Bricking forced air arch

[Jim Schumacher]

Is it necessary to insulate and brick under the grates of a forced-air arch?

[RileySugarbush]

No. With the abundant air very few coals will fall down through the grates.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

If you don't have a floor in it, be a good idea to set the arch on some ceramic blanket strips underneath the outside of the frame to keep any ash from blowing out around the bottom unless it sits nice and tight to the floor.

[Brian Ryther]

Necessary, no. A good Idea, Yes. By bricking and insulating around the ash box you help keep it air tight and it will help keep the hot in. Before I insulated the ash box I would have ashes blowing out from every little crack when the blowers where running.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have 2' x 3' piece of 1" ceramic blanket underneath my firebox and it has been that way for 5 years. At end of season, I take shop vac and vacuum out about a gallon or so of ashes from entire season. This way, there is nothing to tear it up.