Fireplace Question - Moseley Barndo

[GARY]

Question regarding fireplaces from someone who has never built:

We contracted a 42 inch firebox with stone, but builder has mentioned if we want to upgrade to an all masonry fireplace, as the metal box has a 20-30 year life span.

Anyone with experience in this enough to validate the life span of fireplaces (metal box and masonry) as I contemplation if I spend more now, or not.....

Gary

[Greenheadless]

I cannot speak to that subject specifically, but I have an all masonry firebox. I will be adding in a wood burning insert soon, as it just doesn’t put off much heat the way it is now. Final straw on this was the event last February.

[Dale Moser]

I was installing dozens of metal fire boxes per week 20 years ago and we haven’t replaced any of them. The company was installing them for 20 years prior to that, and same.

The exception being. T-40 masonry circulator. They were prone to burning/rusting out, do to no firebrick to protect the steel…but almost no one uses them anymore.


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[sailor]

I've had both.
The all brick, was really pretty. And did put off reasonable heat.
But, it did use a lot of wood.
I did have a lake cabin, with a Lopi cook-top insert, with a blower.
You don't have so much of the "view" with a Lopi firplace.
But, it will run you out of the house, once it heats up to temp, and
the fan kicks on. And it more efficently uses wood. The fan is not necessary.
I prefer the cook top. Besides, you can cook a nice pot of beans,
while it's hot.. Beakfast, or a pot of coffee. Even some chili, with
beans....
IMHO

[Bill M]

Listen to Dale for sure. I would ask, is there enough slab thickness for a full masonry fireplace? We always designed the fireplace area in the slab for full masonry. It is a good amount of weight. I only ever did two of them.