Zero clearance 2021 tax credit approved

[Kmr1983]

Hello, new here. New to wood stoves as well. We're just starting to build a new house, and want to put a wood burner in. It will be going in an alcove. However, we don't want the mantle higher than 5' from the floor. I see most free standing stoves require 7' for an alcove opening. Or, how do you make a non combustible ceiling in an alcove? Lopi wants a masonry ceiling. Leaning towards a zero clearance insert because of that. Also we want a burner that will qualify us for the tax credit. Sorry for the rambles. Any ideas or options are appreciated!

Kent

 

[john26]

I have only found 2 fireplaces that qualify, the Superior WCT6940 and the Montecito Estate they are both made by IHP and have a catalyst.

 

[Kmr1983]

Came across this. Are the medium and large flush inserts zero clearance?

 

[john26]

View attachment 274112
Came across this. Are the medium and large flush inserts zero clearance?

No those are inserts, to be installed in masonry or qualifying zero clearance fireplaces

 

[avsmusic1]

View attachment 274112
Came across this. Are the medium and large flush inserts zero clearance?

those are also old models - the hybrid fyre is the design prior to the current iteration (they took out the cat) and you'd be hard pressed to find one. The new model doesn't qualify

I've heard whispers that Travis is looking to reintroduce the cat but that may just be internet chatter

 

[Kmr1983]

So it looks like zero clearance really lowers my options. If I do a non combustible alcove, what are some reasonable recommendations on how to build the ceiling? My mason says it would be fairly expensive to do it with brick, because I want the alcove ceiling flat. Any free standing options that don't require masonry ceiling for an alcove?

 

[avsmusic1]

So it looks like zero clearance really lowers my options. If I do a non combustible alcove, what are some reasonable recommendations on how to build the ceiling? My mason says it would be fairly expensive to do it with brick, because I want the alcove ceiling flat. Any free standing options that don't require masonry ceiling for an alcove?

This probably goes w/out saying but the cost of a special alcove build could offset the tax credit

 

[Highbeam]

Can’t you just screw cement board to the ceiling, skim coat of mud, and paint it?

Non combustible doesn’t mean masonry.

 

[Kmr1983]

With the alcove the wife gets the brick look and mantle that she wants, and I get the free standing wood stove that I want.

The stove we're considering (lopi evergreen) says specifically that it has to be 3.5" of masonry, spaced 1" off of combustibles.

 

[Highbeam]

With the alcove the wife gets the brick look and mantle that she wants, and I get the free standing wood stove that I want.

The stove we're considering (lopi evergreen) says specifically that it has to be 3.5" of masonry, spaced 1" off of combustibles.

That spec in your last sentence is right out of the fire code for the back wall. I’ve never seen it required for the ceiling. It doesn’t pass the sniff test.

 

[Kmr1983]

That spec in your last sentence is right out of the fire code for the back wall. I’ve never seen it required for the ceiling. It doesn’t pass the sniff test.

 

[Highbeam]

Thank you for that. You read it right and I can see why it was written that way to address putting that stove in an old fireplace. I looked up alcove in the dictionary and it is:

"An alcove is a small area of a room that is formed by one part of a wall being built further back than the rest of the wall."

So you don't want a typical alcove, you want to build something that looks like a masonry fireplace and put the stove inside. Why don't you put the mantle at 5' but have the actual ceiling of the combustible alcove up at 84" or at full ceiling height?

I would skip the mantle and go 84" if I was you.

 

[Kmr1983]

Thank you for that. You read it right and I can see why it was written that way to address putting that stove in an old fireplace. I looked up alcove in the dictionary and it is:

"An alcove is a small area of a room that is formed by one part of a wall being built further back than the rest of the wall."

So you don't want a typical alcove, you want to build something that looks like a masonry fireplace and put the stove inside. Why don't you put the mantle at 5' but have the actual ceiling of the combustible alcove up at 84" or at full ceiling height?

I would skip the mantle and go 84" if I was you.

View attachment 274218

The wife wants to put pictures and such on the mantle. If they don't fall off the back of the mantle, combustibles are still too close to the stove. Unless the mantle is at 84". But the mantle at 84" is pointless to me.

 

[begreen]

There is a thread on non-combustible mantels that may be helpful. There are some that are very realistic.

Non-combustible mantels

Starting a thread for folks that are looking for non-combustible mantels. These are very realistic, but made from concrete: http://magrahearth.com/natural-wood-series-gallery MagraHearth website http://magrahearth.com/

www.hearth.com

 

[Kmr1983]

There is a thread on non-combustible mantels that may be helpful. There are some that are very realistic.

Non-combustible mantels

Starting a thread for folks that are looking for non-combustible mantels. These are very realistic, but made from concrete: http://magrahearth.com/natural-wood-series-gallery MagraHearth website http://magrahearth.com/

www.hearth.com

We have thought about that, but then picture frames on the mantle can't happen. Wood frames=combustibles

 

[ColdIsland]

I have only found 2 fireplaces that qualify, the Superior WCT6940 and the Montecito Estate they are both made by IHP and have a catalyst.

It's kind of crazy these are the only ones that qualify, they're so massive! I'd jump at the chance to get a medium or small ZC that qualified, but 4 sqft of firebox is too much for most people.

 

[begreen]

There are several nice ZC fireplaces in the 2-3 cu ft range made in Canada. RSF, SBI, Pacific Energy make good ones.

 

[ColdIsland]

There are several nice ZC fireplaces in the 2-3 cu ft range made in Canada. RSF, SBI, Pacific Energy make good ones.

Yes, but they don't seem to qualify for the biomass credit, paying 26% more doesn't give me the warm fuzzies, lol!

 

[begreen]

We have thought about that, but then picture frames on the mantle can't happen. Wood frames=combustibles

This shouldn't be an issue if they are on top of and shielded by the non-combustible mantel.

 

[begreen]

Yes, but they don't seem to qualify for the biomass credit, paying 26% more doesn't give me the warm fuzzies, lol!

In the other thread you are looking at freestanding stoves. Do they qualify? Sometimes everything doesn't align. People still buy Teslas even though they no longer qualify for the $7500 credit.