Recommendations: open fire look in masonry surround

[delagirl]

Looking for a wood fireplace for sitting around, on winter evenings. We would also like to have a secondary source of heat, for power outages. Rebuilding chimney right now snd so his could be either ZC or insert.

Preference is for a unit:

1) that can burn for an hour or so with the door(s) open;
2) that has minimal metal surround on the face, so it mimics the appearance of an open fireplace;
3) that fits in a masonry hearth, between a mantlepiece (top surface about 4.5’) and a masonry base (top of this about 1’ off the floor).

It seems like all the ones recommended to us have a huge amount of metal faceplate and louvred around the glass, so that they don’t fit criteria 2 and 3.

Thanks!

 

[bholler]

Looking for a wood fireplace for sitting around, on winter evenings. We would also like to have a secondary source of heat, for power outages. Rebuilding chimney right now snd so his could be either ZC or insert.

Preference is for a unit:

1) that can burn for an hour or so with the door(s) open;
2) that has minimal metal surround on the face, so it mimics the appearance of an open fireplace;
3) that fits in a masonry hearth, between a mantlepiece (top surface about 4.5’) and a masonry base (top of this about 1’ off the floor).

It seems like all the ones recommended to us have a huge amount of metal faceplate and louvred around the glass, so that they don’t fit criteria 2 and 3.

Thanks!

Is it a full masonry fireplace and chimney?

 

[delagirl]

It’s complicated. It’s a chimney rebuild, so it can technically be either a regular masonry chimney with an insert, or a zc with masonry put back around it.

 

[delagirl]

Or i guess it could even be an open fireplace with masonry chimney, etc. (Don’t shoot me for even suggesting that!)

 

[bholler]

It’s complicated. It’s a chimney rebuild, so it can technically be either a regular masonry chimney with an insert, or a zc with masonry put back around it.

I dont understand. Is it going to be a full masonry fireplace with a proper hearth etc? Or is it not? That will determine if you use an insert or a prefab fireplace.

 

[delagirl]

The chimney was taken down due to deteriorated brickwork. It is being rebuilt. Original plan was to rebuild as it was (full masonry chimney and fireplace). We have been advised to do a zero clearance fireplace and build around that, which would be a masonry chimney, but without clay tile liner and presumably some modifications to accommodate the ZC unit.

 

[bholler]

The chimney was taken down due to deteriorated brickwork. It is being rebuilt. Original plan was to rebuild as it was (full masonry chimney and fireplace). We have been advised to do a zero clearance fireplace and build around that, which would be a masonry chimney, but without clay tile liner and presumably some modifications to accommodate the ZC unit.

I dont see why you would go to the expense of doing full masonry if you are just putting a prefab in it. That makes no sense. And yes a high efficiency prefab is the best option

 

[delagirl]

Thank you!

Could you recommend specific models, based on the above criteria?

1) that can burn for an hour or so with the door(s) open;
2) that has minimal metal surround on the face, so it mimics the appearance of an open fireplace;
3) that fits in a masonry hearth/surround, between a mantlepiece (top surface about 4.5’) and a masonry base (top of this about 1’ off the floor).

We aren’t likely to use it for regular heating of the house, but would want it to help keep the house somewhat warm, during power outages.