Blog Entry
Old Bridge, NJ: Double Bell Masonry Heater Core, Natural Thin Stone Veneer
March 21, 2010 by admin, under Fire Works Masonry News.
The owners of this home have been remodeling and updating for several years. After a storm badly damaged the existing masonry chimney, they decided to update and improve the fireplace as well. After researching efficient fireplaces they settled on a clean burning masonry heater. The existing fireplace was in an ideal spot for the family to enjoy the masonry heater, dividing the kitchen and living room.
The existing kitchen’s cabinet layout as well as the limited footprint size restricted the masonry stove’s layout. The unique double bell heater core was designed by Alex Chernov of Stove Master.
Once the existing traditional masonry fireplace was demolished to its foundation, the high temperature masonry heater core is started. Below is a photo of the base courses from above. The firebox base supports are to the left, divided by the ash dump channel. To the right of the photo are the heat exchange channels. The top channel is the downdraft transitioning into the smaller updraft channel below.
The core continues. Above the firebox, the black bake-oven starts. Below is a photo if the bake-oven floor. The throat from the firebox is open on the left. The exit from black back oven starts on the center of the photo. The hot gases travel from the firebox throat, heating the black oven and enter the downdraft channel.
The black bake-oven and downdraft channeled are capped with high temperature firebrick tiles. The wooden template supports the arch for the side bake-oven door.
The heater will also be rough faced with a firebrick outer shell. The start of the firebrick facing can be seen below. The completed firebrick masonry shell will be faced with natural thin veneer facing stone. Once the firebrick shell is completed, the natural thin stone veneer gets underway.
The thin stone veneer continues to the ceiling, arching over the side bake-oven door.
Once the stone is completed, the loading, bake-oven, ash box, and clean out doors are installed. The bench is ready for the marble capping stone.
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