Unpopular opinion: Fireclay flue liners aren't always worth the cost

I was against them for years after a bad job in 2019 where a 12-inch liner cracked during shipping. But after seeing how much longer they last versus clay tiles in a house I serviced near Pittsburgh, I started using them for heavy-use wood stoves. That one job convinced me they have a place, even if I still think they are overkill for gas fireplaces. Anyone else have a brand they trust for fireclay that won't break the bank?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair5973d ago

Superior brand held up fine on a job I did last winter near Scranton.

carr.elliot3d ago

Yeah "held up fine" is about the ceiling for Superior. I've used their stuff on a few jobs in similar cold weather and it does the job but nothing special. The key is making sure you get the right grade for the conditions, their winter blend actually works decent down to about 15 degrees. I've seen guys get sloppy with the prep and then blame the tape when it's really just cold application mistakes.