Bought it at the tail end of February and decided to do my own hearth pad. Since I'm a slow worker it was fine with me to have them install it in September. I still have to stain the oak surround on the pad, but the stove is all in and set to go. I feel so much better about the winter to come right now. :D
Poult

Skinnykid, it's a 3 cu. ft. fire box, and the house is about 2100 sq. ft. I went with this stove for the top load as much as anything, and figured if it heated me up a little too much I could live with it. Got arthritis in my hands and figured it's easier to drop wood in from the top than maneuver it in from the front (bad knees, too!).