Osburn Stratford II Wood Fireplace

The 13-inch combustible side-wall clearance is meaningfully tighter than the 24-inch on the Horizon and 21-inch on the Everest III — the Stratford II fits in narrower chase widths, which can be the deciding factor in some installation locations. Verify chase width with your installer before committing.

Clearances apply identically in Canada and the USA per the manufacturer's clearance table. The certification label on the unit is the binding clearance for any installation and always overrides clearance figures published in any other media. Some appliances have been tested with a low ceiling — refer to the installation manual for reduced-ceiling configurations. Confirm the binding clearance figures with your installer before purchase.

From the specification sheet

Options

The unit price is Osburn's 2026 list price for the wood fireplace alone. Options sold on this page add to it; those marked on request we add to your order by hand.

Door overlay

Faceplate and trim

Fresh air

Other options

Chimney requirements from the specification sheet

A 6-inch chimney flue system is required. New factory-built chimney systems must comply with UL 103 HT (USA) or ULC S629 (Canada) and be suitable for solid fuel. Approved manufacturer/brand combinations listed by SBI include American Metal HSS and HS, DuraVent DuraTech / DuraTech Canada DTC / DuraTech Premium / DuraPlus HTC / DuraPlus, Metal Fab Temp Guard, Olympia Rockford and Champion, Ventis (Olympia/SBI Venting Division), Nexvent (SBI Venting Division), Security Chimney S-2100+, and Selkirk CF Sentinel / Super Pro 2100 / Super Vent 2100. Verify the chimney brand and component series with your installer before ordering venting.

The minimum chimney height is 15 feet, subject to installer verification, certification label, draft conditions, and local code. The chimney must extend at least 3 feet above the highest point of contact with the roof and at least 2 feet above any roof line or obstacle within 10 feet horizontally.

Outside air

Outside air is not required in conventional homes — combustion air is normally available from room air. However, a 4-inch fresh-air intake register with airtight damper and 4-inch insulated flex pipe are strongly recommended for tight new-construction homes with mechanical ventilation, for homes with powerful range hoods or other mechanical exhaust appliances, and where local code requires it. A smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are required in the room where the fireplace is installed.

Codes and approvals

Code compliance for any specific installation is determined by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction. Manufacturer listings cover what the fireplace is approved for; the AHJ approves what is permitted at your address. A WETT (Canada), NFI, or CSIA (USA) certified installer is strongly recommended and frequently required by code, permit, or insurance. Zero-clearance wood-burning fireplaces are a regulated category — confirm local requirements before purchasing, particularly in EPA non-attainment counties and in HOA jurisdictions where new wood-burning installs may be restricted.

California Proposition 65

This product can expose you to chemicals including carbon monoxide, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65warnings.ca.gov.

• Stratford II zero-clearance fireplace with welded steel firebox, double cast-iron-framed glass doors with air-wash system, moulded refractory brick panel interior, and stainless-steel secondary-air tube assembly
• Configured at order with required faceplate selection — Traditional (default) or Modern (upgrade)
• Configured at order with required door overlay selection — Black (default) or Brushed Nickel (upgrade)
• Cast-iron andirons
• Listed insulation, shielding, and standoffs that allow installation inside a framed combustible chase per the manual's required clearances, framing dimensions, air spaces, and finish-material zones
• 176 CFM blower with rheostat speed control and heat sensor for automatic cycling
• C-Cast or equivalent baffle
• Owner's installation and operation manual and product documentation

Sold separately

• Code-compliant 6-inch Class A insulated chimney system — listed factory-built chimney from an approved manufacturer/brand per the manufacturer's approved-chimney list; required venting components are sold separately
• Hearth extension or floor protection sized to manual specifications, with continuous non-combustible material extending at least 16 inches in front of the appliance
• Optional Forced Air Kit (SBI AC01374) — distributes heat to a remote room via insulated ducting; pairs with 6" × 25' insulated flex pipe (SBI AC01350)
• Optional Traditional Gravity Kit (SBI AC01375) and Modern Gravity Kit with Adjustable Pipes (SBI AC01389) — passive heat-distribution options that don't require forced-air ducting
• Optional Firescreen Door (SBI AC01275) — for occasional door-open viewing where local code permits; never leave the fireplace unattended with the firescreen in place
• Optional Heat Shield for Surround/Shelf (SBI AC01223) — additional shielding for shelving installed above or beside the fireplace
• Optional Tempered Glass Hearth Pad 18" × 50" (SBI AC02760) — coordinated hearth extension finish
• Optional 4" Fresh Air Intake Register with Airtight Damper (SBI AC01347), 4" × 10' Insulated Flex Pipe for fresh air intake (SBI AC02091), and 4" × 25' Insulated Flex Pipe for fresh air (SBI AC01359) — for tight homes or where local code requires outside air
• Optional Fireplace Carrying Handles (SBI AC09200) — site handling aid during installation; not part of the finished assembly
• Optional 48" Wood Storage with Finishing Trim (SBI AC02351) and Drawer and Tool Kit for Wood Storage Insert (SBI AC02353) — coordinated wood storage solution
• Digital moisture reader (SBI AC07835) and probe thermometer — strongly recommended; not optional in practice
• Glass cleaner (SBI AC07825), dry cleaning pad (SBI AC07824), gloves (SBI AC07820 or AC07822), fire starters — consumables for normal operation and maintenance
• Replacement Silicone and 5/8" × 8' Black Door Gasket Kit (SBI AC06500) — gasket replacement when the paper-strip test fails
• Installation by an authorized qualified technician (WETT, NFI, or CSIA certified) and a framing contractor familiar with zero-clearance fireplace chase construction — required for warranty coverage and often required by code, permit, or insurance

• Check with your building department and insurer: wood appliances need a permit in most places and an inspection after installation.
• The chimney is the other half of the system. It is sold separately and quoted from your installer's plan.
• Clearances and floor protection come from the manual and depend on the pipe and shields you choose. Send us your plan and we will check it.
• Burn seasoned wood below 20 percent moisture. Wet wood is the cause of most complaints about any wood stove.
• Special-order goods ship by freight.

The 80,000 BTU/hr maximum is a peak rating, transient, achieved on dry cordwood at high loading density and short reload intervals. The figure that matters for daily life is the sustained output across a full burn cycle, which lands in the 12,700–60,700 BTU/hr band per the CSA B415.1-10 stack-loss method.

A realistic operating day, primary-heat use, cold climate: morning reload at sunrise produces a fast 60–90 minute warm-up and several hours of high output; mid-afternoon reload sustains heat through evening; a full pack at bedtime gives 6–7 hours of useful heat overnight, with the fireplace at coals by morning. In practical use with seasoned oak, maple, or hickory, expect 6–7 hours of useful heat from a packed load; up to 8 hours under ideal low-burn conditions. With birch, pine, or softer wood, expect 4–5 hours.

The 2.5 ft³ firebox sits in the smaller premium Osburn wood fireplace tier, sized for homes that don't need the Horizon's 4.28 ft³ capacity. The 8-hour maximum burn time is genuinely achievable with the right wood — dense hardwood, properly seasoned, packed tight, air shut hard at the end of the load cycle. Owner reviews repeatedly confirm the heating capability: multiple owners report the Stratford II meeting or exceeding HVAC heat output through cold winters in the 1,200–2,500 sq ft range, particularly when paired with the Forced Air Kit.

The 1.2 g/hr particulate emissions is meaningfully below the Horizon's 1.6 g/hr and the Everest III's 1.9 g/hr, and well below the EPA 2020 cordwood limit of 2.5 g/hr. For buyers in jurisdictions where emissions matter (EPA non-attainment counties, HOA-restricted areas, BC/Ontario/Quebec/Atlantic Canada residential regulations), the Stratford II provides meaningful compliance margin.

The 64% HHV average efficiency is in line with the other Osburn wood fireplaces. Optimum efficiency of 70% (LHV) at low burn rate is competitive within the EPA 2020 cordwood category. HHV is the federal standard.

The 20-inch maximum log capacity is generous for a 2.5 ft³ firebox. Most firewood suppliers cut to 16 inches, which is also the manufacturer's recommended length. Loading is over width (east-west) per the manufacturer specification.

The included 176 CFM blower with heat sensor meaningfully improves heat distribution into the room. Air is distributed from behind the firebox out through the louvers in the faceplate. Owner reviews on blower noise are mostly positive — quiet enough to have TV on in the background per multiple owners, with a few reports of higher noise at maximum speed. One owner reported the blower continuing to run for a period after the fire is out as the unit cools — normal behavior of the heat-sensor cycle, not a defect.

With the optional Forced Air Kit installed and properly sized, the manufacturer expects at least 25% heat transfer to a remote room. Multiple Stratford II owners report substantially higher heat transfer in practice — heating entire 2,500+ sq ft homes by plumbing the kit into HVAC distribution pipework with a separate thermostat. The kit takes heat that would otherwise stay in the chase and routes it via 6-inch insulated flex pipe to wall, ceiling, or HVAC grilles in another room or zone.

Trade-offs to know

Two buyer-configurable choices at order — faceplate and door overlay. Faceplate (Traditional default or Modern upgrade) and door overlay (Black default or Brushed Nickel upgrade). The combination substantially changes the appliance's visual character, and is not field-swappable after order without purchasing the alternate kit separately. Walk through the four possible combinations with the room aesthetic in mind before ordering.

Faceplate fit can be finicky. Multiple owner reviews report that the faceplate did not slide in cleanly because brackets and screws on the main fireplace body interfered with the faceplate's mounting position, or because the installer did not leave enough room for the faceplate to sit flush against the surrounding wall material. Plan installation time accordingly and ensure the installer is familiar with the Stratford II faceplate installation procedure. Osburn provides a dedicated faceplate installation instruction sheet — confirm the installer is working from it.

Smaller firebox than the Horizon. 2.5 ft³ vs the Horizon's 4.28 ft³ means shorter burn cycles, smaller log capacity (20-inch max vs 25-inch), and lower peak BTU (80,000 vs 95,000). For homes over ~1,800 sq ft as primary winter heat, the Stratford II will require more frequent reloads than the Horizon. Match the firebox to the heating load before purchasing.

Long-term wear reports. One owner with under 4 years of use reported significant wear on the inside refractory panels and the door seal, requiring replacement of multiple parts. Wear timing varies substantially by burning habits and wood quality — owners running marginally seasoned wood or excessive burn temperatures see faster wear. Plan for refractory panel inspection every 2–3 seasons and gasket replacement every 3–5 seasons. Replacement parts are openly available through the SBI parts network.

Ash cleaning can be messy. One owner noted difficulty cleaning ashes without it getting everywhere and the blower then blowing it throughout the house. Best practice: turn the blower OFF before ash removal, let the firebox cool, and use a metal ash container with a lid. Ash should not be removed during active blower operation.

Glass smoking up. One owner reported the glass smokes up quite a bit despite using very dry clean wood. Glass tarring is universal to non-catalytic appliances at low burn rates — the most likely causes are burns running too cool (air closed too aggressively) or marginally seasoned wood despite owner assessment. A digital moisture meter and a flue thermometer are the best diagnostic tools.

Lower efficiency than freestanding stoves. A wood fireplace at 64% HHV average efficiency is realistically 5–10 efficiency points lower than freestanding wood stoves of comparable firebox volumes. The architectural integration of a built-in fireplace costs heat — less exposed appliance surface to radiate into the room, more heat lost into the chase. Choose a fireplace for the architectural look and the wall-integrated install; choose a freestanding stove if maximum efficiency per cord of wood is the priority.

Non-catalytic burn time. A non-cat appliance gives you simpler operation and no catalyst to replace, but you pay for it with shorter useful-heat windows. The 8-hour maximum claim is achievable on a packed load of dense hardwood with the air shut down hard; useful heat through that cycle is realistically 6–7 hours. For 10+ hour overnight burns with steady output, step up to the larger Horizon (11-hour maximum) or look at catalytic technology.

Living with it

First burns. The first three to six fires release paint VOCs as the high-temperature stove paint cures. The smell can be strong during paint cure-in. Ventilate the room well, avoid prolonged exposure, and expect the odor to disappear after the first several hot burns.

Lighting. The manual describes top-down lighting as an effective method — largest splits on the bottom resting on the andirons, smaller above, kindling on top, fire starter at the very top, light the top. Cleaner ignition, less smoke, faster to operating temperature.

Air control. Full open at light-off, then gradually closed only after the load is fully engaged and stable secondary flames are established. A flue thermometer is strongly recommended — without one, you are guessing at draft, burn rate, and overfire risk. The manual specifies keeping flue temperature in the comfort zone of 250–475 °F at steady state, with 700 °F acceptable transiently during start-up. Do not maintain excessive temperatures over long periods.

Reload cadence. 3–5 hours between reloads in active high-output use; 6–7 hours for a final overnight pack with the air shut hard. Open the air, wait 30 seconds, open the door slowly to avoid spilling smoke into the room. Place at least three pieces on the fire at a time so that the heat radiated from one piece helps ignite the pieces next to it. Loading is over width (east-west) per the manufacturer's loading specification. The andirons keep logs lifted for better air circulation underneath.

Blower management. The blower starts automatically via the heat sensor when the fireplace reaches operating temperature, typically about an hour after cold start. Turn the rheostat to LO or HI to set speed; the sensor handles on/off. Turn the blower OFF before opening the door fully — otherwise it can blow ash out of the firebox into the room. The blower may continue running for a period after the fire is out as the unit cools through the heat-sensor cycle — normal behavior.

Ash removal. Turn the blower OFF before removing ash. Let the firebox cool. Use a metal ash container with a lid and store outside, away from combustible materials, for at least 48 hours before disposal — embers can remain hot for days. Removing ash with the blower running risks ash being distributed throughout the room.

Glass cleaning. Damp newspaper dipped in cold ash, or a dedicated ceramic-glass cleaner. Daily wipe during low-burn weather; weekly during high-burn. Black streaks at the lower edge mean wet wood; black uniformly across the glass means burns are running too cool. Do not clean the glass when the fireplace is hot, and do not strike or slam the glass doors shut.

Door alignment and gasket replacement. The door gasket needs replacement when the paper-strip test fails: close the door on a strip of paper and try to pull it out; firm resistance means the gasket is sealing, easy pull means it's time to replace. The double-door design has gaskets on both doors and at the meeting edge — test all locations. Plan on gasket replacement every 3–5 seasons in regular use. Replacement gasket kits are available through the SBI parts network.

Warranty

A one-time replacement limit applies to all parts with lifetime coverage. Warranty is void if the unit is used to burn anything other than seasoned cordwood, or if it is not operated according to the owner's manual. Damage caused by misuse, improper installation, lack of maintenance, overfiring, downdrafts, venting problems, or under-estimated heating area is not covered. Improper installation by anyone other than an authorized qualified technician voids the warranty.

Warranty claims are made through your Osburn dealer and remain subject to SBI/Osburn inspection, approval, and the current written warranty. Kaminos is the retailer for this fireplace and supports buyers through purchase; final warranty approval rests with SBI as the manufacturer. SBI's parts network is well-stocked — replacement bricks, baffle, secondary tubes, glass, gaskets, blower, faceplate, door overlay, andirons, and venting components are openly available at fair prices through multiple parts vendors.

Osburn may require photos or returned parts to support a claim; repair work covered by warranty requires prior manufacturer approval.

Coverage details can change by component and warranty revision; the current Osburn warranty controls.

• Osburn document list for the Osburn Stratford II (OB04007): installation and owner's manual, safety notices
• Osburn wood products brochure, USA edition, with dimension drawings (PDF)
• Osburn limited lifetime warranty
• EPA test reports
• Replacement parts