I'm lost and need help

Hi I've been a follower/dreamer of one day having a wood fireplace in my house. The current house does not have a good option for adding a wood fireplace so it was always a dream. Well me and my wife are in the early stages of building our new house. We have the builder but haven't had the house started yet, we're going through the paperwork stage. Well we had it quoted with a wood fireplace and I emailed the builders fireplace guy to find out what type of fireplace was quoted. The fireplace quoted was a Heat N Glo Exclaim, now with my reading on this site I thought fireplaces needed to be EPA now? With looking at the little bit of info on the Exclaim to me it seems like it wouldn't be EPA and I don't know how it could be installed in a new build. I want a fireplace that is not going to constantly need to be fed I'd like an efficient fireplace that can give off good heat. I know that you guys have tons of knowledge and looking for some suggestions. I know some of you have the Drolet 1800 insert and like it. It's going to be a 2 story house with the fireplace in the open family room.

 

fireplace isn't the same as a wood stove, wood stoves are EPA mandated, fireplaces are still voluntary and not regulated at this point as far as I know.
Fireplaces are not as efficient as any wood stove.

 

Yes, this is correct, fireplaces are not currently regulated.
My 2 cents...I wouldn't pay to build a "fireplace"...a properly built wood burning "fireplace" is gonna be big $$
and then on top of it all, you will be installing an insert stove, that is not quite as efficient as a free standing stove, and also needs electricity to work well...the free stander will be cheaper, and not need power. (that's 1 of my cents)
The "other cent" is this...what I would do...if you care...I'd build a nice stone hearth...could even go up the wall with the stone to give it a large stone chimney look...install a class A chimney straight up through the house, free standing wood stove on the hearth...much cheaper, efficient, and reliable.

 

If you like the snap crackle pop of a fireplace Some wood stoves offer a screen To go over The door opening , now this is not efficient wood burning But It is an option And if You want the Efficient wood burning , You simply Close the door and run it As a normal EPA wood stove.
Take a look A lot of wood stoves well Look much better Aesthetically than a fireplace

 

The answer

 

For cost and efficiency, as suggested above go with an EPA wood stove. However if you want the look of a fireplace with brick or stone, consider a masonary heater. Costly but look great and are efficient.

 

He is so right with his 2 cents. A real masonry fireplace is nice to look at, but that is where it all ends. A wood stove on a nice hearth and background will be just a pleasing to look at. You get one with a glass front and you can watch the ambiance of them fire and get real heat from it. I would ask you consider one that uses an outside air hook up for the air for combustion. Those without outside air cause negative pressure and suck air into the house through any crack it can find. It has to, or there won't be a decent draft for combustion. this is also good for avoiding drafts on the floor.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I guess I was a little vague in my initial posting. We are definitely not having a mason do a chimney out of brick, we are going to have the stack run inside of a framed in cavity. Obviously with the proper clearances to combustibles and a stone veneer front. I will be discussing with the builder and his fireplace/stove guy about the possibilities. Thanks and keep the thoughts coming.

 

Just send them here. I'm sure we can all come up with ideas to help you

 

Pretty much this. If you want heat and not just ambiance then a wood stove is 100% the way to go.

The only thing I'll add is that if you have the luxury of building a house around a stove then capitalize on it. Check out Woodstock stoves. Find one you like and then design your hearth around it.

I've yet to see a post from anyone wishing they hadn't bought a Woodstock.

 

Lots of good suggestions here. Im a realtor and when I hear clients say fireplace I stop them and ask if thats what they want. Do you want a free standing wood stove, a wood stove insert or a fireplace? They are all different but many folks lump them in the same category. I have a house in the Rockies that came with a fireplace... I havent used it since I installed my wood stove downstairs in my rec room 7 years ago. I was given a quote to pull out my fireplace and install a wood insert but I declined due to the fact it wasnt a good fit for my house. I bet you are excited about all the neat decisions ahead of you. Good luck on your build!

 

Get a woodstove with the proper pipe going through the roof. You will be happy later. Framing in above the fireplace is not needed when you put in a woodstove. Inserts are not as good and no sense building a new fireplace and then going with an insert. If possible locate it in a central area in the house to maximize it's heating ability.

 

That's a good point too. Keep as much of the chimney inside the building envelope as possible with as few direction changes as possible.

If possible, keep it in a straight line from the top/back of the stove all the way to the chimney cap inside the building. You'll need a minimum 12" chase to accomodate 6" class A chimney (8" OD + 2" clearance on each side), but going a little bigger wouldn't hurt a thing if space allows it.

It will draft better and be easier to clean.

 

This screen came with my Enerzone. I've used it 3 times in the last 4 years. Usually on Christmas day.

 

There we go

 

Welcome to the club, cere19 !

There are a lot of ways you could install a wood stove, sounds like you already have an idea of what you want. Can't wait to see the action pics

Woodstock Soapstone seems to be a favorite here. They make great stoves, super efficient, and their customer service is excellent.

 

So many possibilities with new construction!

What are your expectations for wood burning indoors? Ambiance only, supplemental heat, sole heat source? Supplemental with the option to heat the whole house in the event of a power outage?

If I were starting from square one, I think I'd run a big daddy stove right in the middle of the house with ducting equipped with thermostatically controlled inline fans to control heat zones at the far end of the house and in the basement. Might be tempted to do a traditional fireplace or small stove with a big window in the master, too. More for ambiance than heat.

I'm partial to the Woodstock Ideal Steel since we run one here, but I understand that the look isn't for everybody. Myself included, honestly - if I could get the performance of the IS in enameled cast iron, I'd prefer it.. But I guess if I could get 40mpg in my f250 I'd prefer that, too. It's a heck of a runner, easy to operate, and by all accounts pretty bullet proof. There is something to be said for a simple, rugged design. Woodstock customer service is also second to none.

The Blaze King line would be worth a look too as a very capable whole house heater with great customer service - but again you won't get the classic old school stove look with their big units.

 

This is a good point they should be considered