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wood burning stoves

Stone slab for thermal mass?

Deedee Dezso

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posted 3 years ago

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I used to have friends who did construction level plumbing. They often brought home "leftovers" from job sites. I now own about a dozen kitchen sink cutouts of granite or marble. I'm wondering if I can successfully use these to bolster the heating ability of a smaller wood burning stove? I've seen on other threads that soap stone is a good material for this kind of purpose. Nicole Alderman has a thread trying to increase her thermal mass on a larger version of wood burner.

Or maybe I would be better served using these in a hugel herb spiral? Suggestions for best uses are welcome.

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Mark Brunnr

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi Cindy, those would absolutely work for thermal mass, perhaps putting them between the stove and any nearby wall/corner not facing into the main space. If you can include an air gap underneath, they could work underneath as well, just make sure there's air flow for the floor, especially if it's wood.

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi Cindy;
Those would make a super nice top for a mass heater bench.
As added mass near a box wood stove they would also work well, just don't put them directly on top of the metal.

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Deedee Dezso

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Thanks guys. That gives me another option for their employment. We plan on building a canning kitchen and I thought these could be a possible countertop for that interior as well.

That air gap should be between the stone and floor? As well as between the stone and metal underbelly? If so, using a few small bricks as gappers/feet would be acceptable?

They are at or less than 1 inch thick. Would multiple layers increase the thermal storage?

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Deedee Dezso

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posted 3 years ago

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Cindy Haskin wrote:

That air gap should be between the stone and floor? As well as between the stone and metal underbelly? If so, using a few small bricks as gappers/feet would be acceptable?

They are at or less than 1 inch thick. Would multiple layers increase the thermal storage?

I'm guessing everyone is busy and can't answer my additional questions?

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Mark Brunnr

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Actually missed your reply; definitely an air gap between anything retaining or building up heat, and anything combustible. As to layers, you might need to experiment to see how long it takes to heat up a single piece to where it starts radiating away, vs 2 or 3 pieces pressed together with no air between them (to encourage efficient heat transfer). Probably small but tall brick pieces between any slab and the floor would work, want at least 2" of air gap, ideally more. Might be easier to not mess with the bottom.

EdibleAcres has a video with some tips at

and the thumbnail shows they stacked brick against the sides among other things. Every setup differs, so you have to consider any changes as it pertains to you and your safety constraints.

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Deedee Dezso

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Thank you Mark. I would likely use fire brick in any fire type application. I'm hoping to be able to increase the heat potential of what seems from photos I've been sent a small wood burner in a 54' long single wide mobile home located between kitchen and living room. I'm sure I'll need a fan to push any heat down a long narrow hall to the bedroom.
Again, I appreciate the input and answers to my newbie questions.

Including a photo I've been sent looking towards the living room where the previous owner set up his bed. He was old, and the clutter/garbage is his.

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John C Daley

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posted 3 years ago

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Can I ask about the old man?
Did he get any help due to his health?

As for using the granite in a hugel bed, I think thick blocks will hold the heat better for the purpose you are talking about.

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Yup a fan can help, in that setup I would put slabs behind the stove but not on the sides, because you'll lose the longer range radiant heat reaching the ends of the house. Several slabs stacked on top too so long as the stove can handle the weight, and/or a pot of water especially if you can use more humidity.

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Deedee Dezso

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John C Daley wrote:Can I ask about the old man?
Did he get any help due to his health?

As for using the granite in a hugel bed, I think thick blocks will hold the heat better for the purpose you are talking about.

I don't know how long he managed on his own.. from the amount of clutter and garbage it must have been several years in a declined state.. He was placed in a care facility and has since passed. His nephew sold the property to my daughter after that, as is, all included. It is a 4 acre parcel cut out of the original 36 acres my daughter purchased. So now "we" have 40 acres of forested land in the hills of western West Virginia.
I was told today that not much of the existing mobile home is able to be saved. What can be salvaged will be. The rest will be demolished. A newer model will be found for us to land in.

As for using these cutouts in a spiral bed, my thought was to stand them on end to define the spiral.

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Located in Western West Virginia

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