So we have been in the house a little over a year and have gone back and forth of what to do in terms of updating the Superior RC3810 ZC fireplace we have. Thought of an insert in the existing unit which was installed when the house was built in 1990 and decided it would be too small. Thought of also installing a new efficient ZC which could pump some heat for our 2500 sf Colonial. Would require a full rip of the brick. Now we are thinking more in line of a freestanding unit like the Oslo since we previously had a Jotul F400 and loved it.
Putting aside ripping out the old unit and brick, etc. and all that cost, we have decided we want to do this right. We feel safer with a freestanding unit even though we know the newer ZC units have been tested, etc.
With that being said, we have been thinking of having an alcove constructed and going with either the Jotul 500 or 600 if the clearances allow it. I have been reading those units seem to have ash issues when using the front door, so my fear is the unit will need to stick way out into the room requiring a much deeper hearth that we have now.
I did some searches but couldn't find many pictures of what a stove looks like on a deep hearth due to similar conditions we have. We don't mind losing some room space for the deeper hearth, but we also don't want it to look silly either. If necessary we may also look to replace the window and door (door is never used) to slimmer windows to be able to expand the width of the chase and allow the stove to fit into the opening if possible.
For now we are going to put expense aside to get ideas of what we can do and am hoping some of the experts can guide us in the right direction. Thanks guys. Here are a couple of pics and measurements I took. Chase also appears to be cantilevered so I am not sure if that impacts things due to the weight of some of these units (stove or ZC unit)
![[Hearth.com] Looking for suggestions for a freestanding stove in place of a ZC](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/inside_zpshgtbkl6f-webp.219079/ "[Hearth.com] Looking for suggestions for a freestanding stove in place of a ZC")
![[Hearth.com] Looking for suggestions for a freestanding stove in place of a ZC](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/outside_zpsmd1gwuqe-webp.219080/ "[Hearth.com] Looking for suggestions for a freestanding stove in place of a ZC")
Putting aside ripping out the old unit and brick, etc. and all that cost, we have decided we want to do this right. We feel safer with a freestanding unit even though we know the newer ZC units have been tested, etc.
With that being said, we have been thinking of having an alcove constructed and going with either the Jotul 500 or 600 if the clearances allow it. I have been reading those units seem to have ash issues when using the front door, so my fear is the unit will need to stick way out into the room requiring a much deeper hearth that we have now.
I did some searches but couldn't find many pictures of what a stove looks like on a deep hearth due to similar conditions we have. We don't mind losing some room space for the deeper hearth, but we also don't want it to look silly either. If necessary we may also look to replace the window and door (door is never used) to slimmer windows to be able to expand the width of the chase and allow the stove to fit into the opening if possible.
For now we are going to put expense aside to get ideas of what we can do and am hoping some of the experts can guide us in the right direction. Thanks guys. Here are a couple of pics and measurements I took. Chase also appears to be cantilevered so I am not sure if that impacts things due to the weight of some of these units (stove or ZC unit)
