Questions & Answers
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	Can a Tulikivi fireplace use propane (or gas) instead of wood or electricity? What color do your soapstone slabs come in? Are Tulikivi fireplaces clean burning? Is soapstone easy to work with? Does soapstone scratch easily? Is soapstone porous? Does Tulikivi make an insert for retrofiting an existing fireplace? Is a Tulikivi easy to install? Can I put a Tulikivi in any room? Can I burn any type of wood in a Tulikivi?
	Question:  Can a Tulikivi fireplace use propane (or gas) instead of wood or electricity?	Answer:  When you burn propane (or gas) you must vent the flue gases straight up the chimney. No down draft channels or dampers allowed. Eliminating the downdraft channels and dampers would dramatically change the design and compromise (if not eliminate) the heat storage transfer and efficiency in a Tulikivi fireplace. A gas fireplace often includes some type of heat exchanger which blows hot air into the room. However, this again would be a radical design change and is not in keeping with the radiant heat output for which Tulikivi fireplaces are primarily known and valued. Return to top of page
	Question:  What color do your soapstone slabs come in?	Answer:  Color variation ranges from a greenish/gray background to a black background with some green highlights in the marbling of the slabs. The marbling appears more pronounced in the darker slabs due to the white versus black contrast. The ambient light in the room and the decorating colors also affect the caste of the slabs background and/or highlights. Once oiled, the undertones are brought forward and darkened. Return to top of page
	Question:  Are Tulikivis clean burning?	Answer:  Extremely. Because the fire burns so hot, the wood is totally vaporized. There are no ash, creosote, smoke, or charcoal byproducts left behind, only mineral content from the wood. Return to top of page
	Question:  Is soapstone easy to work with?	Answer:  Yes. Working with soapstone is as easy as working with wood and can be done with the same tools. Return to top of page
	Question:  Does soapstone scratch easily?	Answer:  It is easy to scratch soapstone, but small scratches and dents are easily repairable by sanding or oiling. We recommend using a wooden cutting board to protect your knife blades and countertop surfaces. Return to top of page
	Question:  Is soapstone porous?	Answer:  Absolutely not. Soapstone is extremely dense and therefore will not absorb spills or stains, making it ideal for use in kitchens and bathrooms. Soapstone is similarly impervious to acids and alkalis. Return to top of page
	Question:  Does Tulikivi make an insert for retrofitting an existing fireplace? We have a Tulikivi downstairs that we absolutely love, but upstairs we have a buck stove that we don't like anymore. It is in the bedroom and it smokes up the room and the glass, gets the room too hot, then it's too cold. We don't use it much unless it is really cold. Behind the buckstove is a heatalator (The firebox is metal and at one time had vents and fans in the ductwork). Anyway, do you have some sort of fireplace insert or any suggestions about how to make this fireplace more efficient and healthy? We can't afford to redo the whole thing and are concerned about the weight of a Tulikivi upstairs. - R. Chapman	Answer:  Tulikivi does not make a fireplace insert that goes into an existing firebox. In most cases the existing firebox would be far too small to accommodate heat exchange channels necessary for a viable thermal mass heater. Additionally, in many cases the chimney (and firebox) are on an outside wall, outside the house, not a very promising heating situation. We have had luck placing a small to medium size Tulikivi in front of an existing fireplace and utilizing the existing flue. Almost always this requires that the existing flue be relined and reduced in size for proper draw and connection to the Tulikivi fireplace. Sometimes the weight of the Tulikivi can be supported by the existing hearth, and sometimes a steel plate is put down over a wood floor and the Tulikivi built on top of a three inch 'foamglas' insulation shield bearing on the steel plate. Of course, the wood floor structure may have to be 'beefed' up to support the weight of the steel plate and fireplace. Click on the following link for a picture of a TU1000/6 that shows one of our recent conversion projects in front of an existing fireplace. - D. Hargrave Return to top of page
	Question:  Is a Tulikivi easy to install?	Answer:  With a properly prepared site, our certified installers can usually build your fireplace in one to four days. In addition, the process is remarkably clean and hassle-free. Return to top of page
	Question:  Can I put a Tulikivi in any room?	Answer:  The broad range of sizes and models makes it possible to use a Tulikivi almost anywhere - from an open floor plan to a small enclosed room, such as a cozy den. Our CAD design staff will work with you to design the right fireplace for your needs. Return to top of page
	Question:  Can I burn any type of wood in a Tulikivi?	Answer:  Unlike wood-burning stoves, the Tulikivi is not finicky. Any seasoned wood will burn well. In Finland these fireplaces are burned with soft woods like pine and birch. There are not many deciduous hardwood trees near the arctic circle. Logs should be 12" - 16" long and a maximum of four inches in diameter for the most efficient burn. Return to top of page
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