ints:masonry_stoves

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
ints:masonry_stoves [2025/12/04 13:18] – [People] daveints:masonry_stoves [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
Line 14: Line 14:
 Masonry stoves are domestic wood-burning heating appliances with an internal firebox made of refractory (heat-resistant) fire bricks, and a system of flues within the stove, made from the same material. The entire stove will contain between one and five tonnes of masonry. A kachelofen (German), kakelugn (Swedish) or kakkelovn (Norwegian) is a type of masonry stove. Kachel means tile, so a kachelofen is a tiled stove. Masonry stove is a generic term that includes stoves without tiles. Masonry stoves are domestic wood-burning heating appliances with an internal firebox made of refractory (heat-resistant) fire bricks, and a system of flues within the stove, made from the same material. The entire stove will contain between one and five tonnes of masonry. A kachelofen (German), kakelugn (Swedish) or kakkelovn (Norwegian) is a type of masonry stove. Kachel means tile, so a kachelofen is a tiled stove. Masonry stove is a generic term that includes stoves without tiles.
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 31: Line 31:
 The masonry absorbs and re-emits so much heat that a fierce fire for a couple of hours a day is enough to heat your home all day. A system of primary, secondary and tertiary air jets (basically, holes in the side of the firebox) bring an abundance of oxygen into the combustion chamber to maintain a very clean burn. The air jets are not just at the bottom and front of the firebox, but also at the sides, back and top. The main air intake could be from the room or from the exterior of the house. The masonry has insulating properties, so it heats up and cools down slowly, and stores heat longer than metal. The masonry absorbs and re-emits so much heat that a fierce fire for a couple of hours a day is enough to heat your home all day. A system of primary, secondary and tertiary air jets (basically, holes in the side of the firebox) bring an abundance of oxygen into the combustion chamber to maintain a very clean burn. The air jets are not just at the bottom and front of the firebox, but also at the sides, back and top. The main air intake could be from the room or from the exterior of the house. The masonry has insulating properties, so it heats up and cools down slowly, and stores heat longer than metal.
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 56: Line 56:
 All react well with heat, without cracking. Different parts of the world favour different facing materials (stoves are more or less the same inside). The most common facing materials in North America are brick and stone; in Russia, brick and render; in Germany, tiles and stucco; and in Scandinavia, tiles and soapstone. All react well with heat, without cracking. Different parts of the world favour different facing materials (stoves are more or less the same inside). The most common facing materials in North America are brick and stone; in Russia, brick and render; in Germany, tiles and stucco; and in Scandinavia, tiles and soapstone.
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 75: Line 75:
 Before fire bricks existed, engineering bricks with clay mortar were used; and before that, clay bricks and clay tiles. The inside of the firebox was re-plastered with clay plaster every year, to protect the bricks. Clay-based mortars containing ground porcelain were used between the bricks. Modern mortars are made from ground fire bricks mixed with clay powder, water glass (sodium silicate) and other materials - often secret (masonry stove builders tend to have their own recipes). Before fire bricks existed, engineering bricks with clay mortar were used; and before that, clay bricks and clay tiles. The inside of the firebox was re-plastered with clay plaster every year, to protect the bricks. Clay-based mortars containing ground porcelain were used between the bricks. Modern mortars are made from ground fire bricks mixed with clay powder, water glass (sodium silicate) and other materials - often secret (masonry stove builders tend to have their own recipes).
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 122: Line 122:
 - Chimney doesn't have to be swept so often - virtually no tar, creosote and other pollutants - Chimney doesn't have to be swept so often - virtually no tar, creosote and other pollutants
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 146: Line 146:
 It's probably best to get an experienced professional to build and install your stove, or if you really want to do it yourself, then do it alongside someone with experience, or attend a course where you can try it yourself under supervision. There are lots of things to keep in mind. For example, there needs to be a gap between the fire bricks and the facing, because the bricks expand when heated, and so they need space to expand into. It's probably best to get an experienced professional to build and install your stove, or if you really want to do it yourself, then do it alongside someone with experience, or attend a course where you can try it yourself under supervision. There are lots of things to keep in mind. For example, there needs to be a gap between the fire bricks and the facing, because the bricks expand when heated, and so they need space to expand into.
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 163: Line 163:
 A masonry stove represents a whole-house heating system - i.e. it will provide your hot water as well. A system for a 3-4 bedroom house can cost several thousand pounds, but is competitive with other whole-house systems built from scratch. It will use 3-4 tonnes of wood per year (based on 20kg of wood per day), and depending on the source / price of your wood, represents a payback time of around 5-6 years. Gas is relatively cheap nowadays, but will rise in price as it begins to run out. And of course, your stove will last a lifetime without any maintenance or repair bills - unlike any other whole-house system. A masonry stove represents a whole-house heating system - i.e. it will provide your hot water as well. A system for a 3-4 bedroom house can cost several thousand pounds, but is competitive with other whole-house systems built from scratch. It will use 3-4 tonnes of wood per year (based on 20kg of wood per day), and depending on the source / price of your wood, represents a payback time of around 5-6 years. Gas is relatively cheap nowadays, but will rise in price as it begins to run out. And of course, your stove will last a lifetime without any maintenance or repair bills - unlike any other whole-house system.
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 182: Line 182:
 For professionals: the [Austrian Tile Stove Association](http://www.kachelofenverband.com/) has design software in German for around €3000, plus €1500 per year for a licence. European Standards provide a couple of documents in English for around £100 each - EN 15544 (20 pages of firebox and flueways dimensions) and EN 15250 (80 pages on testing stoves).  For professionals: the [Austrian Tile Stove Association](http://www.kachelofenverband.com/) has design software in German for around €3000, plus €1500 per year for a licence. European Standards provide a couple of documents in English for around £100 each - EN 15544 (20 pages of firebox and flueways dimensions) and EN 15250 (80 pages on testing stoves). 
  
-<WRAP center centeralign>+<WRAP center centeralign box 50%>
 <figure> <figure>
  
Line 199: Line 199:
 If you're going to get a masonry stove installed, you may as well make it work as much as possible. A stove can be tall enough for the top to emerge into a first-floor room, to heat upstairs as well; we've already mentioned hot water; it can also include an oven and a hob for cooking; and the flueways can be diverted to heat an adjacent, very cosy bench. If you're going to get a masonry stove installed, you may as well make it work as much as possible. A stove can be tall enough for the top to emerge into a first-floor room, to heat upstairs as well; we've already mentioned hot water; it can also include an oven and a hob for cooking; and the flueways can be diverted to heat an adjacent, very cosy bench.
  
-## Further resources +## People
- +
- +
-## Specialists +
 [[p:Martin Ruzicka]] of [StoveMason](http://www.stovemason.com/) [[p:Martin Ruzicka]] of [StoveMason](http://www.stovemason.com/)
  
  • ints/masonry_stoves.1764854319.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/04 13:18
  • by dave