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Fireplace Layout

Read the plans and specifications to locate and layout the fireplace. Corners and wall lines for the fireplace should be located and marked during the process of laying out the entire building so that each member of the building, including the fireplace, can be located and dimensioned accurately. .

The bricklayer's responsibility for locating and laying out a fireplace varies from assignment to assignment, depending on what parts of the work are performed by related trades. On some assignments, bricklayers actually lay the foundation or supervise this task. In such cases, they must be able to locate the fireplace from established points such as property lines and surveyor's stakes. On other assignments, the foundation for the fireplace and the frame for the structure are in place before the bricklayer starts to work. On these assignments, the bricklayer must locate and layout the fireplace on its foundation. When the frame is in place, different procedures are used to locate and lay out an exterior and an interior fireplace. Two typical procedures are described on this page.

EXTERIOR FIREPLACE

An exterior fireplace is located outside of the building's exterior wall. Generally, an opening will be left in the building for the fireplace to head in or intersect the building, or an opening in a frame house is cut into an existing structure. The opening is braced with double studs on each side and with double headers above to ensure that the frame has adequate structural strength. Specified and constructed to receive the fireplace, the opening usually is as wide as the fireplace will be, and extends vertically from the hearth to the smoke chamber.

The bricklayer must square the butt of the fireplace (the lower and wider section of the fireplace) at the opening, and layout the face of the fireplace along the interior face of the frame wall. Locate and layout the fireplace in relation to the existing wall and wall opening.

1. Mark a line at right angle to the frame wall. (Line A.B)

Place a framing or steel square against the frame wall with the tongue on the fireplace wall line. Hold the framing square in a position that marks a 90 deg. corner, or lay it flat in this position. The blade of the square should be flush against a frame wall that has a machine cut, a 180 deg. line. Allow for clearance space at the sides. With the square in the proper position, plumb down with the 2' level at two different points along the square, and make two marks. Use a straightedge or the 4' level to extend this line for the length of the fireplace. (Figure 3.)

2. Mark a parallel line for the opposite side. (Line C.D)
Use the 4' level and the 6' ruler to mark the width of the fireplace. Use the level to keep the measurement straight, and the ruler to measure the specified width. Connecting your two marks in this way results in a line that is parallel to the first line. Extend the line for the length of the fireplace. (Figure 4.)

3. Mark the opening of the fireplace. (Line A-C)
Read the prints to determine where the face of the fireplace opening must be located. This dimension is stated frequently in terms of a given distance from the frames wall. Measure out the specified distance from the frame wall at two or more points, and then draw a straight line connecting the points. If the frame wall is not true, place the line at a distance that adjusts for variations in the frame wall dimensions. (Figure 5.)

4. Mark the rear wall of the fireplace. (Line B-D)
Use your 6' ruler to measure the length of the fireplace. Make separate measurements on both sides. Start measuring at the front line. After the two length marks are in position, draw a connecting line. The four wall lines and corners of the fireplace are now in place. (Figure 6.)

5. Make sure the corners are square.
Use a framing square and/or ruler to check each corner for square. Now is the time to make slight adjustments in the lines, to square the corners. If large adjustments are needed to sguare up the lines, this may indicate that an error has been made in marking one of the lines. Each corner should at a 90° angle. Use a 6" ruler to check the lateral dimensions and clearance. (Figure 7.)

6. Mark the wall line for the face of the fireplace. (Line E-F)
Measure out from the wall a distance equil to size of your masonry units plus 1", at two points, and make marks. Using the marks, snap a chalk line to mark the face line for your material (used as a guide). The extra inch allows for working space and variation in the frame wall. (Figure 8.)

Interoir Fireplace

Laying out an interior fireplace requires a slightly different procedure. An interior fireplace is constructed through openings that have been prepared in the floor, ceiling, and roof by workers from the other trades. You must locate and layout the fireplace so that it is centered in each of these openings and so that it is placed on the fireplace foundation properly. You do not begin work until the other tradesman responsible for constructing the openings has cut and braced the joists, headers, plates, and rafters.There are different ways of locating and laying out a fireplace depending on each individual project . Measurements taken at the opening to center the fireplace in the opening are transferred to the foundation so that the fireplace will be centered properly when it is constructed. A plumb bob, straight edge, or level can be used to transfer measurements from the opening to the foundation. MORE TO COME SOON!