Expanding fireplace opening to fit larger insert

[Jutt77]

We love our little CW2500 insert but my wife and I would like to get something bigger. I'm interested in the BK Princess or something similar but our fireplace dimensions are simply too small. Plenty of height but max width is around 28.75" not accounting for a taper that begins around 8 inches of depth (final width is around 20"), depth is only 16".

Here's a rough not to scale drawing of a top view:



The fireplace is an old masonry job so I'm assuming expanding the size of the fireplace opening is feasible. Has anyone done this or had this work performed by a qualified individual in order to fit a larger insert?

 

[dafattkidd]

Without checking specs on any specific stoves- just shooting from the hip- I think you're better off getting a freestanding unit and extending your hearth That would probably be significantly easier. Is that something you and your wife would consider?

 

[begreen]

Agreed. I was wondering if they could fit a Sirocco 30. If not, maybe a Buck would fit?

 

[Jutt77]

Without checking specs on any specific stoves- just shooting from the hip- I think your better off getting a freestanding unit and extending your hearth That would probably be significantly easier. Is that something you and your wife would consider?

Great question, something I have considered but the problem is that the room the fireplace/insert resides in is long but somewhat narrow (10-12 ft). Not a whole lot of depth. Regardless, I actually suggested extending the hearth for a freestanding stove to my wife and got an almost instant "no way" due to those reasons.

 

[Jutt77]

Agreed. I was wondering if they could fit a Sirocco 30. If not, maybe a Buck would fit?

Oh, that Sirocco 30 may halfway fit in the existing opening requiring just a bit of hearth extension. Got ya! Great idea. My initial thought was not being able to utilize the existing opening at all for a freestander.

EDIT: Assuming a Sirocco 30 or similar freestanding stove would partially fit in the fireplace, could I use my existing full length 6" SS flex liner? It's pretty much brand new and insulated.

 

[begreen]

What is the height of the fireplace opening and how far back does it maintain this height? Yes, a stove should be able to tie into your existing ss liner.

 

[Jutt77]

What is the height of the fireplace opening and how far back does it maintain this height? Yes, a stove should be able to tie into your existing ss liner.

Height of the opening is 29 7/8" and it maintains this height for the full depth. The good news is that my hearth is 18" high. I believe the 18" of vertical allows for the 8" door to floor setback plus 10"? In other words, I should be able to have a free standing stove that rests right at the end of the hearth and exceed code by 10" or did I misinterpret that? I think I could fit a NC-30 up in there as well even accounting for the taper of the width

 

[begreen]

Sorry to say, but that is too low for BK stoves unless it's possible to remove a layer of brick from the hearth. (Pictures would help.)

 

[Grisu]

A Woodstock Fireview would fit but you will get problems with the side-loading door. Check out the Quadrafire Explorer 2 and Isle Royale. Their rear-exhaust may just sneak under the lintel but I doubt you will fit the stove under it.

 

[Jutt77]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to shop for a stove that can fit under that opening.

One question I have that I've searched for yet can't find a concrete answer. My hearth is 18" high. In theory a stove could rest right at the edge and have 18" of front clearance?

 

[weatherguy]

How big is your hearth? Mine is 19" and I'm putting a Progress Hybrid in place of my Princess insert. The PH with the short leg kit is 28 1/2" high and sits right on he edge of my hearth with about 5 inches tucked into the fireplace.
Depending on the length of your hearth you may be able to find a stove to do the same.

 

[begreen]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to shop for a stove that can fit under that opening.

One question I have that I've searched for yet can't find a concrete answer. My hearth is 18" high. In theory a stove could rest right at the edge and have 18" of front clearance?

In theory.... but in practice you are going to want something in front to catch embers and ash that definitely will spill and pop out of the stove. Ember protection is not that hard to achieve. A hemmed sheet of copper, stainless or painted steel would suffice.

 

[Jutt77]

In theory.... but in practice you are going to want something in front to catch embers and ash that definitely will spill and pop out of the stove. Ember protection is not that hard to achieve. A hemmed sheet of copper, stainless or painted steel would suffice.

Thanks Begreen. The more I think about this, I believe I'll just add a proper hearth extension at the floor level, either prefab or build one myself just for ember protection. I'll have to pull up carpet but there's a concrete slab underneath so not a huge deal.

I'm really interested now in the NC-30 and after taking some measurements, I know it can fit by removing a few inches off of the cast iron legs based on some previous posts I was reading here on Hearth last night. It would rest right around the front edge of the hearth with the majority of the box sitting outside of the fireplace which I believe is preferable in a lot of ways.