Morso 5660 Install with Drywall surround questions

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dingo joe

Member
Jan 14, 2011
12
Ohio
I have a new Morso 5660 w/blower that I am installing into an existing masonry fireplace. Due to the condition of the face brick, I plan on using firring strips on the face and covering with drywall. I will, of course, pull the entire firebox & surround out the 3 inches needed to keep the front flush with the drywall.

My question is how well will the drywall and paint withstand the heat of the insert? My drywall contractor stated that he would use a special drywall around and above the insert called firerock. I will keep the firring strips away from the insert and I will insulate any cavity surrounding the insert with rockwool or similar material.

Please comment, thx,

DJ
 
I'm only commenting to tell you that I think that is one of the best looking inserts made! I'm wanting that so bad! Congrats!
 
Drywall is considered flammable - you would want to use cement board. And, welcome, to the forums
 
I'm looking into what this firerock stuff is my drywall guy is talking about, but I know that I could always use a cement board and plaster over the surface. If I did that and painted it, would I still have any issues with the paint getting too hot? Many of the photos of the 5660 that are online shows it inserted into what looks like a drywall wall.
 
dingo joe said:
I'm looking into what this firerock stuff is my drywall guy is talking about, but I know that I could always use a cement board and plaster over the surface. If I did that and painted it, would I still have any issues with the paint getting too hot? Many of the photos of the 5660 that are online shows it inserted into what looks like a drywall wall.
Click to expand...

I'm curious about this too. Sure, the cement board is safe, but what about the mud/plaster and paint.
 
Plaster is non-flammable. You would want to use high temp paint that you can paint BBQs/flue pipe with.

Photos used for marketing don't often portray safe installs - go with what your manual says about clearance to combustibles.
 
For the ZC version of this unit Morso says: The face of the support structure should be covered with non-combustible materials only, all the way to the floor. I'd use that as guidance and would fir out with hat metal covered with cement board like Durock or Wonderboard. Plaster can be considered non-combustible. Check with the painter for a proper wall paint.
 
Maybe I'll call Morso, I prefer the clean install look, but I could alway go with some tile or rock for a border. Still looking for some real world experience on this...
 
Did you ever get this stove installed or figure out how to install it to your liking? I'm in the market for a new stove and I'd like to get the same one. Would be interested to hear how your install went and how it heats.
 
brianbeech said:
Did you ever get this stove installed or figure out how to install it to your liking? I'm in the market for a new stove and I'd like to get the same one. Would be interested to hear how your install went and how it heats.
Click to expand...

The plan I have now it to build out the face of the fireplace the width of a brick just around the insert, I'll then fir out the rest of the wall using 2x4's + 1/2" drywall, this will = the thickness of the brick used around the insert. I'll then apply a tile or stone over the brick.

This solution will not give my the absolutley clean install I was looking for, but it will be safe, as the insert will be completely surrounded by brick/tile and I can tie in the tile with it's use elsewhere in the house. I'll still use the firerock above the insert to the ceiling. I figure it will be ready to burn by the time the first robins come back...
 
This is a little late but....
I re-did the my old fireplace and there is now a floor to ceiling cinderblock backer.
The insert was installed and Virginia ledgerock was dried stacked to finish the face.
 

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Ding ding! That is a winner jocam. It belongs in the hearth gallery. I love the textures of the stone. The lighting does a nice job of accentuating them.
 
Wow! That looks GREAT! I agree with what BG said, the lighting does a very nice job.

Does it put out as much heat as you thought it would?
 
Thanks!
Even without the blower this heats nicely. The family room is 30 by 15 with our kitchen (16 by 26) directly off of it. They can cruise at tropical temps. This is where we live. We have a bungalow that is 2400 sq.ft. The bedrooms can get a little chilly because the therm is near the heated rooms. They still hover around 65 on the coldest nights with some supplemental furnace.
The thing is, I installed this for ambience ,of which it has plenty, and got the side benefit of a minimum 40 percent drop in NG consumption.
Cheers,
 
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