Masonry heaters were born in Northern Europe, where cold winters and scarce fuel gave rise to one of the most elegant heating systems ever devised. Built from fire brick, as beautiful as they are functional, masonry heaters store and radiate heat for 12 to 24 hours from just one or two firings per day. In this hands-on course, students will build a classic Finnish-style masonry heater (approximately 36" wide x 31" deep x 72" high) using clay mortar rather than refractory mortar, as the heater will be disassembled at the end of class. We will explore heater sizing, brick selection, oven integration, hardware installation, code requirements, and finishing options including clay brick, stucco, and clay plaster. Discussion extends to larger systems capable of heating spaces up to 2,500 square feet and masonry cook stoves. Students will learn firing techniques for maximum efficiency and spend time with the masonry heater on the North House campus if time and classes allow. This course focuses on construction techniques and exterior finishing design rather than internal core design, which is an incredibly complex discipline that takes weeks of dedicated study and must be performed by a certified heater mason. The materials fee covers all building materials and a complete resource packet.

Required Tools

• Clothing that can get dirty
• Eye protection
• Ear plugs
• The instructor has extra tools available, so you do not need to purchase any tools before class.

Optional Tools

• Rubber mallet
• Rubber “dishwashing” gloves, elbow length
• 2" x 4" and/or 2" x 8" margin trowel (available at most hardware or masonry supply stores)