FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction ↗

Advantages of safe, clean and efficient wood heat

Words: Precision masonry Inc.Residential wood-burning appliances need to be safe, clean and efficient, but also should be healthy. Masonry heaters, by the way they are designed, provide heat that is safe and healthy, and save money compared to other wood-burning devices.

Masonry heaters are designed to burn fuel at its maximum efficiency. To properly burn wood, you need a flame temperature above 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, a liberal air supply, and a good, dry fuel source such as split cordwood. Combustion temperatures this high burn up creosote in the firebox, preventing any buildup on flue walls. The heat produced by these high temperatures is stored in the masonry mass, and then gently and evenly released into a residence, business or office as radiant heat. A properly designed masonry heater can warm your home on one or two fires a day, eliminating the need for constant stoking.

Think of a masonry heater as a large warm rock in a home. It is a high-mass heat storage system. Short, hot fires generate tremendous amounts of heat, which is then stored in the masonry, to be slowly and evenly released into your home.

Masonry heaters are true radiant heating systems, and there is very little temperature stratification in the home. Since radiant heat warms objects directly, you feel warmer over a wider range of air temperature. It’s like experiencing a sunny day and that feeling of well-being that your body intuitively recognizes.

The design and size of the heater must be matched to our climate and your home’s heating requirements. Since the heat retention and output of the masonry heater are predictable, your heater builder can design a system that fits the homeowner’s needs.
 0
CMU Partitions: How Much Reinforcement Is Actually Required?
February 2026

Walk onto almost any job site and you’ll find masons laying out interior partitions much the same way they did decades ago. The work looks straightforward: stack the units, strike clean joints, and keep the wall plumb. And the function of these partitions

Technical Talks
Read More
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 37 Recap: Starling Johnson, VP of Sales at STALITE Lightweight Aggregate
February 2026

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Starling Johnson joins the set in Indianapolis to talk about her path within masonry, sales in this industry, and life outside of work.

Justin Stengel
The MASONRY STRONG Podcast
Read More
Masonry Restoration: Why Walls Fail and How We Fix Them
February 2026

Masonry doesn’t crack. Old brick never has issues. Every masonry wall lasts 100 years or more… right? If only that were true. Masonry is one of the most durable building materials ever used, but like all construction, it responds to time, movement, mo

MAP Partner
Read More
MCAA President Jeff Buczkiewicz Testifies To Congress On AI In Masonry
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), testified before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. He spoke during a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workp

Legislative
Read More