I have a 2350 sq ft concrete block home (including all interior walls--we are a framing and sheetrock free zone) on a concrete slab that was constructed in 1957. The living space of the home is divided into two large rooms (kitchen/family room on one side, living room/dining room on the other). The wall that divides the two rooms houses a masonry fireplace. The wall is concrete block and on the fireplace side there is a 94 inch wide section of rock in front of that, floor to ceiling. There is a 15 inch deep rock hearth in front of that, also 94 inches wide. Talk about heatable mass 
The actual opening for the fireplace measures 44 inches wide by 31 inches high. It is 25 inches deep at the bottom and a little less at the top. The fireplace is located almost exactly in the center of the house and the chimney comes out at the peak of the roof. We are considering installing an Englander NC 30 woodburner inside the fireplace. I emailed the specs of the fireplace to England Stove Works and they replied that it would be considered a suitable installation. We plan to run stovepipe up the chimney and use sheet metal to block any extra width in the chimney. Any opinions or advice on this project? Six months ago we owned a tiny little 10 year old house with a heat pump, so we are learning just as fast as we can A more experienced family member (has installed stoves in two difference residences of his own) will be supervising our efforts.
The actual opening for the fireplace measures 44 inches wide by 31 inches high. It is 25 inches deep at the bottom and a little less at the top. The fireplace is located almost exactly in the center of the house and the chimney comes out at the peak of the roof. We are considering installing an Englander NC 30 woodburner inside the fireplace. I emailed the specs of the fireplace to England Stove Works and they replied that it would be considered a suitable installation. We plan to run stovepipe up the chimney and use sheet metal to block any extra width in the chimney. Any opinions or advice on this project? Six months ago we owned a tiny little 10 year old house with a heat pump, so we are learning just as fast as we can A more experienced family member (has installed stoves in two difference residences of his own) will be supervising our efforts.
