Tulikivi and Temp-Cast Masonry Heaters

Although the sheer beauty of the flames is mesmerizing, conventional fireplaces are ineffective when it comes to heating your home. In fact, most fireplaces draw heat out of your home. So how can your love of a good roaring fire peacefully, and stay warm? One word: TULIKIVI (TWO-lee-KEE-vee). In Finland, where they are built, it literally means "Fire Stone." In English, Tulikivi means one of the world's most beautiful and efficient ways to heat your house.

Tulikivi fireplaces come in various beautiful designs that will enhance any decor from traditional to contemporary. Standard options, including mantelpieces, benches, bake ovens, and decorative serpentine or rough face stone make it easy to customize any of the basic models to suit individual heating, cooking, and decorating needs. Heating capacity, which corresponds to the fireplace size, ranges from 750 square feet to almost 2,000 square feet. Choosing the right model depends on the size of the space you want to heat, how your house is insulated and laid out, as well as average seasonal temperatures in your region of the country.

Soapstone (steatite) is a magnesium silicate that was formed naturally under great pressure and intense heat millions of years ago in the Earth. There is nothing quite like soapstone, as it possesses astonishing heat retention, and heat transfer properties. Unlike other natural stones, such as granite and marble, which can also store and radiate heat, soapstone has such an uncommonly stable composition allowing it can withstand direct flames indefinitely and be subjected to great fluctuation in temperature with little expansion or contraction. Soapstone is basically not affected by thermal shock, or thermal variations. Simply put, soapstone stores and transfers heat better than any other natural, or man-made material. Although soapstone is a soft rock, it is not porous, and it has a solid make-up that allows it to have exceptional heat retention properties. The practice of heating stone for its warmth holding qualities has been used for thousands of years. Extending back to ancient times, man would heat stones to keep warm and cook food with—after the actual fire ceased to exist. The rocks retained the heat from the fire and released it in a controlled manner. Man, basically created his first furnace, primitive, but a furnace.

Fast forward a few thousand years, Tulikivi combines this long-known tradition with state-of-the-art engineering, technology, and design to bring you the optimum heating source in the world… a Tulikivi soapstone masonry heater.

Many of our customers ask what makes Tulikivi soapstone masonry heaters so special; what makes them different than traditional wood stoves, even them wood stoves wrapped in soapstone. The answer is, the Tulikivi soapstone masonry heater’s mass, or overall weight. Soapstone holds twice as much heat per pound as iron or steel, which most woodstoves and wood-burning inserts are built out of. An iron wood stove weighs a few hundred pounds. A soap stone masonry heater weighs a minimum 1760 pounds, and Tulikivi masonry heaters weigh much more than that. Inside the Tulikivi masonry heater there are channels, all built out of soapstone, that capture the heat from the flue gasses before releasing them to the atmosphere. A no-nonsense hot fire is burned once or twice a day. The heat is absorbed by the soapstone itself, the heat it is retained and released in the form of steady controlled radiant heat. Compared to a standard woodstove, or wood-burning insert, which heats the air, the radiant heat given off the Tulikivi soapstone warms all the solid surfaces in the room. You’ll notice, the heat radiated by your Tulikivi will ultimately pass through walls into all the rooms of your home. Long after the fire is done, your Tulikivi masonry heater will keep heating your home for hours and hours.

Tulikivi Masonry Heaters are not just elegant, but also efficient and extremely safe to use. You only need a small amount of wood in a Tulikivi, which will burn cleanly, generating only a little ash. It will come as no surprise to learn that Tulikivi Masonry Heaters exceed even the toughest emissions standards.

Tulikivi soapstone heaters are excellent at retaining heat, which the stone then releases slowly and consistently as radiant heat to create a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The surface of a Tulikivi heater, and the flue, will however remain at low enough temperatures that it’s safe and warm to the touch. It’s just “Nice”.

Firewood burns quickly and efficiently in the firebox and the solid mass of the Tulikivi rapidly stores the heat. A Tulikivi masonry heater does not waste heat or wood like a normal stove or open fireplace, which must be continually fed to keep the fire burning. All Tulikivi’s models are made of the highest quality natural materials, with exceptional attention to detail; creating the ultimate masonry heater that combines elegance with practicality. The doors are designed in-house and offer excellent seals and ease of use, while the heaters themselves are simple to clean and maintain.

Tulikivi masonry heaters fit into any house and interior design. Tulikivi’s custom design service further expands the possibilities of designing a suitable heater for every space. Share ideas of your perfect Tulikivi heater, and we can bring it to life. A sketch, photograph, or magazine clip that shows your personal style is always welcome. Our designers will use it to draw up the final design.

Combined, Tulikivi and The Chimney Pro’s will make everything from your simple heating idea—to the most beautiful centerpiece for your home—your reality!!