Zero clearance removal - options

[RobG6769]

Hi

currently removing a Desa 42l (FMI Bungalow 42") zero clearance wood burning fireplace as it just does not heat the home enough and just blows through wood. Thinking of openng up the fireplace and placing a woodstove in the recess where this old unit sits in right now. Any thoughts/suggestions or advice or other ideas?Anyne done this before? Home is 2200sqft and i have really no where else to put a free standing stove. We like the fireplace but need something better and more practical.

Appreciate your help, new to all this and new to the country!

 

[kingquad]

Hopefully Dakota's Dad doesn't mind me posting this. This is one of the most throughly document tear out and install jobs around though. I'm going to be doing the same thing in my new place, so I saved the link.

http://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/maypo59/Stove install/

 

[RobG6769]

Ok this is a great documentation. I see they have a brick chimney stack or buidling?? I have just a wood frame so I assume teh same would work for me with the steel framing and wonderboard etc? Really in two minds to go this route or go fo an insert for the in place existing ZC fireplace. Have not found anyone that knwos if mine will even accept one. I think I will get better heat/more efficiency from a stove like this posted above.

 

[RobG6769]

The sinsert is out and i have a gaping alcove with standard wood framing. just to find a stove and make a plan of installation. What do you think about buiding up with brick versus concrete borad and rock for extra clearance? Looks liek i am a couple of inches short on width clearance on teh stoves i have liked..

 

[fox9988]

Pics would help a lot. Any way to tear out the alcove? It will limit your stove options.

 

[RobG6769]

I will get some pics up as soon as i can, Thanks. Not sure i can lose the alcove, below is a link to the plan of the house and if i close it off i have rather diminished room in the living area. to build it out is not really possible. Especially cost wise. The fireplace/chimney etc is on teh right of the living room. Probably obvious but nonetheless..

http://brickerconstruction.com/custom/lancaster4.htm

 

[begreen]

Welcome Rob, where are you hailing from?

The location is not bad. You can replace it with a better quality, EPA ZC fireplace or perhaps with a freestanding stove if the alcove is wide enough.

 

[RobG6769]

Hey, from Central California
Ok, here are some pics of the hole/fireplace. Had decided on a freestanding stove but yes the clearance may well be an issue. Also a pic of the outside for reference..

 

[begreen]

Clearances definitely will be an issue to pay close attention to. So will the chimney pipe if it is not class A piping. The stove clearances (both sides) plus the stove width have to taken into account plus the alcove height requirement. It's not impossible, for example a Lopi Endeavor would require a minimum 54" wide alcove and minimum 84" ceiling in the alcove. That is unless you shield the walls with a non-combustible materials that have a 1" air space behind them. Then the alcove width can be as low as 36".

 

[fox9988]

If bringing the stove out in front of the alcove is out of the question, raising the ceiling height to 8 ft may help with clearance.

 

[cwill]

I think I can help a bit here. Check the link in my signature below, I had nearly the same situation your in. Also Geardoc did a wonderful job on his alcove install.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/my-regency-f2400-woodstove-install-alcove.26402/

 

[Dakotas Dad]

We had/have a brick chase, same as what you have.. just brick. Using class A pipe you should be able to run right up the middle and keep your 2" clearance for that part. If you used steel 2x's, and concrete board like I did, and leaving a 1" ventilated gap to your insulation, or behind it, you could use the "reduced clearances", if the appliance you choose allows them. Couple ways to do it. The biggest problem, you or anyone really faces at this point is the fact that every stove has it's own requirements, and you have to download a lot of manuals and peruse them to find which works and you like..

 

[cwill]

Are you looking to heat 24/7 with wood or just part time/supplemental? That would help determine a good stove size you. Regency stoves have some really tight clearances on their stoves.

http://www.regency-fire.com/Files/Specifications/R-F3100.aspx

 

[RobG6769]

Looking to heat 24/7, fully opposed to using propane as thats pretty useless also. Heating space (1700sqft without garage) i have seen some stoves that might just work, and I now understand clearances are to the nearest combustible, not necessarily to the wall edge if bricked or stoned..
Actually just started looking (again) at better ZC fireplaces and they are still a possibility I guess.. seem more expensive but I have no idea on the efficiencyand effectiveness for the space?

 

[RobG6769]

Re: fox 9988, the hieght of the alcove.. is the 8ft from floor to ceiling or from hearth (stove floor) to ceiling. the alcove i have is higher than my ceiling.. ceiling (floor to ceiling = 7'8'') inside the alcove is 8' exactly to top from floor. Looked at so many stoves and see i could minimize clearance, now unsure on the hieght.

 

[begreen]

.At 96" you are fine. 84" is a typical alcove height requirement, but some stoves allow it to be reduced.

 

[cwill]

How wide is the alcove space? This might be the big limiting factor for what size the stove could be. If you could find a close side clearance stove then it might be doable. I would also reconsider moving the hearth area out into the room some. I ended up making mine 12" farther out into the room than the old hearth was. It seemed like a big deal at first but now that it's all done we don't notice it at all. Putting a stove in a living room really makes it a focal point of the room. I also looked at the high efficiently z/c fireplaces but the price was WAY more than I wanted to spend. I have much less in my entire install than the cost of just the z/c unit.

Looking at your layout/pics again, it seems like you could pretty much copy geardoc's install.

 

[RobG6769]

Officially (now) the alcove is 57" wide to the bare framing. Looks like this will not be a show stopper. Gonna use some stone, not sure what yet, but have some ideas thanks to all you that have responded. Will keep you upto date with progress!