Jotul Oslo in a hearth install.

But hold on Honey, Let me explain!

It has been a while since I have posted anything. I spent a few years living in town, with no wood burning device at all.

We finally sold that home and were able to afford our dream mountain home.

For the first winter I installed a pellet stove in the basement, a Harman P 68. It does the job I need it to, keeping the basement warm enough so no pipes burst during normal times, and keeping it nice and toasty for when we have guests in the basement bed room.

This year, about a month ago, the Combi Boiler decided to fail. This means we have no hot water, and no house heat.

It also just so happens that I was moving my auto repair shop into a new, larger garage. So no time to do repairs, and no money to pay someone to do the work.

Luckily we were blessed with unaturally warm weather this year. We spent last weekend recovering from the business move at a hotel in Denver, with a roof top pool. Swimming, in 70F weather, in November, in Denver, CO.....

Well, that all comes to an end tomorrow. We are do for a snow, so it was time for me to get off my azz and get some real heat source installed.

If you see my previous post, you know our first wood stove install, we removed the fireplace completely. It was a small home, and we needed the room.

This house is a bit bigger, and my wife wanted to keep the mantel, so we did things a bit different.



It took a bit of Jack Hammer work, and I will tell you, I feel 50 coming on. And with the missing leg, it seemed a lot harder this time.

Two nights of jack hammer work, the top photo was night one. In night two, I had this steel firebox removed. It did not take much longer to get the flue liner set in place, and the stove set in the new hole.



I ran the first break in fire, nad unfortunatly I hit 600F on the thermostat. I am waiting for it to cool bow and will try a smaller fire for break in burn two. It will be a late night, but I would really like to go to bed with a full stove tonight.

So what do you think we should use to decorate the back?

Should we extwnd the base and have the stove stick out more?

Does the 10" height from the wood floor count as part of the 18" requirement in the front?

Would you extend the pad, or tile the floor?

 

This is a really good idea to buy me more time until we decide on the final solution, thank you.

 

If it was mine, I'd just line it with fire brick. If you wanted to fancy it up some you could do it in a herringbone pattern or something.

 

Wow, what a project! Way to git r dun, n the heat back on!
I agree on the insulated hearth pad.

So what did you find in the fireplace structure...any wood framing?
A lot of times those prefabbed fireplace units will have wood framing behind them, and/or somewhere in the "chimney structure" too.
Which brings up the next question, what is the chimney...a pipe, a liner, or insulated chimney pipe? CTC is why I ask. (and performance)
Is that stove approved to be used as an "insert"? The only reason I ask is, if not, then you have to go by the "alcove installation" rules, which is often drastically different, as far as clearance specs, etc...some models are actually called out specifically to not be installed in "alcoves"
EDIT...I was curious so I looked it up...looks like it is approved for alcove install, with some stipulations...
139946_R21, MANUAL, F 500 V3_US_CAN1.pdf

 

One of the things that made this nicer for me than the Vermont Castings was the reduced clearance allowance above the stove, allowing me to keep the wood mantel.

The chimney is Clay, the back is all firebrick. The fireplace does have a wood surround, but it is behind the cinderblock on both sides.

 

I did break-in fire #2 this morning, and my wife did #3 right before picking up the kids. When I got home tonight, I was able to do our first "real" burn. What a scorcher. It heats right up, and keeps rolling even shut down fully. It is doing a great job heating the whole house, although it is only down to about 40° F right now so not a true test. I stuffed the firebox full of wood at 11pm, I am curious to see what the morning brings.

 

Hopefully it has an air gap between the block and the wood, otherwise it doesn't count...while it is a non combustible, it is also a very good conductor of heat, same with steel. There are only two options to deal with nearby combustibles, proper insulation, or specific minimum air gaps.
Not picking on your install, just making sure you are aware, and this is a safe source of heat to enjoy for many years to come!
Is that a cat stove?
Either way, sure looks cozy!

 

Well, the morning brought only a few small coals remaining. I am burning pine, so I did not expect long 10 hour burns. It was enough to get it going again.

 

No, my dad never owned a business. I started my shop from scratch for the most part. I took over the lease on a place that a guy was trying to make a school.

 

Why I like FHC concerns over safety and willingness to help.
Great thread Handsonautotech Amazing how when need arises we can get stuff done

 

Aesthetically, I would want the stove to stick out more. A nice looking stove like that needs to be more the center of attention by visually separating it from all the large rockwork and the mantle. That doesn't mean bringing it all the way to the front, but I'll bet just bringing it froward 4-6" would make a huge difference.

But, that can wait until warm weather again. Right now, having heat is the main thing.

 

I had an Aunt in Rollinsville growing up, that is how I ended up falling in live with Colorado.

 

I do plan to do this. I almost picked up tje T amd the 90 last Friday, but could not find them in stock locally and gave up looking for.now.

 

Looks good! One thing I see is you might want to put a heat shield under the mantle like this. I believe it was strongly recommended by my installer, but my stove does stick out more than yours.