# Greenstone ## Posts - [Why is Radiant Heat more efficient than Convection Heat?](https://greenstoneheat.com/why-is-radiant-heat-more-efficient-than-convection-heat/): Radiant heat from a masonry heater is more efficient than convection heating systems because masonry heaters transfer heat directly to objects and people via infrared radiation, rather than relying on heating and circulating air. Here’s why masonry heaters are the most efficient way to heat with wood: Call or email us today to discuss a soapstone masonry heater for your home or project. 855-826-9246 or info@greenstoneheat.com - [Why is locally sourced firewood a green and sustainable heating solution?](https://greenstoneheat.com/why-is-locally-sourced-firewood-a-green-and-sustainable-heating-solution/): Locally sourced firewood is a green and sustainable heating solution for several reasons, particularly when managed responsibly. Here is why it’s environmentally friendly and sustainable, especially in the context of radiant soapstone masonry heaters: Carbon Neutrality (When Managed Sustainably): Low Transportation Emissions: Renewable Resource: Energy Efficiency in Radiant Heating: Supports Local Ecosystems and Economies: Reduced Processing Energy: Minimal Environmental Disruption: Key Considerations for Sustainability: Comparison to Other Heating Fuels: Call or email us today to discuss a soapstone masonry heater for your home or project. 855-826-9246 or info@greenstoneheat.com - [Why is soapstone the ultimate material for any masonry heater?](https://greenstoneheat.com/why-is-soapstone-the-ultimate-material-for-any-masonry-heater/): Soapstone is a superior thermal mass material for radiant heating compared to cast refractory (like castable refractory concrete, firebrick or common red brick) due to its unique physical and thermal properties. Here’s a detailed comparison explaining why soapstone excels in radiant heating applications: 1. Higher Thermal Conductivity 2. Superior Heat Storage Capacity (Thermal Mass) 3. Even Heat Distribution 4. Durability in Thermal Cycling 5. Efficiency in Radiant Heat Emission Soapstone: Soapstone’s ability to emit infrared radiation efficiently makes it particularly effective for radiant heating. Its surface naturally radiates heat in a way that feels comfortable to humans, as it mimics […] ## Pages - [Request a Quote](https://greenstoneheat.com/request-quote/) - [History Of Masonry Heaters](https://greenstoneheat.com/history-of-masonry-heaters/): According to archeologists, fire has played an important role in mankind’s lives for nearly a million and a half years, going back beyond the Neanderthals to the time of “Homo erectus” in Africa. For many years it has been believed that fire probably originated in the colder parts of Europe, given the need for heat and warmth there. However, in 1981, a group exploring a region in Kenya found “burnt clay” mixed in with bones and tools. These scientists saw this discovery as strong evidence for the earliest controlled use of fire by man. The find dates back 1.4 million […] - [Code Requirements](https://greenstoneheat.com/code-requirements/): There are a few basic requirements for all masonry heater installations. To determine whether you are able to install a masonry heater check your City and State regulations. - [Flue Pipe + Chimney](https://greenstoneheat.com/flue-pipe-chimney/): Your Greenstone Masonry Heater will require a flue pipe to vent gases to the outside of the home. The flue pipe can exit out the top or through the back wall of the heater. As shown in the above pictures, the flue pipe can be an exposed black stove pipe, an exposed stainless steel chimney pipe or can be hidden in a wrap of soapstone. Side active chimneys are optional with most of our heaters and add additional thermal mass and efficiency to your masonry heater. All of our units use an 8-inch interior diameter pipe. You should have no […] - [Foundation + Support](https://greenstoneheat.com/foundation-support/): Greenstone heaters generally weigh between 4,000 and 10,000 lbs and can be installed 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. In most homes with a properly reinforced concrete slab on grade floor, the masonry heater can be placed directly on the slab. For new construction projects, several support structure design options are available. Concrete and masonry support structures are generally best suited for heaters placed above crawlspaces or basements. Each support structure should be designed by a locally licensed engineer. The drawings […] - [Radiant Vs Convection Heat](https://greenstoneheat.com/radiant-vs-convection-heat/): Why will a masonry heater reduce the amount of wood, oil, gas or propane that you have burned in the past and make your home feel more comfortable? There are several variables that will impact the reduction in the energy required from your secondary heating system after installing a masonry heater. A direct line of sight from the masonry heater to each area of your home is very important. As a radiant heating device a masonry heater is very effective in heating areas within a direct line of sight, but much less effective in heating those spaces that are separated […] - [Soapstone Data](https://greenstoneheat.com/soapstone-data/) - [Heater Sizing](https://greenstoneheat.com/heater-sizing/): Identifying the Proper Masonry Heater Size Efficiency claims in literature regarding masonry heaters varies, and there is little information on how the figures were acquired. The purpose of the following discussion is to give the basic information on how the figures are achieved. Keep in mind there are a number of variables that affect any specific circumstance, such as weather, location, etc. Sometimes the ultimate decision on the size of a heater is as much an art as a craft or science. Net Energy Yield of Wood While the energy content of wood can be expressed based on volume or […] - [Average Heat Requirements](https://greenstoneheat.com/average-heat-requirements/): Heat Requirements of an “Average” Home More heat is needed in the following circumstances: Thermal Mass and Fuel Load The following chart correlates thermal mass and fuel load: SI Equivalent Conversion Factors: 1 KW = 3,412 BTU 1m² = 10.76 sq. ft. 1 lb. = 0.453 kg. - [The Climate Variable](https://greenstoneheat.com/the-climate-variable/): One way by which climate is expressed is heating degree days, which can vary significantly depending upon the geographic location. Heating degree day works as an index (or indices) designed to reflect the demand for energy needed to heat a home or business. The following is an explanation from online Wikipedia: Heating degree day (HDD) are quantitative indices designed to reflect the demand for energy needed to heat a home or business. These indices are derived from daily temperature observations, and the heating requirements for a given structure at a specific location are considered to be directly proportional to the […] - [Delta T](https://greenstoneheat.com/delta-t/): The amount of heat that can be stored is determined by the weight, or thermal mass, of the masonry heater, a function of weight times stone temperature. The radiation surface determines the amount of heat that can be transferred into the room, which is a function of area times surface temperature. The difference between the room temperature (also called ambient temperature) and the surface temperature of the soapstone is called Delta T. The lower the Delta T value is the more comfortable, healthful and safer the heat. Soapstone masonry heaters operate with an average surface temperature of about 170° F, […] - [Soapstone Benefits](https://greenstoneheat.com/soapstone-benefits/): Soapstone (steatite) is a magnesium silicate that was formed under great pressure and intense heat millions of years ago. There is nothing quite like soapstone as it possesses extraordinary heat retention and transfer properties. Unlike other natural stones such as granite and marble, which can also store and radiate heat, soapstone has such an unusually stable composition that it can withstand direct flames indefinitely and be subjected to great fluctuation in temperature with little expansion or contraction. Simply put, it stores and transfers heat better. Although soapstone is a soft rock, it is not porous and has a solid structure […] - [Bake Ovens](https://greenstoneheat.com/bake-ovens/): Greenstone Aria Ovens If you enjoy cooking and the wonderful taste of fire cooked pizzas, breads, vegetables and roasts, our Aria Oven is for you. These game changing ovens combine the high temperatures needed to cook world-class pizzas, with the clean cooking environment of traditional masonry heater warming ovens. Historically, masonry heaters have been equipped with either a black high-temperature oven or a clean white oven that is only good for warming and low temperature cooking. Although the traditional black oven could achieve higher cooking temperatures, they were very difficult to keep clean and required continuous maintenance. Our new Aria […] - [Veneer Stone & Brick](https://greenstoneheat.com/veneer-stone-brick/): All of our heaters are designed with a standard honed soapstone exterior.  However, each one is available in a wide variety of thin veneer stone and brick or stucco options.  The soapstone shell is installed with a rough-sawn exterior and the thin veneer material is applied with a specialty polymer modified thin-set mortar.  You can see available options in the following links:  Telluride Stone  Stoneyard  Summit Brick  LaHabra Stucco - [Custom Designs](https://greenstoneheat.com/custom-designs/): We offer complete custom design services, incorporating a wide variety of masonry heater traditions, shapes, sizes and materials.  We often utilize our existing four firebox/core systems and customize the exterior shell shape to meet your specifications.  Metal accent bands and split-faced soapstone corner details, allow for a customization and a one of a kind heater design. Horizontal orientations often lend themselves to Austrian single or double bell designs, while vertical configurations more commonly feature the Scandinavian tradition of five-run, J-loop or contraflow systems. Exterior materials can include soapstone, a wide variety of natural fieldstone, ledgestone or ashlar thin-veneer shapes, or […] - [Cameron Series](https://greenstoneheat.com/cameron/): With a see-through firebox design, this heater is ideal as a room divider with a bake oven available on either side.  Available from 5 to 7 courses in height and a three-sided, open below bench design, the Cameron series packs serious heating power into a sophisticated shape.  - [Ricota Series](https://greenstoneheat.com/ricota/): Designed to fit into the corner of a room, its hexagon shape minimizes the impact on floor space.  Available from 5 to 7 courses in height, this series features an open below, three-sided bench design.  With a smaller firebox, the Ricota is best suited to smaller homes and spaces.  - [Dorchester Series](https://greenstoneheat.com/dorchester/): This series features a three-sided bay door, which allows for maximum fire view area.  The mantle above creates a perfect shelf for bake oven cooking simplicity.  Containing the largest firebox, the Dorchester is ideal for larger spaces and the coldest climates.  Available from 5 to 8 courses in height, this heater can be configured as a tunnel-version, front or back bake oven and unlimited bench designs. - [Valencia Series](https://greenstoneheat.com/valencia/): Our best selling series, the Valencia features a compact footprint and flexible configurations including a tunnel-version, front or back bake oven, mantles and unlimited bench designs.  This series can be installed in the middle of a room, against a wall or in a corner and can be built from 5 to 8 courses in height.  - [FAQ](https://greenstoneheat.com/faq/) - [Videos](https://greenstoneheat.com/videos/) - [Heater Drawings](https://greenstoneheat.com/drawings/): Valencia All Models Available with Heated Bench and Tunnel Double-Sided Firebox. Six Courses Required for Bake Oven. Dorchester All Models Available with Heated Bench and Tunnel Double-Sided Firebox. Six Courses Required for Bake Oven. Ricota All Models Available with Open Below, Non-Heated Bench. Tunnel Double-Sided Firebox Not Available. Six Courses Required for Bake Oven. Cameron All Models Available with Open Bench. Tunnel Double-Sided Firebox Standard. Six Courses Required for Bake Oven. Available on Left or Right Side. - [Home](https://greenstoneheat.com/): Elegant & Powerful RADIANT Heat Soapstone Masonry Heaters Experience the warmth and efficiency of handcrafted soapstone masonry heaters. Built to retain heat and reduce fuel use, they bring lasting comfort and natural elegance to any space. THE WORLD’S BEST THERMAL MASS RADIANT HEAT About Greenstone Soapstone Masonry Heaters Greenstone was founded in 2008 in Denver, Colorado, to bring the radiant wonders of soapstone masonry heaters to North America. Our heaters have been featured in some of America’s most sustainably built, off-the-grid homes. When the US Fish and Wildlife Service needed a sustainable, clean, wood-burning radiant heater for the Wildlife Refuge […] - [Photo Gallery](https://greenstoneheat.com/gallery/): Greenstone Soapstone Masonry Heaters use a labyrinth of core heat exchange chambers to capture the energy of an efficient, clean-burning fire in its stone mass, and radiate that heat evenly over many hours, resulting in the world’s most comfortable homes. These radiant fireplaces are the only American-made soapstone heaters, featuring soapstone from Schyler, Virginia, a time-tested source of some of the world’s best heat-retaining material. All of our models can be skinned in a wide range of fieldstone, flagstone and brick veneers, allowing you a one-of-a-kind heater design. On average, our soapstone masonry heaters reduce the amount of wood burned to heat […] - [Blog](https://greenstoneheat.com/blog/) - [About Us](https://greenstoneheat.com/about-us/): Quality & Efficience Exceptional Craftsmanship, Endless Possibilities Greenstone is America’s leading supplier and installer of Soapstone Masonry Heaters. For over two decades, we’ve sourced premium soapstone and built clean-burning, efficient thermal-mass heating systems. Our expert installers have completed hundreds of projects nationwide—from Alaska to New England, the Carolinas to California. With soapstone supply warehouses in Colorado and New Hampshire and a network of trained local installers, we minimize shipping and travel costs, delivering world-class Soapstone Masonry Heaters in a uniquely cost effective way. Engineered for Beauty, Built for Heat Why Choose Us? Unmatched Quality Our team of professionals will help […] - [Contact Us](https://greenstoneheat.com/contact-us/): Let’s Start Building Warmth Together Thank you for your interest in Greenstone’s handcrafted soapstone masonry heaters. Whether you have questions about our models, need guidance on choosing the right design for your home, or would like to request a custom quote, we’re here to help. [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)