I AM GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE IN NEW YORK
I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN EFFICIENT WOODBURNING FIREPLACE
THAT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE AN INSERT–IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO
A RUMFORD–IE. POSSIBLY A METAL FIREBOX
CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A MANUFACTURER?
HOW EFFICIENT IS A RUMFORD DESIGN?
Replies
You cannot beat a masonry heater built by a quality mason with experience in them. Talk to them about doors to make it the fireplace you evidently would like for visuals.
Turn off the all caps.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
for search purposes, they're also called Swedish or Russian masonry Firepalces/stoves/heaters.
Excellence is its own reward!
You might be interested in a Finnish fireplace (also called masonry heaters). They are extremely efficient and can be very attractive. They can be totally built onsite, or a core can be used and covered with masonry onsite.
There are several core manufacturers. My husband and I purchased a Temp-Cast core, but haven't installed it yet. The installation manual seems very thorough, and John LaGamba of Temp-Cast has been very helpful. Web site is http://www.tempcast.com.
Albert Barden of Maine Wood Heat Company sells a core. Mr. Barden also wrote a book: Finnish Fireplace Construction Manual, which describes the construction in detail. Web site is http://www.mainewoodheat.com/
The premier ready made units are by Tulikivi, soapstone units imported from Finland. They are beautiful. Web site is http://www.tulikivi.com
kestrel
Any efficient woodburning system will have glass doors, masonry heaters are great but expensive and usually have a small viewing area. you might want to look at high efficienty prefab fireplaces, RSF Selkirk and Napoleon all have models. A Rumford is still an open fireplace and therefor inefficient but less so than a traditional fireplace. Rumford, Rosin or Bellfire fireplaces are generally less inefficient because they can operate with smaller fluesize to fireplace opening ratios so they tend to suck less air out of the house. In my view nothing looks as good as an open fireplace but they are poor heaters. tim