How to fold a fireplace?

Fireplaces and stoves today are no longer essential for heating a house, but nevertheless remain as popular and in demand. This is due to the fact that they can not only be an additional source of heat, but also a rather original and stylish decorative element, which creates an atmosphere of comfort in the interior of the room. In order to erect such a structure at home, you do not have to contact special firms. The most important thing is to have a desire, but our experts will tell you how to lay down the fireplace yourself.

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How to fold a fireplace design with your own hands?

A fireplace is a simple type of stove that has an open firebox. Designed mainly for heating small rooms, as it has a low heat transfer, about 10-25%. Therefore, if you decide to fold the fireplace with your own hands, you must strictly adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

• Choosing a model of a fireplace design and its location;
• Selection and acquisition of necessary materials and tools;
• Masonry fireplace;
• Decorative finish.

If you miss something or treat these steps irresponsibly, you may experience unwanted moments, such as:

• Smoke in the room;
• Lack of traction;
• Increased load on the foundation of the building;
• Inconsistency of the sizes and shapes of the fireplace design with the interior;
• Violation of fire safety rules.

Important! The fundamental point is the selection of the future location of the fireplace. It is from him that you will proceed from the choice of the model and the required amount of materials.

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Choose a place and make calculations

The correct choice of the future location of the fireplace structure in the room is of great importance, respectively - it affects not only the economy of living space, but also the heating efficiency. Therefore, the choice of model entirely depends on the personal preferences of the owner of the house and the features of the layout.

Important! If you already have a chimney in your house, then it is best to tie the construction of this heating structure to this place. Otherwise, you will have to build a chimney and take it outside through a roof or wall.

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The main models of fireplaces

Once you have decided on the place, you can proceed directly to the choice of model design. Today, there are only five main types of fireplaces. Next, we will consider each of them in more detail.

Important! If you have the experience of a stove-maker and the appropriate place, you can easily choose any of the five types offered. Otherwise, try to pick up a simpler ordering scheme and do not immediately take on complex options.

Attached

This is the most popular model. It can have both a very simple and more complex ordering scheme with additional functions. This kind of fireplace is erected next to the wall, and the chimney is displayed on the street, passing through the roof.

Important! This model may have a brick or cast iron firebox, as well as various decorative exterior finishes.

Built in

It differs from the first in that the room contains only a portal and a firebox of a structure.The chimney, in turn, is built into the wall or attached to it from the outside.

Important! The ordinal scheme in this case is complicated due to the fact that the chimney must be removed to the rear of the furnace.

This model can be equipped with a metal firebox and composed of refractory silicate brick. The best option for decorative finishes in this case is natural stone, which will add elegance and solidity to the structure.

Standing separately

He does not touch any of the walls. Install it in such a way that its back surface is free.

Important! You can use the back surface of a free-standing fireplace and hang on it any additional decorative element, for example, a photo frame or a shelf.

Design Features:

• The advantage of this structure is that it can be walked around, respectively - heat transfer will occur in the same way.
• The only drawback of this model is its bulkiness, so the installation should be carried out in rooms with a rather large area, where it will bring exclusivity and monumentality.
• Decorate such a fireplace with a wild stone.
• In this case, the furnace is left open and laid out with heat-resistant brick.

Double sided

Such fireplaces are conventionally divided into two types - with two or one through firebox. They can stand both in the middle of the room, and adjoin the end face to the wall:

• In the version with two fire chambers, the fireplace design can be built into the wall, and the fire chambers themselves can have access to different rooms, while being connected to one chimney.
• If there is one firebox in the structure, then doors made of heat-resistant glass are installed on both sides.

Important! This design is quite complex, so it is better for inexperienced masters not to take it.

Angular

This is a fairly compact model and is suitable for installation even in small rooms, as it occupies a small area and has a neat shape. A device of this design is similar to that in the attached version. The difference lies only in different forms and adjoining one or two surfaces.

Important! In corner fireplaces, metal fire chambers and chimneys are most often installed.

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We calculate the parameters of the fireplace design:

• As for the correct calculation of sizes, you need to take into account the fact that the area of ​​the furnace portal should be related to the total area of ​​the room in a ratio of 1:50. For example, if the area of ​​the house is 20 square meters, then the best solution would be a fireplace design with a portal of 0.4 square meters.

Important! When calculating, be very careful, as determining the area of ​​the furnace portal is fundamental for further work.

• In order for the heat transfer to be complete, the depth of the chamber should not be too large. If on the contrary, then smoke will enter the room. Therefore, you must find a “middle ground”. The depth of the furnace should relate to the height of the portal in a ratio of 1: 2.

Important! A valid option in this case may be a ratio of 2: 3.

• Next, calculate the cross-sectional area of ​​the smoke hole. It should be directly proportional to the bottom of the furnace and be smaller than it, about once every 10.

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A bit about design and schematics

Having decided on the size, you need to draw up drawings of the facade, taking into account the size of the future fireplace. This is necessary so that you can have a general idea of ​​the appearance of the structure.

Important! It will greatly facilitate the task set for you to perform layered drawings of masonry. Special designations are best used, and the numbers are numbered.

If you have decided on the model and parameters of the future structure, you need to purchase the necessary materials. Therefore, in order for your design to carry not only a decorative function, but also last a fairly long time, you should approach the choice of brick with all responsibility.

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Choose a brick for masonry

As in previous times, stoves are still laid out with bricks. It is used exclusively for the outside of the structure. Since we are talking about the calculation of the facade, this building material should be:

• Without various deformations;
• Do not have cracks and potholes;
• Have the right shape.

As for the interior decoration, it is made from a special refractory quartz or fireclay building material.

Important! Hollow brick is used exclusively for decorative cladding or masonry pipe head part.

Also, when choosing a brick for building a fireplace structure, you should pay attention to ensuring that it meets the following requirements:

• Brick must have a brand no lower than M200. Such a material has high strength and has a proper appearance, which will save on additional decorative finishes.
• Immediately purchase all the quantity you need.
• Make sure that the brick in the store is given to you by one manufacturer and a batch. Otherwise, it may have different characteristics.
• Evaluate the appearance and integrity of the product.

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Necessary tools and materials

In order to fold the fireplace with your own hands, in addition to the correctly selected brick, you still need the following inventory:

• River sand;

Important! Pay attention to the fact that the sand has been completely cleaned, and the granularity is within the normal range (0.2-1.5 millimeters).

• Crushed stone (its size should be 2-6 centimeters);
• Blue cambrian or red clay;
• Cement;
• Fittings;
• Smoke damper;
• Pickaxe
• Sledgehammer;
• Hammer;
• Grater;
• Ironer;
• Level;
• Master OK;
• Jigsaw;
• Roulette;
• Cord;
• Square;
• Nippers;
• Nozzle;
• Bulgarian;
• Stove range;
• Sponges.

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The main stages of masonry

If you decide to lay down the fireplace yourself, before you start directly to work, you need to carefully study the masonry-ordering scheme. And after that, with confidence, proceed to the construction of the foundation.

Stage 1. Preparation of the basis

In order for the finished fireplace design to be solid and not to collapse, it is necessary to erect a foundation. It will provide this building with high stability.

Important! The foundation is erected only if the walls of the room are not made of reinforced concrete slabs.

Also, newcomers to the fireplace business need to know that you can not connect the foundation of the house with the base of the fireplace design.

To conduct the preparation and construction of the foundation, the following algorithm of actions should be followed:

• At the very beginning of the work, it is necessary to dig a pit, a depth of about 50-60 centimeters.

Important! The foundation pit should be 10-15 centimeters below the fireplace projection.

• At the bottom of the pit, pour a layer of rubble and tamp it well.
• Install the formwork.

Important! The formwork should be 5-6 centimeters below the floor.

• Next, lay the rubble stone in the finished formwork in layers, pouring it with cement-sand mortar.

Important! Pay attention to the fact that the cement mortar has a creamy consistency.

• When the base is ready, it must be covered with plastic wrap and left for some time until completely dry. Basically, it takes about - 8 days.

Stage 2. Ordering

At this stage, using the ordering scheme, the brickwork is directly laid:

• Cover the base with two layers of thermal insulation.
• Next is the laying of the basement row. In order for it to be higher than the floor level, it is necessary to put a brick with an edge. Further, the entire masonry will go flat.

Important! In order for the adhesion of the brick to the cement mortar to be better, the brick should be placed in water for several minutes before laying.

• After that, the masonry of the furnace part is made. You need to lay 2-3 rows of ordinary red brick, and then replace it with a special refractory one.

Important! If the furnace part is laid out only with red brick, then the finished structure will simply fall apart.

In order that the walls do not heat up, when laying the firebox, a distance of about 3-5 millimeters should be left between the surfaces.

Important! It is better not to use metal arched lintels, as they will melt and deform the structure.

Stage 3. Laying out the fireplace vault:

• Arched and beam bridges are mainly laid flat on the formwork.
• As for the device of wedge-shaped floors, in this case the bricks are placed on the edge.
• The width of the seams should vary at the bottom about 3-4 millimeters, and at the top - 25-30.
• The layout of the jumper starts simultaneously on both sides.

Important! The central brick is laid in the last place, and should be located exactly in the middle.

Stage 4. Facing

Unfortunately, it is not always possible the first time to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance of a finished fireplace design. This may be due to uneven seams or poorly laid bricks. Therefore, in this case, the lining of the finished structure will be most welcome.

For these purposes, most often use:

• Tiles;
• Fake diamond;
• Natural stone;
• Ceramic tiles.

Important! Also, you can simply paint or plaster the surface of the fireplace. In this case, it all depends solely on the interior of the room and your taste preferences.

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Useful recommendations:

• Try to use ready-made schemes, and not build them yourself.
• When designing a fireplace, if its design allows, focus on the installation of additional shelves or firewood. They will give the finished building a more aesthetic look.
• Always use only high-quality solid bricks.

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Stock footage

As you can see, folding a fireplace at home is a fairly simple process. The most important thing is to act clearly according to the scheme of your chosen model and adhere to the above recommendations of our experts. Thus, you fold the fireplace with your own hands efficiently and in minimal time.