ordering my VC Encore cat. tommorow!

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oregonrider

Member
Hearth Supporter
Finally taking the plunge. Thanks to all for helping me in my decision process. Now I have to decide on what brand class A stovepipe to buy. Also need an answer on hearth R value. My heart is 1.25" brick. It's on a wood floor. All the dealers I've talked to said it is fine as long as I use the bottom heat shield, however reading the manual on line it looks like VC says more is required. roben.
 
Congrats! I love a cat stove, should give you nice long burns and great temp control.
 
I can't cut and paste off that file. It says; Even with heat shield, special protection is required use 1/4" mineral board or 24 guage steel this can be covered with a decorative material if required. So is my hearth ok? Current smoke stack is 17" tall OAL from bottom of fire box in my schrader. ceiling is 7.5" then thru attic and out thru the roof. This is a single story bungalow. roben.
 
Hopefully you will get lucky on the chimney - chimneys are funny - some work, and some don't - a straight up metal chimney usually does the job. Be certain to seal the pipe joints well with furnace cement.

As far as the hearth, they are not being really clear. Mineral board could mean various things, but if we take it at its worst they are calling for more than you have - perhaps R=.5 - It would take 2.5" of brick to equal .5

So it does not seem to make it to their specs. An easy way to upgrade might be just one sheet of durarock on top of that brick - cemented or epoxyed, then lay ceramic style for style. That is one way. You could also pull up the brick and lay it back down again.....over a sheet or two of durock. Lots of possible options.
 
Hi web, hearth is a prefab. the base is 1 pc and the vert. back is all 1 pc. Is a place like home depot where to look for durarock and stovepipe? roben.
 
OH, if hearth is prefab than chances are that it more than meets those requirements. Most stove board which are pre-fab are about R-1, which makes it double what you need.

HD, Lowe or a local drywall-type supply (masonry yard, and even many lumber yards) carry Durock.

Pipe can be had at hardware stores, etc - BUT, the best pipe to use is slightly heavier (Heat-Fab type) welded 22 gauge, and is generally available only at Hearth stores and also on the net. You might also need to order an oval to round with the stove - check the flue collar size and shape. Best bet would be to order the black pipe and perhaps a slip connector from the same place you get the stove.
 
Just some addits here, recently there was a post where someone ripped up their brick floor and ended up with a huge hole in the floor. I would use a self leveling cement and level off the bricks and then do the cementous board.

As per hearth floor tile, be sure it is PORCELAIN tile not just ceramic tile. There is a huge difference. Remember the hearth should be very level, tippy stoves are a No-No.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!
 
Went to the dealer that I bought my pellet stove from. He sells pellet,gas,electric and woodstoves. He's a VC dealer but only sells their gas and dutchwest lines. I told him I had a early 80s simpsonvent triple wall stove pipe and needed to replace it to meet code. He said no, as long as it is in good condition it meets code. He's working up a price on what I need to hook my VC Encore cat. to it. roben.
 
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