Greenstone heaters generally weigh between 4,000 and 10,000 lbs. You can install them in virtually any home. In existing homes with a crawl space or basement, a concrete/masonry or a steel post and beam system is most common. Most homes have a properly reinforced concrete slab on grade floor. You can place the masonry heater directly on the slab. For new construction projects, several support structure design options are available.
Concrete and masonry support structures generally work best for heaters above crawlspaces or basements. A locally licensed engineer should design each support structure. The drawings shown here are only provided as an example of one possible support solution. Size the spread footer per the weight of your heater and soil conditions. You can use reinforced poured concrete or concrete block (CMU) for the vertical foundation walls. This example shows both options. Pour the concrete capping slab flush with the surrounding subfloor. Many jurisdictions require a two-inch space between any fireplace foundation and the surrounding combustible floor framing. If you do not design a space between the concrete and wood framing, use pressure-treated wood against the concrete.
In existing homes with a wood-joist floor structure, a steel post and beam support system is often a good solution. Please contact us today to discuss the best support structure option for your project.
For all projects, a licensed contractor, architect, or structural engineer should design the masonry heater foundation. They must follow the local building code.
Please call Greenstone Heat today and one of our designers can assist you in understanding the masonry heater foundation design requirements and process.