How does a masonry heater work?
A masonry heater burns a small load of wood at high temperature for ninety minutes. The combustion gases wind through stone channels, transferring heat to over a tonne of firebrick. The mass then radiates that heat back into the room over the next twelve to twenty hours. Read the longer explanation on How they work.
How long does assembly take?
One to three days with a mason. Every brick is pre-cut and numbered against the manual, so it's patient work, not improvisation. Whistler (smallest) is one day; Rome (largest) is three.
Can I install it on an existing chimney?
Usually yes. Existing masonry and existing insulated flue both work for most kits. Use the kit picker on the home page or contact us with your chimney details.
What kind of foundation do I need?
A reinforced concrete pad — typically 12–18 inches deep, with 10M or 15M rebar on a 12-inch grid. Every kit ships with foundation drawings specifying the exact footprint and reinforcement for that model. See Installation for the full breakdown.
How efficient are these compared to a regular wood stove?
Substantially better. Conventional wood stoves run 60–70% efficient and lose most of their heat up the chimney within an hour. Masonry heaters run 85% efficient and store almost all of the heat in the mass — releasing it for 12 to 20 hours from one ninety-minute burn.
Does it heat the whole house, or just one room?
One unit in a central location heats one floor of an open-plan home. For two-storey homes, you typically rely on the heat rising up an open stairwell. We size each kit by cubic meters of heated space — the kit picker on the home page is calibrated for this.
Do I need a special wood?
Split hardwood, dried to under 20% moisture, is ideal. Birch, maple, beech, oak — anything that splits cleanly and seasons through a summer. Softwoods work but burn faster, so you may need slightly larger loads.
What does a freight delivery look like?
Six to eight wooden crates totaling roughly 650–1,200 kg, delivered curbside by an LTL freight carrier. You'll need a forklift, tractor, or hand-truck-with-helper to move them to the build site. See Delivery.
Can I see one in person?
Yes. We have demonstration installations in Ontario. Contact us to arrange a visit — we'll point you to the closest one.
What's the warranty?
Kintsugi kits have a 5-year manufacturer warranty on materials and a 50-year structural lifespan when installed correctly. Cast-iron hardware (door, damper) is warranted for 10 years.