Isokern fireplaces and chimney systems are made of volcanic pumice mined near the Arctic Circle from the Hekla Volcano in Iceland.
Isokern fireplaces are not kits like I’m used to seeing in almost every home we visit.
I was intrigued by the feel of the material and the masonry methods involved in the installation process. The insulating properties are superior to practically anything available.
The herringbone firebrick design on these fireplaces really set them apart from the majority of firebrick that is seen in kits.
From the looks of the finished Isokern fireplaces on their website, I am looking forward to seeing what all of the fireplaces and hearths in this home will look like.
There are 2 chimneys venting 3 fireplaces including one 36″ and one 42″ (both upstairs), and a mammoth 48″ in the basement.
Isokern offers basically 2 sizes of chimneys: the DM44 and DM54. Rather than provide a link to tell you a little more about those 2 chimneys I’ll just quote their site:
The DM or dual module chimney system is a component based chimney system that has an inner liner and an external casing. The DM 54 system has an inner liner and an 54 cm external casing.The modular design of such a system allows for more diverse , lightweight applications for fireplaces and other applications. The Isokern chimney systems are used for all gas-fired appliance and solid fuel burning applications. Isokern DM chimney components are built with tongue and groove construction, enabling a tighter fit for maximum safety and consistent installations. Due to its pumice based construction, all DM 44 and 54 chimney systems are the highest rated residential solid fuel chimney on the market.
The pumice used in Isokern’s products is mined at an extremely high altitude “which causes the pumice to be cleaner and contains less organic material. This ‘cleaner’ pumice allows for cleaner burning and the ability to sustain high heat temperatures without cracking or splitting.”
It appears that the builder of this home has installed the Magnum series from Isokern with the straight-backed design and the firebrick is mortared in a handsome herringbone configuration.
Earthcore Industries is the North American distributor of Isokern. So if you’re interested in having an Isokern system installed in your new home you can find a distributor by clicking here.
If you find this article interesting, you may want to check out the whole series of posts on this English-cottage style home and all of the beautiful craftsmanship and materials that go into constructing it.
I started as a home-stalker… visiting brand new homes under construction in the neighborhoods near my house.
That inspired me to write about home building and home renovation projects — chronicling homes during different phases of construction from a consumer’s point-of-view. Basically, the tips you’ll find in my articles are a collection of checklists for what I think should (and should not) go into building or remodeling a quality home.
