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wood burning fireplace

Can anyone tell me what's the best wood burning fireplace on the market. We want to build a fireplace using a zero clearance wood burning fireplace and then use stone over the chase inside and out.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on October 13, 2008 at 12:55pm: Hey Buck, are you asking about a pre-fab fireplace unit or a wood burning stove?

~Tom; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Buck on October 13, 2008 at 1:28pm: Tom,
I'm interested in a pre-fab fireplace unit that will help heat my log home.

Buck; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on October 14, 2008 at 12:45pm: Sorry Buck, I'm a woodstove user and have no experience with open fireplaces.

Tom; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ted on October 14, 2008 at 6:25pm: From everything that I've heard, a wood burning stove is far more efficient than a wood burning fireplace (including wood burning inserts).

Having heard this I stopped at a wood stove retailer when I was in Waynesville, NC lately. I got an excellent education, The average cost of a wood burning stove that will heat about 2000 square feet is about $3,000. But that is not the end. The installed cost for all the flue work is another $3000. So you have to make the decision as to how long it will take you to pay out the $6000 investment. Having said all that, I'm still leaning to the wood burning stove, Why? The heat distribution is better than a wood burning fireplace and second. I've got at least 5 years of firewood to burn. I hope this is useful.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dee on October 14, 2008 at 6:39pm: Does anyone have any experience with the Tuliviki stove from Finland?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave and Julie Christiansen on November 19, 2008 at 12:47am: Julie and I have bought the How-To DVDs from Hometime and the two dvds on building a log home shows them installing a Tuliviki Stove. I understand that the soapstone from Finland is about the best you can buy. It's radient heat is second to none. I am currently living in my in-laws basement apartment and we have a wood burning stove insert. I use to have a wood burning stove and I can honestly say the difference is night and day. If it's heat you want for the log home, a wood burning stove will out perform an insert by far.Look for one that uses soapstone. The radient heat lasts far longer than cast iron. Dave; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wes on October 16, 2008 at 11:30am: We have a Lopi free standing wood burning stove. It can heat up our living area to over 80 in a couple of hours. Forget the pre-fab fireplace, the free standing stove is more efficient and costs less than having to build the fireplace - just a raised 2x4 floor and protective rock/slate over the logs. All this you can do yourself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on October 16, 2008 at 11:35am: Wes... bingo! Our woodstove heats our entire 2-story home during our brutal Montana winters. The heat from the stove even feels better than that produced by our LP gas furnace. My advice to everyone is - if you have a fireplace, install a woodstove insert. If no fireplace, do as you suggested and install a free-standing stove.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Buck on October 16, 2008 at 4:42pm: Tom and Wes,
I guess that you guys have sold me into the direction of a wood stove. I need to do my homework and try to figure the decor. Any advice on what brand wood stove is best? Anyone else have any pictures to share?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on October 16, 2008 at 7:12pm: Buck, years ago in the 70's I had a woodstove fireplace insert and it was one of the most popular stoves in America... it was the "Buck Stove" :-)

I don't know if they are still in business, but these days the Canadians seem to have this market cornered in my part of the woods. There are two (at least) popular Canadian companies that produce a state-of-the-art product.

The stove I use now is a Regency. I am totally sold on this product. It burns slowly and completely and puts out enough heat to keep my entire, 2-story home snug.... and we get some serious sub-zero weather every winter. Go to this URL to learn more. They can also point you to your nearest dealer.
http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Stoves/index.php

Good luck and let us know what you decide.
~Tom; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wes on October 17, 2008 at 2:36pm: Buck,

We had a Lopi firplace insert in California, put a Lopi free-standing in our home, and have one in our log cabin. Take a look at www.lopistoves.com for some of their models, we have their Liberty model. It exceeds EPA standards so we can use it during winter inversions here along the Wasatch Front of Utah.

The current issue of Log Home Living has a great photo of a freestanding stove nestled in the corner of a log cabin. Great rock-work behind it. Remember you should keep some distance between the stove and log wall, or shielding with rock, slate or tile.

We have even used it to cook on during power outages.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Buck on October 17, 2008 at 6:39pm: Tom and Wes,Thanks so much for the info. I have been on both Lopi and Regency web sites and they are very interesting and we do have dealers in my area. Planning on checking them both out very soon. Thanks again guys.; ▶ Reply to This