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Fireplace Construction Procedures

Fireplaces are used for heating, cooking, producing a pleasant atmosphere in a home and for upgrading the value of a building. The will always be a demand for fireplaces. The need for a secondary source of heat in the home and the constant increase in the cost of burning fuels such as oil or gasoline, will insure the popularity of fireplaces long into the future.

Although there are many designs and types of fireplaces, and a wide varity of materials that can be used in their construction, most fireplaces work on the same basic principles. These principles are used to design a fireplace and to determine what method of construction should be used to construct a particular fireplace. You must understand the principles and how they affect the way in which the fireplace is constructed so that you can build a fireplace that operates efficiently and properly. (Figure 1)

A fireplace is a fuel burning combustion chamber used to heat a room. When a fire is burning in the fireplace, the cool air within the room is drawn across the burning fuel where the air is heated. Heated air expands and becomes lighter than nearby cool air. This has two important effects on the efficiency of the fireplace. The lighter, heated air rises up the chimney since it is lighter (less dense) than the cool air in the chimney. This creates a draft which removes smoke and gases from the fire. At the same time, the draft draws fresh air to the fire, supplying it with necessary oxygen. Some of the heat generated by the fire is reflected into the room by the shape of the firebox, the principal heating element in the fireplace.

The dimensions of the parts of a fireplace must be carefully designed to provide the required natural draft and to reflect heat into a room. In order to provide efficient heating and draft, the fireplace openings and the size of the fire box vary according to the size of the room. The bricklayer must construct each part of the fireplace according to its specified dimensions if the fireplace is to operate properly. Both the fireplace opening and the flue opening must be a specified size to create the required draft; the smoke chamber must also be constructed to its specified dimensions because it directly affects the draft by compressing it which, in turn, increases the speed or velocity of the draft and the removal of smoke. There are clear and definite relationships between the principles of fuel aburning heating chamber, the design of the fireplace, and the method used to construct the fireplace. Because each of these factors influences the efficiency of a fireplace, you must follow the plans and specifications, and must use acceptable trade practices and construction procedures when constructIng your fireplace.

Almost all fireplaces differ from other fireplaces in some way because an architect can specify many types of designs. A bricklayer must use different methods to construct each various type of fireplace. Most fireplaces are unique in design and construction, you must understand many methods of fireplace construction so that you can perform quality work on any fireplace assignment.
Although all fireplaces are different, they also are similar in many ways. Fireplaces have similar parts, and perform similar functions. This page describes the basic parts of a fireplace and several methods of constructing or installing the parts, and provides instruction on how to contruct a masonry fireplace.

To build a fireplaces that is efficient, economical, and safe, you must be able to:

* Read blue prints, specifications and detail drawings to obtain proper instructions on how to perform the work.

* Layout the fireplace at its specified location maintaining the required lateral and vertical clearances.

* Lay up the various parts of the fireplace in strict accordance with dimensions specified for each part and the over all dimensions of the fireplace.

* Construct a foundation for the fireplace that is separate from the rest of the building and capable of supporting the fireplace.

* Lay up the foundation walls while forming a usable ash pit in the process.

* Lay up and install the specified inner and outer hearth by using trade practices for the materials and methods specified.

* Construct a firebox with the proper opening, wall thickness, reflecting walls, and tight joints.

* Bond with the masonry units with standard or fireclay mortar, using the proper procedures for placing, aligning, and bonding units with the different types of mortar.

* Corbel the masonry units to form the smoke shelf, throat, smoke chamber, and liner support.

* Install a damper and lintel according to the manufacturer's instructions.

* Construct the chimney - use proper trade practices to install the liner, maintain clearance, place firestops, set anchors, terminate the chimney, and form a water tight cap for the chimney.

* Install a face on the fireplace so that it adds to the beauty of the room.

* Conduct a smoke test after construction has finished , before the fireplace is used, to insure a safe environment in the home.