HI, NEW STOVE BUYER I HAVE NARROWED MY SEARCH TO THE JOTUL 550 AND VT CASTING MONTPELIER, WIFE LIKES THE FULL VIEW ON VT CASTING BUT IM NOT SURE ON QUALITY OF IT . DONT MIND SPENDING EXTRA 600 FOR JUTUL,IF ITS WORTH IT IN LONG RUN. ANY COMMENTS/ADVICE HELPFUL, THANKS.
jotul rockland 550 or vt casting montpelier
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I can't comment on the VC, but I have a Rockland and absolutely love it (as does my wife). We have a nearly 3,000 SF 2 story house, and even burning less than first rate wood (save the good stuff for when it gets really cold) we can keep the whole house warm (although it has not really been cold yet).
HOW LOUD IS THR BLOWER,?, DOES IT GIVE OFF HEAT WITHOUT THE BLOWER ON? ALSO ANY ISSUES WITH THE GLASS GETTING DIRTY/ HAZY?
THANKS
THANKS
Bigg_Redd
Minister of Fire
Hey all, you can STOP SHOUTING. Some of us may be geezers, but we can still hear. 
Note, I believe the Montpelier is a medium sized insert. If you want a comparable Jotul, compare it to the Jotul C450. The C550 is a bigger firebox.
As for VC quality, that has not been the case with some products they've made recently. The Montpelier is a new insert and we have very little info to go on at this point. I'm not saying it's a bad stove, it's just that we don't know how this one will turn out yet.
Note, I believe the Montpelier is a medium sized insert. If you want a comparable Jotul, compare it to the Jotul C450. The C550 is a bigger firebox.
As for VC quality, that has not been the case with some products they've made recently. The Montpelier is a new insert and we have very little info to go on at this point. I'm not saying it's a bad stove, it's just that we don't know how this one will turn out yet.
We've have a VC Aspen in our three (now four) season room for a couple years and it's served us well. So, when I went looking for an insert for our family room, we checked out the Montpelier. It looked really nice.
The only thing I wasn't too keen on were the fire "bricks." They were more like cement castings. And although they may have been fine, they just seemed kinda cheap. The sales person pulled one out of the stove and it felt almost too lightweight for its purpose. I felt as it was something that would breakdown quicker than a normal refractory brick and rather than having to replace a brick, you'd have to replace the whole section (side / back).
We kept shopping and ended up with a Jotul C450. It was a little bit more than the Montpelier, but with all the swirl around VC and their latest buyers, what's going to happen to the company, etc., it gave us a little more peace of mind going with the Jotul.
Good luck!
The only thing I wasn't too keen on were the fire "bricks." They were more like cement castings. And although they may have been fine, they just seemed kinda cheap. The sales person pulled one out of the stove and it felt almost too lightweight for its purpose. I felt as it was something that would breakdown quicker than a normal refractory brick and rather than having to replace a brick, you'd have to replace the whole section (side / back).
We kept shopping and ended up with a Jotul C450. It was a little bit more than the Montpelier, but with all the swirl around VC and their latest buyers, what's going to happen to the company, etc., it gave us a little more peace of mind going with the Jotul.
Good luck!
thanks for the feedback, the firebricks supposedly have a lifetime warranty from vc. being new to this im not sure whats what. havent heard any negative on jotul. the v.c. will fit perfectly in my fireplace, the jotul being larger, ill have to modify the fireplace to get it to fit.
If it fits your fireplace and the bricks have a lifetime warranty...vs. having to modify your fireplace for the Jotul, I'd probably go the same route.
As far as VC goes and all their business/company problems are concerned, I bought our Aspen 18 months ago, at which time I think they were having problems. I knew nothing about those issues at the time of purchase. Nonetheless, we've been very happy with our little Aspen.
Good luck with your Montpelier - it's a great looking insert.
As far as VC goes and all their business/company problems are concerned, I bought our Aspen 18 months ago, at which time I think they were having problems. I knew nothing about those issues at the time of purchase. Nonetheless, we've been very happy with our little Aspen.
Good luck with your Montpelier - it's a great looking insert.
bmwloco
Member
You can't lose with either.
Whatever blows up your skirt. And may it blow hard and hot for a long, long time.
Two beers in, lounging in front of my VC Resolute II.
Whatever blows up your skirt. And may it blow hard and hot for a long, long time.
Two beers in, lounging in front of my VC Resolute II.
88steve said:
Modifying a fireplace is usually not a good idea. Have you checked the Jotul 450 for fit? Another stove to compare is the Hampton HI300.
i checked both of those , but wife insists on flush mount !!, i would have to remove about 8 bricks along the bottom of the fireplace opening wher there is a lip/ drop down 2,5 inches to the floor of the fireplace to fit the jotul 550.not too hard to do but dont know if its too smart to do!
The C450 has a sliding surround collar. If there is sufficient depth, it can be installed to be essentially flush. Speak with the dealer about this. Also, have you looked at the Lopi Declaration (also sold as the Avalon Perfect Fit)? That is as flush as it gets.
Removing a course of bricks from the bottom hearth lip may not be too risky, depending on how the hearth is built. But it sounds like it would make removing the insert challenging. Can you post a shot of the current issue?
Removing a course of bricks from the bottom hearth lip may not be too risky, depending on how the hearth is built. But it sounds like it would make removing the insert challenging. Can you post a shot of the current issue?
webbie
Seasoned Moderator
88steve said:
VC has suspended all coverage on warranty for all stoves sold before 2008 - as a result of their most recent bankruptcy in July.
Not commenting on the insert - but certainly don't buy it based on warranty coverage of any kind.
thanks to all replies, i spoke to the masonary guy who will be doing the cultured stone on the fireplace who said it should not be a problem to remove the bottom bricks, im definetly leaning towards the jotul 550 its the same price as avalon and i think may be a better unit, ive read/ heard nothing but praise of the jotul .im not loaded but thinks it makes sense to spend a little more now than to regret it later.especially after reading about the warranty issues with the vc.its too bad cause the montpelier really is a good looking unit .thanks.
bmwloco
Member
I don't think you can lose with a Jotul.
Should my old VC fail, or I need another stove, it'll probably be a Jotul too.
Keep us posted on your project. Photos always nice.
Should my old VC fail, or I need another stove, it'll probably be a Jotul too.
Keep us posted on your project. Photos always nice.
oddly enough vermont castings web site has been down the past 2 days, any info on that ? mabye an omen?
THANKS TO ALL WHO REPLIED, THE INFO WAS A BIG HELP, I CALLED THE STORE , CANCELLED THE V.C AND ORDERED THE JOTUL.
UPDATE: had the jotul rockland 550 installed today, fit perfectly after removing the ash lip bricks.will post pics when stone work is complete.three weeks from ordering to installation!!
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