The Napoleon NZ3000 Build Thread

Before I get any further I should mention I insulated the chase with Roxul insulation. Fireproof, mold resistant. Used pins to keep it in between the studding. The fireplace calls for small clearances behind and on the sides, I exceeded all of those clearances by several inches to over a foot in some instances....just because I could.

 

ok, last one for the night....I gotta work in the morning!!

some pics of the OAK installed in the chase. I used an galvanized dryer vent with a closeable flap (to keep the critters out in the summer). Used a good, quality sealant around the install....and a piece of treated wood to anchor the whole thing to the chase....









Some more pics of the ducting, one looking down from my permanent chase "ladder". I made an access door in the hearth that I can get into the chase from the crawl space in the basement. It's nice to be able to go in and check on things for piece of mind. I usually go in every winter about midway, while the unit is burning, to check on every thing....



and the first official break in fire!!!



Stay tuned......now we're getting to the good part!

 

Ok, now the real rush was on. Because as my good friend papadave said, I promised it'd be done by Thanksgiving or Christmas....but I didn't say what year....lol.

But I definitely wanted it DONE for her that Christmas 2012, because it was her Christmas wish......

Lots of stuff to do. First thing was to get the metal framework above and around the fireplace. Metal studs and non-combustible wall material were called for. I also mounted the stove to the metal studs for a more secure build, and made a custom metal header so the weight of the stones wouldn't be pushing down on the stove, rather the header which was an inch above the stove. You can also see the big, hand hewn mantel standoffs in the pic sandwiched and bolted in between the 2x6" framing with 1/2" all-thread.





then the cement board went up......lots and lots of screws......





Then, to help make a more secure adhesion to the Durock, I put up metal lath and a scrachcoat of mortar.....made for an easier install of the stone....



You can see windows on either side of the fireplace and also a window at the top of the chase.....I put these in to help ventilate the chase, you will see the special treatment I gave these later in the thread.....

 

Time for the scratchcoat.......



You can also see a wire sticking out above the left mantel standoff.....I ran a wire on it's own switch to the mantel, and I routered into the back of the mantel and put two recessed receptacles into the top of the mantel....it's nice for when the wife wants to decorate it with her knick knacks....



Also treated the front of the raised hearth with lath and scratchcoat.....



Scratchcoat finished!!!



The next several evenings I spent hauling stones in from a pile I had neatly stacked in my garage the previous summer. That gave the stones plenty of time to dry out good.......

I spread them out all over the living room......chit was about to get REAL.....lol.





Coming up next.....MY FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB......Stay tuned!!

 

I've spent the past several weeks gathering all these pics up. I never had all of them in one place before. Some were on my old phone, some were on wife's old phone, some were on my PC, some were on the laptop.....ugh.....

I'm wondering how the heck I even had the patience to build this damm thing to begin with, I'm tired just posting this thread!!

 

Thanks buddy! I'm reposting the build in its entirety due to several requests from people considering/already committed to the same fireplace. It's neat to look at it again even from my standpoint.....I still can't believe how much we did to the house as a whole......lol

 

Thanks brother! I appreciate that! My wife and I dreamed of this fireplace/room for a long time, I'm just glad I was able to help fulfill the goal.......

 

Thank you sir! I'm glad I had a lot of you guys along for the ride from the get-go. You guys played a part in the process........you all motivated me to get it done!