Building A Brick Fireplace

Brick fireplaces are timeless and stand the test of time.

Building a brick fireplace. Technical notes 19a residential fireplaces details and construction rev may 1980 reissued jan. In all this fireplace required 75 firebrick for the firebox about 600 brick for the backup walls and throat 700 brick for the shell and 1 100 brick for the chimney. While photographing the article build a fireplace brick by brick with experienced mason mike mehaffey deputy editor matt millham brought the fine homebuilding video team along to capture the process of building a modern fireplace inspired by the classic rumford design. Build a fireplace brick by brick use these tips to design and create a long lasting heat throwing firebox based on the traditional rumford fireplace.

The proper construction of a masonry fireplace takes preparation to avoid costly mistakes but the payoff is. Brick fireplaces complement any home s interior decor and create a cozy inviting atmosphere in any room. Once you know what you want to build lay a concrete foundation put a layer of cinder blocks over that then build the firebox and chimney out of firebrick and use a jointer and brush to remove bubbles from the. Building your own fireplace will save you hundreds of dollars over hiring a professional and the task is easier than you might expect.

Proper detailing and construction can also contribute to the overall performance of the fireplace. On the exterior the chimney is brick and the wall is veneered with brick. Masonry fireplaces take a standard fireplace up a notch or two on the elegance scale due to the amount of work it requires and the high quality materials used to build them. This is the companion video to our recent article on building a rumford style fireplace.

Rumford fireplaces are wide tall and shallow with sides that angle in from the back and allow heat to radiate from the firebox. Flush with the wall the fireplace has a raised hearth that projects into the room. Brick masonry residential fireplaces can be made more energy efficient by providing a source of combustion and draft air drawn from the exterior of the structure. A masonry fireplace consists of a brick or stone firebox a brick or stone chimney and more often than not a wood mantel.