Masonry Heaters: Designing, Building, and Living with a Piece of the Sun

by Ken Matesz

Masonry Heaters is a complete guide to designing and living with one of the oldest, and yet one of the newest, heating devices. A masonry heater’s design, placement in the home, and luxurious radiant heat redefine the hearth for the modern era, turning it into a piece of the sun right inside the home. Like the feeling one gets from the sun on a spring day, the environment around a masonry heater feels fresh. The radiant heat feels better on the skin. It warms the home both gently and efficiently. In fact, the value of a masonry heater lies in its durability, quality, serviceability, dependability, and health-supporting features. And it is an investment in self-sufficiency and freedom from fossil fuels. The book discusses different masonry heater designs, including variations extant in Europe, and explains the growth of their popularity in the United States beginning in the late 1970s. For the reader who may be familiar only with open fireplaces and metal woodstoves, Masonry Heaters will bring a new understanding and appreciation of massive heat storage and gentle-but-persistent radiant heat. Masonry heaters offer a unique comfort that is superior to that from convection heat from forced-air systems, and more personal than that offered by “radiant” floors. As Matesz demonstrates, the heat from the sun or from a masonry heater is genuine heat instead of just insulation against the loss of heat. Those who are looking to build, add onto, or remodel a house will find comprehensive and practical advice for designing and installing a masonry heater, including detailed discussion of materials, code considerations, and many photos and illustrations. While this is not a do-it-yourself guide for building a masonry heater, it provides facts every heater builder should know. Professional contractors will find this a useful tool to consult, and homeowners considering a new method of home heating will find all they need to know about masonry heaters within these pages.

Genres: Architecture, How To, Nonfiction, Construction

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2010

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren't many books about masonry heaters. I found this one to be very informative, with a balance of what masonry heaters are, how they function, along with plenty of great pictures. I'm personally convinced, and now I really want one in my future "dream home." 1-2 cords of wood a year for winter comfort, plus beauty and low maintenance, built to last a LONG time? What's not to like? Well, the price of these things... but I'm still hoping we can spring for one. Highly recommended reading if you already heat with wood or are considering it.