The Book of Masonry Stoves

Rediscovering an Old Way of Warming

David Lyle

Within the past decade, millions of Americans have discovered the economic benefits and personal pleasures of heating with wood. At the same time, many have discovered that there are serious problems associated with wood heat and iron stoves: chimney fires from creosote, air pollution from poor combustion, and structural fires caused by faulty stove installation. The masonry stove, widely used in Europe and Asia for centuries, surmounts these problems.

Masonry stoves offer good solutions to many of the problems associated with wood burning. They provide clean combustion at a high temperature, good efficiency, a high degree of safety, and little or no pollution. Masonry stoves require little care, needing to be fed only once or twice a day. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes from simple to elegant and from austere to gothic. And they are easily adapted to a variety of structures including solar designs.

The Book of Masonry Stoves represents the first comprehensive survey ever published of all the major types of masonry heating systems, ancient and modern. Detailed plans and building information are included in the book. As a complete introduction to masonry stoves, it will help many people rediscover an old way of warming, using masonry stoves.

About the Author

David Lyle, one of the best-informed people in the U.S. in the wood heat field, has tested a great variety of stoves during the past 30 years. For several years, he was the national distributor of Lange stoves in the U.S. In addition to his professional work with wood-burning stoves, Mr. Lyle has heated his own home with wood for several decades.

Readers may recognize David Lyle as a former writer for the New York Herald Tribune and the Associated Press. His articles have also appeared in Esquire, Fine Homebuilding, and other magazines. He lives in Acworth, New Hampshire, where he credits his special knowledge of chimney fires to his experience with the Acworth Volunteer Fire Company.

The Book of Masonry Stoves has been a selection of the Popular Science, Rodale, and MacMillan Book Clubs.