapstone preparation counter at waist level. The client also provided clay tiles from a local artist to accent the heater and chimney.
The clients were excited about the many possibilities for the bake oven on the rear of the heater. Fresh scones were the first product.
The heater began with a discussion to determine the best location for the heater in the floor plan. Once the basic location and elements were finalized, detailed concept sketches were reviewed.
The heater starts with the core. Here we see the firebox floor followed by the completed firebox.
Once the core is completed, including the bake oven chamber, the side down draft channels are constructed. Here we see the beginning of the chimney side channel. When both side channels are completed the chimney base begins, as seen here from the kitchen side.
The masonry chimney is constructed and plastered.
After the completion of the core and chimney, the stone veneer starts.
A temporary wooden crosspiece supports the freshly laid hearth in front and cook shelf the rear.
The stone work is completed and capped with local Pennsylvania bluestone.
For more pictures and information on this green home, check out the homeowner’s blog.
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Garrison, NY Hand-Built Finnish Contraflow Heater
02 October '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This heater warms a home in the wooded foothills of the Hudson valley. The Appalachian Trail runs on the crest of the ridge behind the house. The clients designed the home to take advantage of passive solar heating and the clean heat of a masonry heater. They wished to use the colorful stone on the property for the heater finish as well as for masonry accents along the house. The heater divides a living and family room in the house with convenient bake oven access from the kitchen.
The rear of the heater with a black oven.
The family took a very active roll in the heater design. The clients were building a full finished basement to support a prefabricated house. They built the house with solar Southern alignment and added more windows on that side to provide passive solar heat. After researching clean burning, efficient wood heat on the internet the family decided on a masonry heater for the home’s main heat source. The large stone heater mass also adds to the home’s solar heat storage.
The heater was designed to the family’s wishe, dividing a living room and family room space. The bake-oven is adjacent to the open kitchen. The heater’s layout design and concept sketches were completed.
The hand built core is also designed.
*The heater is offset from the chimney by a three foot long heated bench/wood box. After the core was completed, it was wrapped in cardboard to form a thermal expansion gap. The firebrick bench to the left connects the heater exhaust to the chimney. The bench and chimney are both lined with firebricks to increase the overall thermal mass.
Once the core was completed and wrapped, the stone from the client’s property is started. The stonework was completed by local masons under the guidance of Amazin’ Masons. The large stones had to be carefully quarried. Ideal heater veneer stones are no thicker than five inches. Thicker stones decrease the surface temperature of the heater and increase the time it takes for the energy from the burn to be released into your home. Here we see the stone on the bake oven side of the heater near completion.
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May’s Landing, NJ Finnish Contraflow Heater.
25 July '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This Finnish contraflow heater warms the center of an open floor timber frame home in Southern New Jersey. The heater surrounds the comfortable space the family spends most of their time and also provides a direct view of the heater’s vibrant flames from the kitchen and dining room. The rear wall of the stove provides a vertical floor to ceiling radiant heat panel in the master bedroom behind masonry stove.
After reviewing the client’s house design and discussing his and her preferences for the look of the heater, several concept sketches were drafted and reviewed. Starting with the heater optimum location in the home’s floor plan.
The client expressed an interest in the convenience of the woodbox to store a few days supply of wood as well as the comfort of a wrap around heated bench. Rough sketches were refined to a final design plan.
The heater and chimney footing, foundation, and hearth pad were built to support the masonry mass. The large foundation also serves as an ash dump for the heater. It will be several seasons before any cleaning of the fine ash is needed.
Next the Heat-Kit core is positioned and assembled.
Once the core was finished the outer heater shell and chimney are started. This heater is faced with firebrick on edge and will later be covered with the natural thin stone veneer. The masonry chimney base has begun and the clay flue tiles for the wrap around heated bench have been roughed out.
After the firebrick shell and chimney base are completed, the entire surface is coated with a fiberglass reinforced stucco in preparation for the thin stone veneer.
The stone veneer continues.
A photo of the natural thin stone veneer chosen for this project.
The finished heater burning a charge of wood.
The heated bench and capping slabs are colorful Tennessee sandstone.
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Hillsborough, NJ Brick Hand-Built Finnish Contraflow Masonry Heater.
15 July '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This hand built brick contraflow heater replaced a cast iron wood stove in a Hillsborough, NJ basement. The heater exhausts into the same existing lined masonry chimney that the old metal stove utilized. The two short heated benches provide enough room for the family’s four cats to enjoy.
Tennessee sandstone with colorful swirls of red, yellow, and brown provides the stone accent on the heater. The sandstone caps the masonry heater as well as the two heated side benches, lays as a short shelf before both doors, and surrounds the bake oven door.
The soft radiant heat of the masonry stove has given new life to the formerly chilly finished basement. It is now a comfortable basement office. The television has been replaced by the radiant glow of the intense, rolling, mesmerizing flames in the heater’s firebox.
Heater design planning concept sketch.
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Plainfield, NJ Hand-Built Finnish Contraflow Heater.
11 June '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This brick heater was built into an existing home as part of an extensive renovation. The family wanted a more open floor plan between the living room and kitchen. This is an ideal situation for a masonry heater. The wall between the kitchen and living room was removed and appropriate measures were taken to address the load bearing wall issues. The family was delighted with the new space and freedom on the first floor. The new more spacious floor plan was also ideal for the inclusion of a radiant masonry heater.
The brick Finnish contraflow heater divides the living room and kitchen. The loading door and wood box heat and illuminate the living room while the bakeoven warms and cooks in the kitchen. A short heated bench under the wood box connects the heater to an already existing masonry chimney in the nearly 100 year old house. The existing chimney was used for a basement wood stove in the past. This original chimney was relined with an insulated steel insert for safety and to meet modern code requirements.
During the kitchen renovation, the heater’s bake-oven was the sole source of cooking. The family discovered the versatility of retained heat cooking for more than just delicious pizza, preparing everything from eggs and bacon for breakfast, hamburgers for lunch, slow cooked pulled pork and baked potatoes for dinner, finally to cookies or pie in the evening. They also mastered dutch-oven cooking, leaving a stew in the cast iron cookware in the morning to return home in the evening to a ready to go dinner.
Along with the great meals and aesthetic enjoyment of the heater, the family obviously also desired to cut their high heating bills in the old home. After finishing the heater, the next heating season the family burned two fires a day in the masonry heater and reduced their natural gas heating bill from the previous season by over 70%. The home is in a urban location. The home owner contacted local tree removal services and secured free delivered tree rounds to the home. With some time and a wood splitter the owner obtained most of his winter heat for free and saved trees from the landfill or mulch pile.
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Hillsborough, NJ Field Stone Finnish Contraflow Masonry Heater
30 May '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
This Finnish contraflow heater is the centerpiece of a living room addition to this Hillsborough, NJ home. The family spend most of their time in this room conveniently beside the expanded kitchen. The well insulated space stays comfortable all winter with the soft heat radiating from the Pennsylvania field stones. The blue stone hearth before the loading doors is also from a local Pennsylvanian quarry.
The heater’s efficiency starts with the well designed and thoroughly tested Heat Kit core. The core is surrounded and slowly releases it’s stored energy created by the intense fire into the veneer stones. Here we see the core wrapped with a fiberglass blanket to allow for thermal expansion. The stone facade is about halfway completed at this point. A wooden form creates the open space for the later installation of the loading door. Similarly, the two lower small foam pieces hold the opening for the clean out doors. The doors provide seasonal access to the two side downdraft channels to clean any of the fine fly ash from the intense heater burn.
Amazin’ Masons
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Mark Twain on German fireplaces (Masonry Heaters)
11 January '08 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
Mark Twain wrote the following description in ‘Europe and Elsewhere’. Although he spoke of German fireplaces specifically, his words are now true (in proportion) for all of the Masonry Heaters that we install.