We've narrowed our search for a wood stove down to the Lopi Endeavor or the Jotul F400 Castine. We have a 2 story, 1,500sf farm house that we have been remodeling the past 2 1/2 years. The wood stove will go in one of the main rooms on the first floor. We like the work horse ability of the Endeavor plus the clearances but we also like the look of the Castine. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Down to the final 2
- Thread starter Stonefly
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
Between the two I would lean more towards the Endeavor with the larger, more flexibly sized, firebox. In castiron I would put in the Oslo for a more equivalent capacity stove that is a real workhorse. Or go hybrid. Jotul Castine + Lopi Endeavor = PE Alderlea T5. Cast Iron looks and mass with a steel stove heart and a nice deep firebox for N/S loading.
Jack Straw
Minister of Fire
I am very happy with our endeavor. We have a 1500sq.ft raised ranch, well insulated and the stove is in the basement. It heats the whole house with no problems (Other than having to get up in the middle of the really cold nights to feed the fire). No fan needed. I am sure the Jotul is a great stove also. Everyone that I know that has one loves them. It does seem like a hard decision, but you are buying a good quality stove either way so it will work out great. Good luck.
marreque
Member
.
marreque
Member
MarkinNC
Minister of Fire
I very recently installed a Lopi Endeavor and I'm glad I picked this stove over the others. It is not as fancy looking but the platinum plated door helped. My wife really did like the colored stoves.
If you are going to install a stove in the center of a dwelling so that is can radiate it's heat, I would go with the Jotul or other more radiant stoves (I think I looked at that one too).
If you are going to tuck you stove into a corner of your home, like I did, and hope it pushes some heat towards the other end of the house I would get the Endeavor. I have only burned the stove a couple of days but found that it did push air better than I thought. Even without the blower on it convects air nicely. The back and sides are are shielded against the heat and I have found it pretty comfortable to sit by on furniture (as opposed to a more radiant stove).
There were other compelling reason's to me as well. I really wanted to a stove to cook on if the power was out and I liked the Endeavor's 2 choices of cooking surfaces. Let me tell you they both get quite hot. I think the bypass damper is the whip.
The Lopi Leydon was also on my short list, but the clearances were much greater than the Endeavor. That stove which I consider a more radiant type stove had a longer burn time and that seemed to be the main selling point (besides the top load). I think the clearances are not as tight on the Jotuls either. I found that the main sales pitches on the stoves was burn time. I'll take a shorter burn time so that I can get a stove to put the heat where I want it.
Hope this helps.
If you are going to install a stove in the center of a dwelling so that is can radiate it's heat, I would go with the Jotul or other more radiant stoves (I think I looked at that one too).
If you are going to tuck you stove into a corner of your home, like I did, and hope it pushes some heat towards the other end of the house I would get the Endeavor. I have only burned the stove a couple of days but found that it did push air better than I thought. Even without the blower on it convects air nicely. The back and sides are are shielded against the heat and I have found it pretty comfortable to sit by on furniture (as opposed to a more radiant stove).
There were other compelling reason's to me as well. I really wanted to a stove to cook on if the power was out and I liked the Endeavor's 2 choices of cooking surfaces. Let me tell you they both get quite hot. I think the bypass damper is the whip.
The Lopi Leydon was also on my short list, but the clearances were much greater than the Endeavor. That stove which I consider a more radiant type stove had a longer burn time and that seemed to be the main selling point (besides the top load). I think the clearances are not as tight on the Jotuls either. I found that the main sales pitches on the stoves was burn time. I'll take a shorter burn time so that I can get a stove to put the heat where I want it.
Hope this helps.
Stove Geek
Member
Albert Clean Sweep in Waynesville has a nice woodstove selection too. Did you look at the Enerzone stoves? Great value for the money.
BJ64
Minister of Fire
marreque said:
I thurd the T5.
I have a Lopi (not the model) you are considering) and I am happy with it and I can say they are good on their warrenty. However, I like the T5 and T6 even more.
Interesting...our local PE dealer didn't share any info or literature about cast iron stoves at all, just the steel stoves. And there weren't any in the showroom, either. Maybe they don't carry them...? I didn't even know the Alderlea existed till it was mentioned here. Guess I'll be asking about it. Thanks for the input.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
Stonefly said:
What type of farmhouse? Stone or wood siding? What type of windows? Will the stove be centrally located? Is it a four square or a long floor plan where each room leads to the next?
I live in a farmhouse in eastern PA. I also recommend going larger with the Oslo. The flexibility, burn times, and extra heat output WILL come in handy.
marreque
Member
PE T6 has the extended burn technology and dont forget that u can always build a smaller fire during the shoulder season. i went with the T5, and the stove shop said that the T5 is really gonna heat house well, my theory is better to have too much than not enough. My T5 is replacing a older VC Intrepid. Too much house not enough stove, it was using wood like crazy trying to keep up on thoes frigid nites. What a PIA it was. just my opinion. Good luck either way u go.
During this 2 yr remodel, were there major improvements to the home's insulation and sealing around windows and doors? If so, a ~2 cu ft stove should cover the heating of 1500 sf pretty well.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Why not go a size larger and buy the Oslo -- Castine's bigger brother? Decent clearances, looks similar to the Castine and it will give you that extra punch you were looking for with the Lopi . . . besides I'm a big fan of going one size larger than what your spacing requires . . . good for cold days . . . or for old farmhouses which may not have nice 2 x 6 highly insulated walls and newer windows . . . or in my case a 1970s vintage two story, 1,800 square Cape with 2 x 4 walls.
The farmhouse is 100+ years old and is of plank construction. We are framing the inside of each exterior wall with 2X6 studs and putting in R-19 insulation. We have R-19 in the second floor ceiling with an addition 18" going in the attic eventually. Because of the construction of the house we are replacing all of the windows with new construction windows. Next summer we're planning on re-siding the house with 3/4" blueboard insulation under the siding.
On the first floor is the kitchen, family room, dining room, laundry and 3/4 bath. The stairs are in the center of the house with 4 bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. Ceilings on the first floor are 8' high and 7' on the second floor. All the rooms revolve around the stairs which are closed not open. There is an open loop in the floor plan around the stairs. The wood stove will be set up in the dining room which we don't intend on using much for a dining room as the kitchen has a large eat around island that we use for daily meals.
We re-visited the stove shops this afternoon to get final prices on everything we needed. We added the PE T5 to the list and are reallying leaning towards that one. We want to try our hand at using the wood stove for cooking as well and that was on of the things that drew us to the Endeavor. Looks like the T5 would offer that as well and we're both liking the looks of the T5.
On the first floor is the kitchen, family room, dining room, laundry and 3/4 bath. The stairs are in the center of the house with 4 bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. Ceilings on the first floor are 8' high and 7' on the second floor. All the rooms revolve around the stairs which are closed not open. There is an open loop in the floor plan around the stairs. The wood stove will be set up in the dining room which we don't intend on using much for a dining room as the kitchen has a large eat around island that we use for daily meals.
We re-visited the stove shops this afternoon to get final prices on everything we needed. We added the PE T5 to the list and are reallying leaning towards that one. We want to try our hand at using the wood stove for cooking as well and that was on of the things that drew us to the Endeavor. Looks like the T5 would offer that as well and we're both liking the looks of the T5.
Sounds great. I thought you would be improving insulation and leak sealing as you went along. That will pay off for the life of the house. Good job.
The T5 should be a good fit. It's a great stove, simple to use and maintain, yet with very good burn times and a very flexible trivet.
The T5 should be a good fit. It's a great stove, simple to use and maintain, yet with very good burn times and a very flexible trivet.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Gotta agree with BG . . . insulating and tightening up a house does wonders . . . one of the best nuggets of advice I received here was to insulate the home first and foremost . . . otherwise the "cheap" heat generated by the woodstove is often lost as it escapes from the house . . . sounds like you're doing things right Stonefly!
- Status
Similar threads
