DIY Network

Installing a Wood-Burning Stove A chimney sweep apprentice works with his instructor to install a wood-burning stove. From "Trade School" episode DTRS-405

Chimney sweep apprentice Nick Wallbank and instructor Jake Johnson remove an old wood-burning stove and install a brand new one in another area of the same room.

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Materials:

drop cloths
dolly
framing square
speed square
reciprocating saw
vacuum
electric shears
magnetic levels
power drill
metal screws
caulk gun

Steps:

1. Nick begins inside the home by placing several drop cloths over the floor for protection. Then Jake helps by removing the old pipe stack leading up from the old stove and out through the roof. Using a dolly, they tote the old stove outside, where it now exists as a flowerbox, and then climb up onto the roof. Because of the roof's steep grade, Nick takes time to nail down a series of toe-boards for safety.

2. Now able to safely walk on the roof, he detaches and removes the chimney one segment at a time. Later, roofers patch the gaping hole.

3. With the old stove removed, Nick tackles the installation of the new wood-burning stove made of soapstone. After determining the new stove location, he begins identifying the location for an overhead chimney support box.

Figure A

4. Having identified and indicated the position of rafters with blue masking tape, he uses a framing square and a speed square to measure and mark for the cutout area (figure A).

5. Nick uses a reciprocating saw to cut a rectangular hole in the ceiling, while Jake captures falling debris with a vacuum.

6. Now on the roof and directly above, Nick again uses the reciprocating saw to cut a hole through the shingles and roof deck. With the opening cut out, he creates a support frame between the roof and ceiling by attaching plywood boards and 2x4s to the rafters.

Figure B

7. Nick uses electric shears to cut the top of the support box to match the angle of the roof (figure B). He inserts the box into the opening, checking for plumb with a magnetic level. Once plumb, he secures the box in position by screwing it into the rafters.

8. While still inside the house, Nick connects the vertical stovepipe down from the support box with sheet-metal screws. To ensure that the pipe is positioned plumb, he aligns it with a pair of magnetic levels.

9. Back on the roof, he prepares to install a prefabricated interlocking chimney system. He first pries back the shingles around the cutout in order to insert a section of round flashing.

10. As he tucks in the flashing, Nick applies a silicone sealant to the flashing surface and undersides of the shingles. He inserts and locks the first chimney segment as Jake checks for plumb with a level.

11. To further seal and secure the orientation of the flashing, Jake drives roofing screws through the shingles, flashing and into the roof deck. With the first section of chimney secured and plumbed, Nick sets and locks in the final pipe segments and tops the stack with a rain cap.

Figure C

12. To finish the roof work, Jake helps stabilize the tall chimneystack by strapping on four metal braces (figure C).

13. After Nick helps muscle the 500-pound stove unit into the living room, Jake locks on a 90-degree elbow pipe onto the back of the unit. Nick connects the stove to the chimney by locking in the last pipe segment. He then fastens the pipes together with metal screws.

Figure D

14. To complete the installation, Nick observes as Jake attaches a prefabricated heat shield to the back of the unit (figure D). This important safety feature protects the back wall from catching fire by redirecting radiant energy. The newly installed soapstone stove now offers years of warming comfort to the homeowners.

RESOURCES :

Mountain Man Chimney
Website: www.mtnmanchimney.com