Masonry Magazine October 2007 Page. 18
MASONRY FIREPLACES
People are concerned about indoor air quality, and masonry heaters address that concern.
"People see that these are simple, very functional, and easy to use," says Frisch, who has built nearly 500 masonry heaters during the last 20 years. "These heaters are very low maintenance. A traditional fireplace is like feeding peanuts to an elephant: You have to keep feeding logs and have to keep tending the fire. A masonry heater doesn't work that way, and people like that."
The heaters typically cost between $13,000 and $17,000. Most of Frisch's clients are well educated, want environmentally friendly products, and are building $300,000 to $500,000 homes. Some of his clients in the Northwest heat their entire 2,000-square-foot homes the entire winter with no other heat source.
PLACEMENT of a masonry heater is crucial. "It's best if it is placed centrally in a room, so you can heat all four sides and the top," Frisch says.
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Carnes agrees, adding that masonry heaters are often used in timber framed homes, log cabin homes, or contemporary homes with open floor plans. "They can be used in a very wide variety of homes," he says. "The key thing is that open designs are most suitable."
Carnes says that because the heaters burn hot and fast, the fire is cleaner, while the radiant warmth produced throughout the day has a soothing effect.
"The typical warmth that you get is a gentle, radiant warmth that penetrates deep into the muscles," he says. "It doesn't dry out your skin the way forced air heat does. We're not going through ducts with our heat, so we're not relying on blowers or stirring up dust that you breathe. That makes it healthier. People are concerned about indoor air quality, and masonry heaters address that concern."
Any type of wood can be used for the fire, as long as it's dry. Carnes even burns wooden pallets so they can be put to good use rather than dumped in landfills.
"There is not just one, but many reasons to have a masonry heater, he says. "When people look at it they say, "This really makes a lot of sense. The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program, gives points for high efficiency fireplaces, including masonry heaters. This is a growing movement to promote healthier, higher efficiency, and sustainable home building."
Carnes encourages masons who are interested in building the heaters to join the Masonry Heater Association, which offers conferences and training sessions for building masonry heaters.
Outdoor fireplaces
FIREPLACES AREN'T CONFINED to the inside of residential homes. They look and feel great outdoors, too, which is why a 30-foot fireplace occupies the center court of the Mall at Partridge Creek, a 640,000-square-foot open-air, upscale shopping plaza in Clinton Township, Mich., outside of Detroit.