Firebox design for tightness

These pictures were sent by our friend in France, where we saw this type of tight cover for fireplaces. Here in the US, our contacts have never heard of these types of metal doors, but these would allow us to burn a fire, then as it is dying out close the doors and go to bed, knowing the heat from the house won’t go up the chimney with the remaining smoke. It will have some impact on the depth of the fire box, so the mason will need to be in the loop.

The building inspector has had our plans now for two weeks, and we’re hoping he will approve them so we can start digging. The dudes who put in the hay bales and silt fencing for stormwater runoff are working today (in the rain) to get all prepared. Flip and I will be sinking tall stakes marked by neon paint so when the winter comes, we will be able to see where the driveway goes and plow it.

Given our timing, we anticipate the shell going up in January, which is not ideal but is Just the Way it Is. We have not yet heard back from the HERS rater, who is to let us know if we are going to get approval for an Energy Star design, and we are hoping beyond hope that we can move forward with our LEED plans with the house plan intact.