How to make a fireplace in a private house with your own hands - all the nuances and step-by-step instructions with photos

In this article you will learn how to properly make a fireplace in your home, and detailed instructions and rules will help you effectively allocate time and the family budget.

A little about designs

It is worth noting right away that you cannot expect maximum heat transfer from a fireplace. Unlike a stove, it does not heat so much that there is enough heat to heat the entire building. Therefore, owners must be aware of this point and take additional measures for heating. This device will rather perform the decorating part; without it, the house sometimes seems empty.

Modern technologies and materials make it possible to recreate even the most seemingly complex ideas. Before giving preference to a particular option, it is advisable to clarify all its nuances and features.

The most relevant is the option with a closed firebox. The heat will remain inside the room, using convection heating technology.

There are two main types:

1. Open type building.
2. Closed type heater - suitable for multi-apartment panel buildings.

The first option remains in demand, as it will not only preserve heat, but will also complement the design of the room.

An equally important question remains what it will work from. If there is a gas connection, then the transfer of the system will need to be discussed with the local administration. If it is wood-fired, then you should make sure that it is delivered before the onset of cold weather. In rare cases, coal is used; efficiency and convenience are a big question.

If we consider gas, there are several positive features:

1. Its use will not be as expensive as it might seem. Silence.
2. Quick kindling.

Additionally, there is an electric fireplace. One of the main advantages is accessibility.

In the last few years, “eco-hearth” has become popular. The main feature is that there is no need for a chimney. This is a compact stand, a worthy addition to the main heating.

Which option to choose, everyone decides for himself. If the house is ready and there is no desire to start renovation work again, then electric and “eco” options are considered as an alternative.

Choosing a location method

The arrangement of the fireplace plays a key role in the assembly and successful operation of the heating device. However, what is equally important is what type of location the stove will have in the interior.

Main placement methods:

1. Wall-mounted fireplaces are massive. To assemble such a structure you will need a fairly large amount of materials and cladding. This option is convenient to place, has a good viewing angle, and several people can sit near it at once. The advantages also include high efficiency and good, productive operation. The portal is symmetrical; the facade part is most often assembled in a U-shaped shape. A fireplace, for which both standard and refractory bricks are used, in a wall location has a chimney that is covered with bricks up to the ceiling;
2. If the room chosen for installation does not have a large area, we recommend installing a corner fireplace in it. This option, with a fairly good viewing angle, is small in size. The arrangement of a corner type oven does not require a large amount of brick. In this case, only the facade part will need to be clad, since the role of the sidewalls is played directly by the walls or partitions of the room themselves. Despite its small size, the corner hearth has a fairly high power and is suitable for heating rooms with an area of ​​15-35 square meters;
3. The design of an island-type furnace is difficult to construct. To build such a structure will require a lot of time, large investments and experience. An island fireplace is installed in the center of the room and is not adjacent to walls or other ceilings. The portal can be equipped with small walls and a firewood rack. To remove smoke and combustion products from the room, the stove is supplemented with a suspended exhaust system or, in other words, a chimney. The base usually has a classic square or rectangular shape (profile). Structures of round, triangular, multifaceted shapes are more difficult to construct. Particularly popular are designs consisting of several levels. For additional functionality, you can equip the portal with a tabletop or mantelpiece.

The fireplace, the dimensions of which are selected individually, can be installed not only in the house, but also outside, in a gazebo. Such outdoor and garden barbecues and barbecues can be located either completely separately or built into gazebos and verandas. The advantages of such structures include the ability to make them quite large and bulky. This way you can add many different elements to the grill.

Due to their large dimensions, outdoor and garden stoves are heavy and require the construction of a solid concrete foundation. This will prevent the structure from sinking underground or losing its stability over time.

A barbecue or barbecue oven project also requires an individual approach, careful selection of placement and functionality. If you plan to combine an outdoor fireplace with a gazebo or veranda, you should not use only brick for construction, as it is very expensive. The materials most often chosen for gazebos are: plastic, metal profiles, wood, fire-resistant plastic. The stove itself, columns, various partitions, small walls, and the area near the combustion compartment are assembled from bricks.

How an open fireplace works

Real open hearths are the most effective and beautiful option. The main advantage is naturalness. They create a unique atmosphere that is so lacking in everyday life. This is the case when you can come after a difficult day, sit in a comfortable chair and enjoy the crackling of the fire. As a result, all the invested money and effort will definitely pay off.

A fireplace in your home, for example, as in the photo above, will help you highlight a number of important aspects. You also need to pay attention to the prefabricated component. What does the structure consist of:

1. The firebox is where the fuel burns.
2. Portal – acts as a decorative part.
3. The hearth is an additional element located at the bottom of the portal itself.
4. Grates – support the burning fuel.
5. Ash pan - necessary for collecting ash.
6. Pre-furnace area - it is important to remember that sparks and small particles will fall, violating the fire safety of the building.
7. Mirror – reflects heat and light.
8. Smoke cornice - the house will not be filled with smoke.
9. Hailo - serves to collect decay products.
10. The neck and the chimney itself.
11. Damper - protects the chimney from the penetration of air currents from the street.

This information must be recorded as it will be needed to check the drawing.

Decoration of the fireplace room

Specialized interior design specialists recommend using pastel colors and shades when decorating the interior of the fireplace room. An abundance of light and properly installed additional local lighting will visually expand the space of the living room with a fireplace.

You should be aware that in the modern world, a fireplace is an object that determines the style of interior design. It attracts attention with the beautiful decoration of the portal and its living, warming flame.

Wealthy owners of country houses place figures of knights in steel armor in a place of honor near the fireplace, trying to create an atmosphere of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Large window openings are decorated with heavy curtains made of thick natural fabric.

An interesting concept for the design of the fireplace room is the walls trimmed with white oak and stools covered with natural leather. The walls can be decorated with paintings of natural landscapes in expensive frames. All decorative items should express the general design style of the fireplace room.

Calculation of the size of the fireplace structure

One of the difficult aspects is drawing up an estimate. After all, the functioning of the hearth and the aesthetic side of the issue will depend on its correctness. Rigorous engineering calculations should be a major addition to the owners' imagination.

Things to consider:

1. Height.
2. Chimney section.
3. The size of the overall structure.

If we are talking about brickwork:

1. The firebox area is calculated relative to the size of the entire room where the real fireplace will be located. Usually the standard proportion is 1 to 50.
2. Additionally, you need to calculate the proportion of the portal. This part is responsible for the decorating component of the process.
3. The depth of the firebox is determined. This largely depends on the raw materials used.
4. The podium is a protection that is installed at least 50 cm.
5. The back wall should have a slope of 20-25 degrees.
6. The side walls also have a deviation of 45-60 degrees.
7. The chimney is installed at least 50 cm from the roof ridge.
8. The length of the pipe is 5-6 meters depending on the height of the building walls.

The easiest way to do everything right is to entrust the work to specialists, having additionally studied the proposed options. This will significantly speed up the layout process and will allow you to avoid the mistakes that are so often made by non-professionals. There are several reasonable reasons:

1. If you make a mistake with the calculation of the chimney, there is a high probability of air getting in from the outside. This threatens to fill the entire room with smoke. The hearth will have to be dismantled again.
2. Without special skills, it will take a very long time to draw up your own instructions.

Before making a plan, it is worth finding the right place in the house.

Construction technology

The procedure for preparing and laying a fireplace with your own hands is proposed to be divided into stages:

1. Selection and purchase of building materials.
2. Preparing a set of tools.
3. Foundation construction.
4. Brickwork of the stove body and chimney.
5. Drying and initial kindling.

Let's look at each item on the list in detail, then present specific projects and procedures available to novice stove makers.

An interesting version of the fireplace stove, where 2 fireboxes are combined - open and closed

Choosing brick and mortar

Select stove bricks taking into account the following requirements:

• for the main masonry, take solid ceramic (red) brick of standard size 250 x 120 x 65 mm, hollow marks are not suitable;
• the walls of the firebox are lined with fireclay (fireproof) stones of the Sh, ShA or ShB grades;
• instead of refractory brick, it is allowed to use solid clay brick, carefully selected for quality - without cracks, chips and other defects;
• the body of the fireplace may be made of used ceramic bricks, provided that the stones have retained their strength and are not saturated with dampness or cracked;
• if your budget allows, buy a shaped brick with rounded edges, shown in the photo.

Note. The brand of fireclay stones is precisely indicated in the design of the fireplace. Specify the number and shape of hewn bricks in accordance with the diagrams - orders.

The simplest way to make high-quality masonry mortar is to buy a ready-made clay-sand mixture in the store, intended for stoves and fireplaces. A similar product is commercially available for fireproof masonry - fireclay clay and mortar.

If you are following the path of total savings, make the solution yourself:

1. From natural clay, remove soil impurities and foreign inclusions - stones, roots and plant stems.
2. Pour the material into a large container and fill it with water. Soaking lasts for 2 days.

3. Adding water, bring the mixture to the consistency of cream and pass the clay through a sieve. The goal is to remove all extraneous inclusions.
4. Add dry sand to the clay solution, passed through a sieve with mesh sizes of 1.5 x 1.5 mm. By stirring the composition, achieve optimal fat content.

The solution is considered suitable for use if the “sausage” rolled out of it with a diameter of 10-15 mm does not crack or crumble when wound onto a wooden stick Ø4-5 cm.

Reference. The finished clay-sand solution is stored indefinitely. If the composition has time to dry before use, it is enough to dilute it again with water.

Methods for testing the mortar by squeezing, tearing and twisting strands onto a round handle.
Purely clay mortar is not suitable for laying the base and installing a chimney - you need to add lime or cement. Therefore, to build a fireplace, prepare additional building materials:

• Portland cement M400;
• sand;
• roofing felt for waterproofing;
• felt (can be used), roofing iron;
• broken stones of any origin;
• boards or panels for formwork;
• polyethylene film (used, but without holes);
• steel knitting wire;
• asbestos cord.

Advice. Instead of felt, basalt cardboard is successfully used.

Ready-made masonry mixtures for stoves and fireplaces
Of course, to build a fireplace you will need stove fittings - doors, valves, and so on. The exact quantity and dimensions are listed in the project. To form the portal arch you will also need metal corners or fittings. In order not to plaster and decorate the finished hearth, purchase special fire-resistant enamel.

Preparing the stove maker's tools

The complete set of tools used by furnace craftsmen is shown in the picture. But since the average homeowner does not have all the devices depicted, we will give a list of tools that you cannot do without when building a fireplace:

• pick;
• hammer (preferably rubber);
• construction level, tape measure;
• square, cord and plumb line;
• wide brush;
• Master OK;
• pliers;
• ruler and scriber - a pointed metal rod.

A beginner who is not trained in the techniques of hewing and splitting bricks will make a lot of defects and spoil a lot of material while he gets used to the work. Hence the advice: cut stones with a grinder equipped with a concrete wheel. To reduce dust, go outside or into another room.

In addition to the listed devices, you will need a bucket and thick cloth for wiping the brick walls. A small spatula or metal dustpan and broom will also come in handy.

Laying a strong foundation

How to properly make a fireplace base is described in detail in another step-by-step instruction on the construction of a stove. Let us briefly outline the stages of work:

1. Digging and removing soil from a pit whose dimensions are 10 cm wider than the dimensions of the future hearth. The depth depends on the location of stable soil layers, but not less than 0.5 m.
2. Filling the hole with rubble stone, strengthening it with liquid clay or lime mortar.
3. Laying 2 waterproofing layers of roofing felt.
4. Installation of formwork, pouring a reinforced concrete slab 15-20 cm thick.
5. After 4 weeks (complete hardening of the concrete), laying felt soaked in liquid clay and erecting 2 continuous rows of ceramic bricks.

Note. Instead of a reinforced concrete slab, you can use brickwork with cement mortar, ending at the level of the finished floor. In this case, the rubble foundation can be loaded much earlier - after 7-10 days.

The foundation of the fireplace being laid is a completely independent structure, not connected with the foundation of a private house. The minimum distance between them is 50 mm, but it is better to maintain 10 cm. Treat the accessible side surfaces of the foundation with bitumen for waterproofing.

A polyethylene film is laid over the backfill and formwork so that the liquid concrete does not lose cement laitance. Felt soaked in clay is laid on the finished slab, as shown in the diagram. The first two rows of stones are considered zero and are not reflected in the order of the fireplace; their task is to protect the felt pad from high temperature. For more information about the technology of laying a reinforced concrete foundation, watch the video:

Instructions for fireplace laying

Before laying out the fireplace, select the best brick for the firebox, clean used stones from soot, dirt and adhering old mortar. When ready, proceed to the important stage - laying the first row. The technology looks like this step by step:

1. Stepping back 5 cm from the edge of the foundation, assemble the first tier of bricks dry. Install the outer beautiful stones first, then fill in the middle.
2. Using a square and a wooden plank, align the bricks along the line, maintaining 90° angles.
3. Measure the length of the diagonals with a tape measure. The maximum permissible discrepancy is 5 mm.
4. Place all the stones on the mortar, controlling the horizontal level.

The next rows are laid out in the same way - forming the model dry, adjusting and trimming the stones, placing it on the solution. The verticality and horizontality of the masonry is constantly controlled using a plumb line and a building level.

Advice for beginners. There is a simple trick to ensure the verticality of the fireplace masonry. After forming the first two rows, use a plumb line to project the corner points on the ceiling and hammer nails or dowels there. Tie cords with weights to them, which will serve as markers for the dimensions of the fireplace. Instead of twines, you can use iron corners installed vertically, then leveling the masonry will become much easier.

When constructing the walls of the fireplace, be sure to follow the following rules:

1. Before laying, immerse the red brick in a bucket of water for 2-3 minutes - air bubbles will come out of the pores. Fireproof stones do not need to be soaked, just rinse off any dust.
2. The maximum seam thickness is 5 mm. Press the brick against the adjacent stones while leveling and removing excess mortar from the sides with a trowel.

3. The walls of the gas channels must be smooth. Turn the bricks with an even edge inside the flue, and every 3-4 rows wipe the inside of the masonry with a wet rag.
4. Before laying a smoke collector with a chimney tooth and inclined walls, where a lot of trimming needs to be done, lay out the model of the element dry. This will allow you to accurately fit the sawn bricks.
5. Do not connect fireclay and ceramic masonry, which have different coefficients of thermal expansion. Provide a gap of 3-5 mm where sheets of basalt cardboard are inserted.

6. Before installation, wrap fireplace doors with asbestos cord at the points of contact with the wall. Fix the elements with knitting wire, aligning them vertically and horizontally.
7. Place the valve on the clay solution - you need to open the valve and apply it to the frame.

The ceiling is made of steel angles supported on the walls of the portal. The top row of stones is laid on the rolled metal without mortar, only the side seams are filled. Semicircular arched vaults are formed using special wooden templates - circles, shown in the photo.

The circle can be made from plywood or wood of any quality, but the shape of the support must be clearly adjusted

When installing a chimney pipe, change the recipe for preparing the solution - add cement instead of clay. The ratio of binder to sand is 1:4, density is average. The wooden floor of the house is cut to provide a fire safety clearance of 38 cm from the smoke duct to combustible structures (see diagram).

A thickening of the pipe is made above the roof surface - an otter, covering the junction of the roofing covering with the brickwork. At the end, a closed-type head is formed to prevent precipitation from getting inside the fireplace.

For stoves and fireplaces, the fire rules are the same - the distance between the smoke duct and the wooden ceiling must be at least 380 mm (one and a half bricks)

Drying and first kindling

The sand-clay solution does not harden, but dries. The drying process takes 10-14 days, during which observation is carried out. Small cracks that appear in the fireplace masonry are sealed with the same clay mortar. At the end of the specified period, do a test fire:

1. Having opened the valve, light a small armful of brushwood and wood chips on the hearth.
2. Gradually add small firewood, maintaining low heat. This will allow the solution to dry completely.
3. If after 3-4 hours no cracks have formed in the body of the fireplace, you can increase the portion of firewood. Take your time and first make sure that the walls of the fireplace are warmed up.

Advice. Due to an air lock in the chimney, there may initially be no draft. The pipe needs to be heated using a torch or a small fire lit on a view.

For techniques for making fireplace masonry, see the following video:

Place for a fireplace

The choice most often depends on the preferences of the owners. If the hearth should serve a decorative function or support a lounge area, then it is best to make it in a visible place. One of the options for placing a fireplace in a private house is in the photo below:

One of the most common options is a corner design. It is convenient because it does not take up much space and preserves the integrity of the structure.

The most difficult thing will be to install the structure in the middle of the room. It is worth highlighting several important points:

1. You will need 3 times more material.
2. You won't be able to cope on your own. In any case, you will have to invite a master.
3. The integrity of the entire building may be affected.

When we make a fireplace, we need to start from the wall partition. Therefore, if you want to install it in the middle, you can consider ready-made examples and study information on thematic forums. The owners are always ready to share with all the difficulties they had to face.

With factory firebox

If there are metal stoves, then why not metal fireplaces? And they are. Fireplace inserts are made from complex alloys - organosilicon, composite and special. The processes occurring in the fireplace insert are simulated by special programs, which is why the efficiency of these heating devices is high and the complexity of installation is average. Another advantage is that you can connect a regular metal chimney.

Another nice point: the weight of the firebox is about 100 kg. If the finish weighs a little, you can place such a fireplace on a reinforced concrete slab. If you want natural stone, you will have to make a foundation for the fireplace.

When installing a fireplace with a firebox, you must comply with a number of requirements:

• the walls near which the heating device will be mounted must be covered with non-flammable materials and thermal insulation with a reflective layer;
• the distance from the firebox to the wall is at least 10 cm, to the insulation - less than 5 cm;
• The ash pan should facilitate cleaning, and its inlet should be located as close as possible to the firebox;
• the chimney must correspond to the parameters of the firebox;
• chimney joints are sealed with high-temperature sealant;
• the gap between the firebox wall and the lining must be at least 1 cm;

See the video for the principle and procedure for installing a fireplace insert.

Style and design

After the calculation has been completed, you can move on to the aesthetic side of the issue. The photos presented in the article show what the future project might look like. Separately, it is worth examining the features of a particular interior.

Classic

This is the simplest option, which is usually made of stone, brick or cast iron frame. A real fire will burn in it, which is not very good for an apartment, but ideal for a private house.

Speaking about the second option, no conclusions or approvals are needed.

Russian

If the building is decorated according to all folk traditions, then this option will look appropriate. In this case, attention should be paid to the painting itself, because there are many nuances in the Slavic movement.

Rustic

Despite the history of this name, preparation and installation will not take much time. In simple words, this is a small structure that can be installed in any part of the building.

It looks like a massive grill and is installed as a free-standing structure. One of the simplest solutions.

Modern

If the house is decorated in high-tech, loft and minimalist style, installation will be a good solution. No additional abilities or skills are needed. The main thing is to keep the calculations and lines clear. For refining, you can use special glass or artificial stone.

Operating principle

Operating principle
The operating principle of a wood-burning fireplace for heating a home is quite simple to understand.

Dry wood, when burned, releases a lot of heat, which heats up the brick (stone).

He, in turn, having the ability to remain hot for a long time, shares heat gradually, over a long period of time, supplying the room with it.

The devices look different, but the irreplaceable parts, chimney and firebox, are available in any model. How to make your furnace more efficient?

A good working fireplace, with high efficiency, should be:

• not too deep and wide enough;
• To increase the efficiency factor, special heat shields are added to the design. Their role is played by massive parts that release a large amount of heat when heated:
• The masonry of a fireplace stove for a home is specially made with protrusions and irregularities, which increase the area of ​​the heated surface, and, accordingly, heat transfer.

No matter how good a fireplace in a country house is, built with your own hands, it is only additional heating - in our climate it is not easy for everyone to do without a central system.

Necessary tools and components

Every home owner has most of the equipment for construction. You can only purchase additional sources that will be needed when laying bricks and finishing work. Instructions on how to build a fireplace in a private home can be found below. What must-haves according to professionals:

1. Level – without it you shouldn’t even start construction. With this ruler, deviations and unevenness can be measured correctly.
2. Master OK.
3. Several buckets.
4. Roulette.
5. Hammer.
6. Ironing iron.
7. Several spatulas.

Regarding the material:

1. Refractory bricks – having an estimate in hand, you can immediately order the required quantity. By the way, it’s worth taking 5% more.
2. Cement.
3. Crushed stone.
4. Fittings.
5. Ruberoid.
6. Quarry sand (preferably cleaned).
7. Clay.

Having a basic set of the above components, you can assemble a decent option for a private home.

Getting permission

A little about whether to order a fireplace installation from a company or do it yourself. This is not just about the technical side of the issue. Usually, difficulties arise long before this - even during the preparation of documents. Firefighters really don’t like to give permission for fireplaces. And permits are required when installing a fireplace in any residential premises. The difficulty is that there is no legislative framework that would prescribe installation rules. There is a similar document for stoves, but not for fireplaces. But there is a phrase in SNiP 2.04.05-91 (on the design of heating and cooking stoves) that the installation of heating devices with an open firebox is prohibited in any residential premises. From this point of view, you are lucky if you plan to make a fireplace at a dacha located in a holiday village - it is not considered a residential premises.

As often happens, there is another document (MGSN 3.01-96), which in Moscow allows the installation of fireplaces on the top floors if there is only one owner. So in the capital, there is a chance to get permission, although not everyone has it.

There is also a loophole for residents of old brick Stalin buildings and Khrushchev buildings, in which, in addition to ventilation ducts, each apartment also has chimneys. Houses of modern construction, which also have smoke ducts, fall under the same category. In all these buildings it is allowed to install heating equipment on a flame. In general, a stove is implied, but this fact is not stated anywhere.

One of the possible options for designing a fireplace in a modern style

You can “push through” the permit by filling out the paperwork for a complex redevelopment with the transfer of heating appliances. An example is the transfer of walls, partitions, combination with a balcony or loggia. In papers, do not write about registers or central heating radiators. It is in this general formulation that heating appliances are used. In the same document you enter that you are going to install a heating device on a flame, attaching a project made in a design organization. In this case, homemade papers do not pass. There is a chance. But in general, the owners of houses and apartments will be persecuted for a long time and persistently. And don’t try to argue, otherwise you’ll never get permission. Rework everything they require. There is no other way. It will be a little easier for home owners. The logic is clear - if problems arise, you will burn yourself. They speak harshly to apartment owners, but you can still get permission.

Now, if you don’t want to deal with all this, you can order the installation of the same fireplace with a firebox from a specialized organization. Typically, they provide documentation services. They have already trodden paths, the chances are much greater. In addition, upon acceptance of your heating device, they may (and most likely will) require certificates for all materials, including bolts, screws and stove fittings. You also need to know and remember this. And with such a task, buying materials turns into a difficult quest.

Option for a brick fireplace in the corner

How to do it right

Once all the tools and materials have been collected, you can begin collecting. For inspiration, you can study photos of fireplaces for your home.

Fireplace base

To increase the strength of the structure, experts use metal corners. If the fireplace is being made in a private house, first you need to dig a hole, which will become the basis for laying the foundation. The bottom is filled with a sand mixture, including the gravel itself.

After this comes the installation of the corners themselves. The main task of the builder is to make sure that they are parallel to the room partition. Next, brick laying begins, according to the project plan.

Dimensions

As a reminder, several components of the base of the structure should be highlighted, from which the size can be derived:

• fireboxes;
• hearth;
• pre-furnace platform;
• Haila.

The portal itself can be made outside the foundation. You also need to mark the area for its installation. After all, in fact, it may turn out to be more than the owner expected.

Materials

The easiest way is to use fire bricks. It has been tested for years and more than one generation. Its cost in some regions may be slightly overestimated, but tens of months of regular use will fully pay for itself. You can find out how to make a fireplace below; there are also step-by-step instructions for beginners.

An important part remains the choice of chimney. Experts recommend choosing a design based on the raw materials that will be used for combustion. Most often, when it comes to a fireplace in a private home, people choose wood.

The operating temperature of the material from which the chimney is made must withstand up to 600 degrees. The most common options:

• Ceramic is very expensive and difficult to install; replacing failed parts will cost you a lot. This type requires a foundation.
• Brick (with a mandatory stainless steel chimney liner) - a foundation is required, cheaper than ceramic, but not the most budget-friendly solution.
• Stainless steel chimneys are easy to assemble, modular (any part can be replaced), and do not require a foundation.

The worst solution would be to choose a polymer. It is not as stable as sellers describe it. It is more suitable for a fireplace that spends most of its time decorating and operates exclusively on light decay products. This rather refers to “bio-fireplaces”.

Form

The presence of a real fireplace in the house significantly increases the cost of housing. To avoid problems with the resale of the building in the future, it is better to choose a classic form. Unlike a decorative heat source, when it comes to high temperatures, it is advisable to avoid plasterboard structures.

Colors

If you want to cover the fireplace in an unusual color, it is advisable to choose a finishing paint specially designed for high temperatures. Heat-resistant enamel can withstand up to 650 degrees.

These options are particularly durable and resistant. Pricing policy can hit your pocket.

Chimney installation

After the “body” of the fireplace is ready, you can begin creating the chimney. Its passage must correspond to the calculated value. The top of the chimney should be reliably protected from precipitation. For these purposes, you should use a wide smoke hood made of galvanized sheet metal.

There is no better material for a chimney than red ceramic brick. Here's what one of our forum participants thinks about it.

vinogradovskiyFORUMHOUSE user

The advantages of a brick chimney are considerable. It is much more difficult to achieve the formation of condensation in a brick pipe than in a sandwich - you have to try. The combustion of soot is not dangerous; the heating of the outer surface of the pipe in the attic is minimal or even completely unnoticeable. The durability of a properly laid brick pipe is many decades.

As a chimney, you can use a galvanized pipe made of heat-resistant steel. Such a chimney is made multi-layered (the result is a kind of “sandwich”), and it is covered with plasterboard on three sides.

During periods when the fireplace is inactive, any chimney becomes the cause of drafts. In order to avoid such a harmful phenomenon, special valves (gates) are installed in the chimney shaft. They open only when the firebox “comes to life”, filling the room with pleasant warmth.

The cross-sectional area of ​​the cylindrical chimney with the area of ​​the fuel portal should have a ratio of 1:10.

Particular attention should be paid to the height of the outer part of the chimney:

• if the distance from the ridge to the chimney is less than 1.5 m, then the chimney must be at least half a meter higher than the ridge;
• if the distance from the chimney to the ridge is more than 1.5 m, then the upper cut of the chimney should not be lower than the level of the ridge.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a fireplace

By following simple instructions, you can avoid a large number of critical errors.

First step

Once the foundation for the work has been prepared, you can begin laying the bricks. There are several technologies, depending on what kind of design the owner wants to achieve at the very end. Three rows are usually installed.

Second

The fourth and fifth are made for arranging the ash pit. The main thing is to act strictly according to the design instructions. Often 6-7 rows are allocated for the ash pan.

Third

Here the bottom itself is arranged. It is necessary to strictly monitor the level of wall deviation. Additionally, outside help may be needed. At this stage, the lace and formwork are installed.

Fourth

Laying is done until the 14th row is reached. Next, the walls of the firebox are formed.

Fifth

Up to the 19th row it is necessary to install a smoke collector. This is the most important stage, since any mistake can lead to dire consequences.

Sixth

Up to row 25, the owner builds the chimney system itself. In this case, you will need the trowel itself, purchased in advance from a special construction department. Everything is done by hand, so you additionally need to monitor the quality of the mixture.

Important! It should be remembered that the mortar is applied only to the middle part of the brick. Closer to the sides it should be empty. This will not only save material, but will also significantly simplify finishing in the future.

Many experts recommend numbering each unit. If you have no experience in building fireplaces, it is advisable to use this life hack. Having a ready-made drawing will significantly simplify construction.

Material of manufacture

The most popular materials for making false fireplaces are cardboard and ready-made cardboard boxes. This material holds its shape well, lasts a long time, is inexpensive, easy to use, and the finished product can be easily transferred from room to room.

For craftsmen who have understood the basic rules of creation and have become skilled in the production of simple fireplaces, you can try to make a similar creation from drywall, foam plastic, wood, or old furniture.

Finishing

The finishing coat gives the fireplace a finished look. Before learning how to make fireplaces, it is advisable to immediately decide on the end result. There are several additional methods that may be useful:

1. Plaster coating.
2. Painting – what material to choose was described earlier.
3. Facing can be done using artificial or even real stone.

Many people begin to experiment with the appearance by cutting off some parts of the brick. This not only destroys the integrity of the structure, but also defeats the purpose of the effort.

Video description

The process of preparing a pit and pouring a foundation for a fireplace is shown in the video:
The concrete must dry and gain strength, which will take 10-14 days. This time can be devoted to selecting and purchasing materials.

Selection of materials

It’s not enough to know how to properly build a brick fireplace with your own hands; you also need to do it from high-quality materials. The brick for the main masonry needs red ceramic, preferably solid. If the hearth is not intended to be faced with tiles or stones, it is better to buy facing bricks for laying the front rows. And the combustion chamber is lined with fireproof fireclay.

The exact number of each type is easy to count in order. And add 10-15% for the battle and various flaws.

Order for a wall-mounted fireplace with a metal chimney Source wp.com