Alcove height clearance question

[BenAsh]

Hello all.

We are currently in the middle of rebuilding our home after a fire. We had a Country C210 wood stove insert inside of a combustible alcove before, with a raised hearth. That had to be pulled out and removed. (not the source of the house fire btw)

Working with our contractor, we've gotten a few bids in on replacing the insert with a free standing unit. So far, we've gotten two bids. One is way over our budget, and the other is a little bit over budget, but they are requiring that we raise the height of the alcove by almost 2'. Which, since the house is at drywall, is an additional expense and work that our contractor is balking a bit at. Not to mention that it renders any mantle unreachable.

Here is an image similar to what we were looking to do. What I'm wondering, is what are they doing here in order to meet the alcove height clearance? Is it a special oven that allows this?

(broken link removed)

Thank you in advance for any tips or guidance you may be able to provide.

 

[kuma.jason]

Just a guess here, but are both stoves requiring 84" from floor to overhead?

 

[BenAsh]

76" is what the stove we were told we'd have to provide. The original insert had 18" of masonry on a cementboard backer, then right to a railroad tie mantel.

 

[begreen]

It's easy for marketers to have the art dept drop a stove in almost anywhere for a glamor shot. But that doesn't make the installation correct or code compliant. Note that the hearth is not 16" in front of the stove door. Not sure if that is the case here or not. In the case of this picture I am wondering if the mantel is actual a faux beam of stained cement? Do you know what stove this is?

 

[kuma.jason]

76" is better than 84". Begreen is right, that stove may not be installable like that in the real world.

Look for a stove with a tested clearance that is lower that 76", preferably less than your current opening height. I know there are stoves out there with alcove height requirements of less than 76"

Alternately, if you have to bump the opening height up, consider putting in a non combustible mantle that spans the opening. The mantle in the attached pic is solid stone.

 

[bholler]

I just want to clarify something. You had an insert in a combustible alcove? I know it doesn't matter at this point just curious

 

[BenAsh]

That was one example, but there are tons out there. However, after looking more into it, most of those are for uk distributors and installations..

Yes, a wood insert on a raised plywood covered platform, and a combustible alcove.

 

[BenAsh]

What about a steel shield with a 1" air gap to the framing behind it? If I did something like that in the ceiling, then tiled over it, would that meet code to give me a 50%reduction to that clearance?

 

[bholler]

Yes, a wood insert on a raised plywood covered platform, and a combustible alcove.

wow that is scary you are lucky that didn't start a fire

 

[bholler]

What about a steel shield with a 1" air gap to the framing behind it? If I did something like that in the ceiling, then tiled over it, would that meet code to give me a 50%reduction to that clearance?

Not unless the stove manufacturer allowed for that reduction. Some may but i dont know of any

 

[BenAsh]

Having the whole house stripped down to the studs revealed a lot of builders sins. Down to the chimney even were kind of lucky this whole setup didn't just spontaneously combust.

 

[bholler]

Having the whole house stripped down to the studs revealed a lot of builders sins. Down to the chimney even were kind of lucky this whole setup didn't just spontaneously combust.

It sounds that way anyone who would put in insert in a combustible alcove should not be building anything

 

[begreen]

The Blaze King Ashford 30 has an alcove min height of 72". Same for the Jotul F55. If the surface is protected the F55 alcove ceiling height is 59".

How large a stove are you looking for?

 

[BenAsh]

One for a 1,100 sf house. We had the Enviro 1200 specd for us, if that helps.

 

[begreen]

You would want a smaller stove than the F55. The Jotul F45 has 72" or 65"protected surface alcove height minimums. The Enviro Kodiak 1200 is a good stove with alcove height of 78".

 

[BenAsh]

Unfortunately, we're restricted to two installers, who both only carry either Enviro or Lopi. Downside to an insurance build is it limits who you can use, and your budget.

Oh well..

 

[begreen]

It looks like the Kuma Aspen has an alcove height of 60". Can you have an independent certified installer install the stove?

 

[begreen]

Have you tried the Chimney Sweep in Bellingham? They sell Hearthstone which has some lower alcove height stoves. The Phoenix is 68". The Shelburne lists 36" over the stove top or 18" protected.

 

[BenAsh]

For the insurance company yes, but not with our gc. We've considered that, but we would have to wait till after the house is done, and have them credit the insurance allowance for that item.

 

[BenAsh]

We actually had them come out to do a quote on it today

 

[begreen]

My stove came from The ChimneySweep in Bellingham. They are good folks. The owner, Tom is a hearth.com member.

 

[BenAsh]

They do seem very knowledgeable and they came pretty highly recommended, but our general contractor hit the roof when I told him that I had them coming out to take a look at it. They can't work with anyone that they can't warranty the work for and they won't warranty the work for anybody they don't have an existing relationship with.

 

[bholler]

Your gc works for you not the other way around tell him how it is going to be.

 

[begreen]

Sounds like the GC may be getting a percentage on the sub-contracts.

 

[BenAsh]

Yeah we had a little bit of a similar issue with the plumbing equipment supplier