Building A Wood Burning Fireplace From Scratch

The fireplace opening is placed with steel frame glass door.

Building a wood burning fireplace from scratch.

A fireplace has an outer shell usually made of brick or masonry and an inner fireproof shell that holds the firebox. Build the firebox itself with nine inch refractory mortar and firebrick laid on edge. Arguably it s also the most attractive and impressive looking. Construct or add a chimney for wood burning fireplaces.

It must have a smoke shelf to reduce down draft and a flue of optimum dimensions. Beauty of the firebox is building an existing fireplace pan to build a custombuilt fireplace with two open ends to add a gas fireplace. Flush with the wall the fireplace has a raised hearth that projects into the room. 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.

150 mm of a fireplace opening. It s best to follow local building codes but you can start with these typical standards. More highend design that is that are the backup walls if you throw large parties consider on qualifying offers since its original publication in building department for combustion then disperse that cannot be a starter section an important step find an. 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.

Chimneys can weigh up to 1 5 tons. On the exterior the chimney is brick and the wall is veneered with brick. You ll also need to build a foundation to support the fireplace as well as foundation walls and an ash pit. General requirements incorporated into many building codes are.

1 all spaces between masonry fireplaces and wood or other combustible material should be firestopped by placing 1 in. To improve the smoky conditions from your existing fireplace try reducing the opening height by placing a strip of sheet metal across it. The fireplace assembly must be isolated from combustible materials. 2 in the plane parallel to the front wall of the fireplace combustible material should not be placed within 6 in.

This is the companion video to our recent article on building a rumford style fireplace. Labor rates in your city. If your foundation can t hold that weight a pro might recommend foundation work before building your fireplace. The chimney must be built to exact specifications to ensure proper draw of the smoke from the firebox.

When the average person envisions a fireplace this is the kind. Cost of building a wood burning fireplace. Lay the firebrick so that they form the front edge of the covings and meet the back inside edge of the door frame. It can cost up to 30 000 to build a wood burning fireplace from scratch.

Use the glass door frame as a template for the sizing. Building a fireplace from scratch is a complicated project and it may be best to consult an expert for assistance. If this helps you can permanently reduce the height with an attractive trim strip.