Smoke House Liners

jimmyinsd · May 16, 2017

I am planning a build and the one question (or one of the remaining dozen or so) that keeps coming around in my head is a liner.

I am planning on an insulated wood house that will be able to handle temps up to about 275 or so. I will be using various heat/smoke sources ( pellet maze and northern tool burner will be the primary sources) so I wanted to do something that is somewhat flame resistant.

I have seen many using durock, hardibacker, cement board, and other similar products. I have also seen contrarian advice on using such products. I would appreciate any feedback, advice, etc on these materials as they seem like they would do a pretty decent job. I am leaning on the cement board as that is what is most readily availble but if I have to travel for a better product so be it. I dont expect anything to last forever, but I dont want to built a maintenance nightmare either.

any input would be greatly appreciated.

daveomak · May 16, 2017

Steel roofing... Use painted... It's heat cured / baked at about 400 deg.

jimmyinsd · May 16, 2017

seriously? just pole barn steel? ( non galvanized of couse)

as nervous as everybody gets about things off gassing I would have thought that painted surfaces would be taboo.

daveomak · May 16, 2017

Yep... I'm using steel used house roofing... I replaced my roof 2 years ago and saved the metal...

jimmyinsd · May 16, 2017

what issues are there with the cement board in your experience. I think I have read where you have recommended it and cautioned away from it, but I am not sure of the dates and where you currently stand on its use.

daveomak · May 16, 2017

Cement products hold moisture and have to be "dried" out...   but... it has thermal mass and hold heat.....

Metal is what it is... Good fire protection...   if you put metal in, keep the bottom edge about 1" off of the floor so there is air flow to cool it and keep the wood cool....   It cleans easily...

If you put cement board on the floor, I've seen the floor char from a propane burner where the cement transferred the heat to the wood floor... It too should be elevated so there is an air gap.....

Personal preference which product to use....

I have 1 smokehouse that is lined with cement board.. takes forever to heat up..   There's probably 100#'s of board in it...

jimmyinsd · May 16, 2017

Any food grade sealers that would make it less pourous? I kind of like the idea of not leaving any gaps because I will likely use fiberglass insulation. I had though I would maybe wipe down the cement board with an oil or something to season the surface and then smoke would do the rest...maybe Not?

Also when you say it takes forever to heat up, what/where is your heat source on that house?

daveomak · May 16, 2017

Electric 1500 watt...

jimmyinsd · May 16, 2017

That's only about 5100 btus, I am planning on the 30,000 btu gas burner I have seen pimped on many of the threads here so I should be able to pump plenty of btus in for a quick heat up.

My biggest concern for the cement board is the longevity of it.

I hope it doesn't seem like I am dismissing your input as it is truly appreciated. It seems that many here owe parts of their builds to you in one fashion or the other.

Also....I really hate working with tin. although the roof might end up with it on it, because I hate shingles more. :)

daveomak · May 17, 2017

BTU's / Wattage... depends on the volume of the smoker...

jimmyinsd · May 17, 2017

DaveOmak said:
BTU's / Wattage... depends on the volume of the smoker...

very true, regardless of what i have heard my whole life from women... apparently size does matter.

I am planning on about 3' wide x 2.5' deep x 6.5- 7' tall with a little peak so it will shed water so maybe 7.75' over all height. so I am thinking roughly 60 cubic feet.

I cant find anything solid on BTUs per CUFT for an insulated smoker,( of course there are many variables) but 500 BTU per cuft should be pretty substantial unless I am working on a hot smoke in zero degree weather.... or am I wrong?

Our outdoor temps range from -30 to 110 so pretty tough to say what temps I will be using it at, but rest assured... if its that damn hot or that damn cold... I am not likely going to be messing around outside. I would say 0-80 would be a better typical temp range for my cooks and the cold weather cooks will likely be sausages at the lower temps. the only time I expect to be loading this up with 225 plus temp meats will be spring summer and fall.

daveomak · May 17, 2017

The more meat you add, the more thermal mass will be in the smoker... Longer to heat up etc... more wattage or BTU's is not necessarily a good thing... Unless you are trying to char the surface of a steak...

Not knowing what your thoughts or process will be, smoked meats are done low and slow... not over drying the exterior....

If you are more inclined to BBQ your products, I'm the wrong guy to talk to...

jimmyinsd · May 17, 2017

DaveOmak said:
The more meat you add, the more thermal mass will be in the smoker... Longer to heat up etc... more wattage or BTU's is not necessarily a good thing... Unless you are trying to char the surface of a steak...

Not knowing what your thoughts or process will be, smoked meats are done low and slow... not over drying the exterior....

If you are more inclined to BBQ your products, I'm the wrong guy to talk to...

yeah, I am looking to do both in this smoke house. its primary use will be for hanging suasage and poultry, but when I need to cook for a larger crowd i thought it would be nice to be able to put about 20 racks of ribs in there and run them at about 240 or so.

jimmyinsd · May 17, 2017

DaveOmak said:
Cement products hold moisture and have to be "dried" out...   but... it has thermal mass and hold heat.....

Metal is what it is... Good fire protection...   if you put metal in, keep the bottom edge about 1" off of the floor so there is air flow to cool it and keep the wood cool....   It cleans easily...

If you put cement board on the floor, I've seen the floor char from a propane burner where the cement transferred the heat to the wood floor... It too should be elevated so there is an air gap.....

Personal preference which product to use....

I have 1 smokehouse that is lined with cement board.. takes forever to heat up..   There's probably 100#'s of board in it...

how long has your house with the cement board in it lasted? have you seen any degradation of the product itself or had any physical issues with it other than what you have stated about the longer warm up times?

HalfSmoked · May 17, 2017

I posted a thread a couple weeks ago on small smoke house build stating that the plans are coming out in July issue of wood magazine I'm waiting to see what they lined it with. They do have a large burner in it seen picture in current issue but no plans.

Waiting to see your build.

Warren

daveomak · May 17, 2017

JimmyinSD said:
DaveOmak said:

Cement products hold moisture and have to be "dried" out...   but... it has thermal mass and hold heat.....

Metal is what it is... Good fire protection...   if you put metal in, keep the bottom edge about 1" off of the floor so there is air flow to cool it and keep the wood cool....   It cleans easily...

If you put cement board on the floor, I've seen the floor char from a propane burner where the cement transferred the heat to the wood floor... It too should be elevated so there is an air gap.....

Personal preference which product to use....

I have 1 smokehouse that is lined with cement board.. takes forever to heat up..   There's probably 100#'s of board in it...

Click to expand...

how long has your house with the cement board in it lasted? have you seen any degradation of the product itself or had any physical issues with it other than what you have stated about the longer warm up times?

It's been in use about 20 years.. No degradation... It just turns black with smoke...

jimmyinsd · May 17, 2017

DaveOmak said:
It's been in use about 20 years.. No degradation... It just turns black with smoke...

my favorite way to add color.

thats what I was wondering about. Thanks Dave!

daveomak · May 17, 2017

HalfSmoked · May 18, 2017

There is a fiberglass board 1/4" thick and comes in 4 x 8 sheets that is used in commercial kitchens as wall covering its white in color but its washable not sure how this would hold up in heat but it could be something to check into.

Warren

jimmyinsd · May 18, 2017

HalfSmoked said:
There is a fiberglass board 1/4" thick and comes in 4 x 8 sheets that is used in commercial kitchens as wall covering its white in color but its washable not sure how this would hold up in heat but it could be something to check into.

Warren

Thanks for the tip, but since I will be cutting it, I would be afraid of the exposed edges coming apart. I know that fiberglass is used in some high temp applications for water piping so its thermally up for the job, but I do worry about it once its integrity has been compromised. I am thinking that I will stick with the plan of the 1/2" cement board... the extra weight will keep it from blowing over in these high prairie winds we get up here.

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