Bob shows off the beautiful red Victorian inspired wood-burning stove to be installed in our project. To give further details he visits the Vermont Casting plant. For additional information see our article written in season twelve during the Elmwood project. At the plant Bob visits with the plant manager and they discuss how the mold is crafted then cast to make future stove panels. They then head over to the hoppers where the cast iron ingredients, including recycled material, scrap and pig iron ingots are mixed to provide consistent material for the stoves. The molten cast iron is added to a sand mold then cooled and sand blasted to smooth it out. Enamel paint is then applied and baked on in a kiln for two hours. The initial color sprayed on does not look like what comes out of the kiln. One of the last steps in the process of building the stove is adding a catalytic converter, which makes it more efficient and pollute less. The stove we are using in our project has 26 individually cast, iron pieces.

Jack Murdock from RMI and Craig Ryans from Vermont Castings of Mississauga, Ontario, demonstrate how simple it is to have gas appliances and heat in a rural location. With a 500 gallon underground or exterior tank, enough fuel is stored on site for most common uses and requires just a few fill ups a year. The stove being installed, a Vermont Castings product, uses a direct vent technology that draws no interior air to aid in combustion. The unit pulls air in from outside through a cylinder pipe and releases exhausts outside as a typical furnace would. Gas appliances and heat function during power failures, although electric fans that circulate the heat will not work without an auxillary power supply. The fireplace installed in the Modular Mountain Retreat project home will provide 30,000 BTUs of heat. A realistic ceramic grate burner and ceramic logs enhance the fireplace�s look.

Bob closes his review of the Rowley Victorian remodel with a look at the barbecue station that sits below grade and is accessed by inset western red cedar stairs. The retaining walls and barbecue station are faced in Cultured Stone by Owens Corning. The barbecue station is topped with granite counters. The centerpiece is the built-in Vermont Castings Signature gas grill for elegant outdoor grilling and entertaining.

Whether it�™s to clear land, stock up on firewood or prevent future damage to a home or property, felling a tree can be a fun, challenging outdoor project.

Bob and the mason discuss the chimney. Pointing out that we have two flues, one for the boiler in the basement and one for the wood stove. By code, the ceramic flue liners need to be surround by at least four inches of solid masonry (the chimney). The mason tells Bob how they are going to attach the pipe from the wood stove to the flue. Then the mason shows how easy it is to cut a four-inch cement block with a hydraulic jack. The mason and Bob then discuss the supports for the hearth, including a concrete table and a blue stone finishing floor.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. While it s hard to argue with the romance of a crackling fire on a chilly night, your fireplace might be costing you more in energy dollars than you know. A fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat energy you ve paid for goes up in smoke. Heated room air is drafted up the chimney as well, so your main heating system actually works harder to keep the house warm. Glass fireplace doors raise the efficiency somewhat but only to about 20 percent. While wood burning is becoming less viable in heavily populated areas, if it s still your fuel of choice you should invest in an EPA-rated wood stove with a catalytic combuster. And only burn seasoned wood or wood that s been split and stacked in the sun for about 6 months. Green wood makes for a smoky fire that pollutes more and coats your chimney with resins, which can lead to chimney fires. If you re tired of shoveling ashes and hauling wood, a gas-burning fireplace insert is a more efficient option that also saves space. A built-in fan distributes heat into the room and a thermostat allows you to set a target temperature. Some models even have a timer so a roaring fire welcomes you when you get up in the morning. One gas fireplace insert can heat a whole small house in all but the coldest weather, which can save you a lot if your main heating system is oil-fired or electric. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Here are some more great tips from BobVila.com. Most new parents know they need to take steps to protect their child from household dangers, but it seems like there s a new childproofing gadget invented every minute. How do you know what you need? Every home is different, and every child, even from week to week, will have different abilities and interests. To begin, get down on your hands and knees and tour your house from your child s point of view. Open everything you can and look for hard corners that can bump heads as well as anything that can burn, shock or that contains water. Look for any openings wider than two inches where a child could get stuck or fall in, like stairways, railings and operable windows. Take notes as you go and keep in mind that even if your child can t quite reach it now, it s only a matter of time until he can. Once you have your hazards list, do some online research to find the best solutions. You can child-lock or shield anything, from toilets to refrigerators to electronics, but you want to find solutions the rest of the family can live with. There are several ways to keep cabinets and doors closed, including magnetic locks you can t see. Rather than the plug-in socket shields, which some children are able to remove, try more permanent sliding outlet covers. Furniture anchor straps are great for keeping TVs, dressers and shelves from being pulled over. Safety gates are essential at stair openings, but you might also want one around the wood stove or fireplace. Some child safety measures don t cost anything. Turn your water heater s thermostat down to 125 degrees to prevent scalding. Lock your windows. And move all toiletries and medicines out of reach. While you re at it, remove any toxic cleaners and chemicals from the living areas of your home altogether. Replace them with non-toxic biodegradable products. These are better for your family and the environment, and you won t have to worry nearly as much about poisoning. No matter what you choose to install, do a safety check every six months to be sure you re still covered as your child grows. And remember that no gadget protects your child better than your teaching and supervision. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

The walls in the new addition to the home are just about ready for paint. The new fireplace will make this new in-law suite very cozy. Malcolm Gurney of The Fireplace Connection reviews features of the fireplace. It is a Majestic wood-burning fireplace that uses outside air for combustion. It operates like a standard wood stove with the doors closed while the fire is burning. Measurements for the fireplace were taken prior to installation, allowing for a six foot mantle. The pipe needs to be installed in-line with the peak of the roof. Thirty-degree offsets, the steepest degree available, will be used to install the pipe. A multiple number of offsets can be used in the installation. The fireplaces come with installation manuals to explain the process.

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. The American Lung Association reports that the death rate from lung disease has risen faster in the last decade than any other major disease. Countless days of school and work are missed due to respiratory illnesses every year. The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat to our country. Some of the worst polluters of the air you breathe hit right where you live. Biological particles like mold, animal dander, dust mites, bacteria and viruses occur naturally in substances. But in homes that aren t properly ventilated, or when filters aren t regularly cleaned, their concentrations can build up and make them into major irritants. Products of combustion from heating systems, gas appliances, fireplaces and wood stoves include poisonous and carcinogenic particles as well as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide. And tobacco smoke has proven to be the last thing you want in your indoor air. Make sure your appliances are properly vented, install carbon monoxide detectors and ban smoking in your house to keep your family safe. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, have also been linked to lung disease. They off-gas from a huge range of building products like engineered lumber, adhesives, carpets, paint and upholstery. But did you know they can also come from dry-cleaned clothing, synthetic lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides? Other harmful chemicals can off-gas and accumulate from seemingly innocent cleaning products, air fresheners, candles, even personal care products. The best solution is to use natural alternatives wherever you can. Believe it or not, airborne lead dust and asbestos are still causing health problems. If you suspect your home contains exposed lead paint or asbestos that s been disturbed, get a professional inspection immediately. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Bob takes us on final tour of this Elmwood neighborhood project. The homeowners, Luke and Jane, have decorated and Bob reviews the area's new features.