Redoing wood stove and chimney and need various advice/thoughts/ideas

[LooseMoose]

Current woodstove is to be replaced, so it’s a good time to deal with other issues…..

Chimney is all stone and quite old. It will be getting a new liner much taller than current height of the chimney and then stone added around it at the top. The damper inside was broken and is non-existent now. There are gaps between the stones and the siding.

What can be done in the way of a new damper and/or a top cap? Is there any means of having a damper or top cap operational without having to access the fireplace to do so, as moving a woodstove alone would exceed my strength.

I have used the product Lasti-Seal on masonry and stone to seal it as it soaks in, but not on any chimney yet…. Has anyone used it for that or are there other sealing products that others find highly satisfactory or can warn against use?

Also, would it be feasible to have the mason adding to the height to install an exterior clean out door that could be gasketed and lockable so again the wood stove would not need to be moved to be able to see what is going on in the chimney and to clean it out….

And is there a recommended caulking product that will last between the siding and the chimney? Wood and stone have such different expansion rates…. And foam shrinks so over time…. I don’t want to have to redo this for at least five years so does someone have some experience with a product to recommend?

The Jotul book advises as to a two inch base layer of sand in the woodstove, so is there any particular type of sand that might be preferable ie play sand or masonry sand ? Play sand seems so very fine and dusty….

As the intention is to save the excess ash buildup for other uses, gardening, compost, vermin repellent, etc…. Any thoughts on a suitable and decent looking container to dump it into for interim storage? Anyone use a small galvanized trash can?

As you can a see, there is quite a bit of staining from soot, smoke and efflorescence on the interior brick facade of the fireplace…. Any thoughts as to effective cleaners other than vinegar/water combo? And after the brick facade is cleaned, is there a good non- flammable sealer that anyone can recommend?

The photos show the old stove already pulled out a bit, and the black metal fireplace insert behind it needs painting and a better means of sealing the edges when set in place inside the fireplace opening. I am considering a very high heat 2,000 degree engine spray paint and then using fire retardant gasket rope on the edges to seal it up…. Any thoughts, recommendations?

I am not happy with the way the existing sheet metal hearth sits and is a trip hazard…. Perhaps nailing some molding on the edges to the floor would help, but it also is just plain ugly…..

And then there is the need for a heat shield between a new stove and the wooden mantel….. ideas?????

 

[LooseMoose]

So I see on a thread started after mine that BeGreen suggests Micore or Roxul to insulate the block off plate on the chimney side….. I am not familiar with the weight of either of those products, but is there something lighter in weight, nonflammable and just as effective in R value? Maybe something like a ceramic fiber insulation blanket rated for 2400 degrees F?

 

[begreen]

It doesn't take a lot to insulate, but yes, kaowool (ceramic wool) is also fine to use.

 

[bholler]

Current woodstove is to be replaced, so it’s a good time to deal with other issues…..

Chimney is all stone and quite old. It will be getting a new liner much taller than current height of the chimney and then stone added around it at the top. The damper inside was broken and is non-existent now. There are gaps between the stones and the siding.

What can be done in the way of a new damper and/or a top cap? Is there any means of having a damper or top cap operational without having to access the fireplace to do so, as moving a woodstove alone would exceed my strength.

I have used the product Lasti-Seal on masonry and stone to seal it as it soaks in, but not on any chimney yet…. Has anyone used it for that or are there other sealing products that others find highly satisfactory or can warn against use?

Also, would it be feasible to have the mason adding to the height to install an exterior clean out door that could be gasketed and lockable so again the wood stove would not need to be moved to be able to see what is going on in the chimney and to clean it out….

And is there a recommended caulking product that will last between the siding and the chimney? Wood and stone have such different expansion rates…. And foam shrinks so over time…. I don’t want to have to redo this for at least five years so does someone have some experience with a product to recommend?

The Jotul book advises as to a two inch base layer of sand in the woodstove, so is there any particular type of sand that might be preferable ie play sand or masonry sand ? Play sand seems so very fine and dusty….

As the intention is to save the excess ash buildup for other uses, gardening, compost, vermin repellent, etc…. Any thoughts on a suitable and decent looking container to dump it into for interim storage? Anyone use a small galvanized trash can?

As you can a see, there is quite a bit of staining from soot, smoke and efflorescence on the interior brick facade of the fireplace…. Any thoughts as to effective cleaners other than vinegar/water combo? And after the brick facade is cleaned, is there a good non- flammable sealer that anyone can recommend?

The photos show the old stove already pulled out a bit, and the black metal fireplace insert behind it needs painting and a better means of sealing the edges when set in place inside the fireplace opening. I am considering a very high heat 2,000 degree engine spray paint and then using fire retardant gasket rope on the edges to seal it up…. Any thoughts, recommendations?

I am not happy with the way the existing sheet metal hearth sits and is a trip hazard…. Perhaps nailing some molding on the edges to the floor would help, but it also is just plain ugly…..

And then there is the need for a heat shield between a new stove and the wooden mantel….. ideas?????

Does the chimney have a properly sized stainless liner running through it or does the stove just dump into the old fireplace?

 

[LooseMoose]

It will have a whole new SS liner put in that will get the chimney to the proper height. Apparently in the past the stones on the top of the chimney were lost and prior owner never replaced….. leaving the chimney too short….. have to get it to code and also want a better draft….

 

[LooseMoose]

In regard to the sand base inside the stove, has anyone used silica sand (amazon has ten lbs for $22) ?

Not sure if silica sand has less moisture absorbing characteristics, but in the off-season, it would be best to limit any sand contact with the metal to minimize rust development; maybe first an inch layer of ceramic wool and the silica sand atop that?

 

[bholler]

In regard to the sand base inside the stove, has anyone used silica sand (amazon has ten lbs for $22) ?

Not sure if silica sand has less moisture absorbing characteristics, but in the off-season, it would be best to limit any sand contact with the metal to minimize rust development; maybe first an inch layer of ceramic wool and the silica sand atop that?

Sand does not absorb moisture it really doesn't matter what sand you use honestly

 

[EbS-P]

What stove are you installing? No need for a damper fireplace or for the stove for a short chimney. What are the hearth requirements for the new stove?

 

[begreen]

Sand does not absorb moisture it really doesn't matter what sand you use honestly

As long as it is not from a saltwater beach. Playsand is what I have used, mostly because it's available a local hardware and lumber stores.