How To Build a Fireplace

Fireplace is becoming more and more popular as a way to improve the look and think of homes. There are many styles and types available that there is a fireplace design that can go with almost any decor.

There’s more peaceful and relaxing than sitting in the front room with the fire burning and embers popping. Also, there probably isn’t a single item that can be as influential to the room as a fireplace, so it’s well worth looking at the diversity of fireplace designs online in order to find the perfect fire place to suit your home and your own style.

Though there are pretty a few electric fireplaces design that is looking good, real fireplaces really stand out and make a great focal point for any room. The problem is that most of us don’t know which fireplace design will look best, or how to build an outdoor fireplace if that is what you are trying to achieve.

The fireplace has been an important component of family life beginning with sheer survival to distinguishing one’s self in terms of style and decor. You’ve more than likely been in someone’s house before where the fireplace really looks boring and rather cold in design, such as old style gas fireplaces. You’ve probably also been in a room where the fireplace sticks out like a sore thumb because the design doesn’t match to the decor of the rest of the room. That is why choosing the right fireplace design is more important than a lot of people feel.

The fireplace design should be influence by several different areas, for example the hearth, firebox and opening. The main part to effect how your fireplace design looks will be the hearth. What you see around the outside of the fireplace, for which there nonstop unique styles to choose from. The firebox is where the firewood burned, and the opening is the figure inside the hearth.

The hearth should be position flush to the floor, suspended above the floor, or sunk below, so you should consider different options. If you are on a low budget then you could go the way of not having a hearth, but just the firebox. Moreover to consider is the figure of the opening. Though the common fireplace design is rectangular, this is not the only option. Actually, if you don’t find a fireplace design idea that you like, why not have custom fireplace designs created to add a unique style to your room.

Fireplace design is influence by a number of materials. Include the stone fireplace designs, masonry, floor, brick and many other materials that can be used to create stand-out indoor and outdoor fireplace designs. All the time we are adding new fireplace design ideas, fireplace photos and designer content, so we hope you will come back regularly.

In searching for more striking and individual types of fireplaces for the modern home, designers have reached back to the most primitive eras for new ideas. From the old fire pit dug in the middle of a native hut has come the modern room-center fireplace, a circular or rectangular hearth which is hooded over but open to view on all sides. Other old European peoples, such as the Scandinavian, have contributed to the new designs in many different forms. Instead of having one open face, in what we might call the familiar, conventional fireplace, these modern units now have two, three, or four sides open in an amazing number of variations.

But with these new designs have come new problems in construction. The fact that two or more sides are open allows cross drafts to pass through the fireplace, a problem which can only be overcome by creating a stronger draft up the flue. Also, the increased area of the multi-open-ings requires an increase in the size of the throat and in the flue area.

To answer these and other problems of construction. Majestic has developed the universal Smoke Dome a combination building form, throat, and damper that assures construction free from operating com­plications. Where narrow or double dampers have proved unsatisfactory, these wide and deep units provide the proper throat area and a smooth, unobstructed dome that funnels the smoke to the flue under most adverse conditions.

The high sides of the dome, sloped to exactly engineered proportions, allow rapid laying of masonry in this important area and save hours of the mason’s time. The pivoted damper valve, operated by pull chains with "O" and "C" pendants, gives ample opening for full draft, holds at any degree of opening by means of a foolproof tension bar. and closes tightly against the flanged top when the fireplace is not in use.

In using a Majestic Smoke Dome, flue liner tiles are never placed directly above the damper opening but are offset in any of eight posi­tions, as described in the installation instructions. This provides for a smoke shelf of masonry that stops chimney downdrafts and shunts them into the updraft area.

Some basic principles of outdoor fireplace construction

Until recent years, a major handicap in building an Outdoor Fireplace was the difficulty of locating essential metal parts, such as grilles, doors, grates, and the like. Now, metal fireplace units and a wide variety of parts are manufactured by The Majestic Company, Inc., of Huntington, Indiana. Your Lumber, Building Material, or Masonry Supply Dealer will be happy to assist you in your needs for Majestic Barbecue Equip­ment. Don’t take substitutes.

With these metal units, anyone can create an attractive fireplace by using a complete unit as a building form and setting up masonry around it. in any desired design.

First essential for a good fireplace is a strong, solid foundation. In warm climates, where frost is not a factor, your fireplace can be set on a firm bed of tamped ground, cinders, or gravel. In cold climates, where deep frost occurs, your Outdoor Fireplace should be built on either a floating slab of reinforced concrete, or on a solid foundation of concrete or of brick or stones set in mortar and extending 4" or 5" or more below the frost line. You can learn the details on building a floating slab on page 56 of this booklet. For a below-frost-line foundation, see a local authority such as your building supply dealer.

Be sure to provide proper allowances for the metal parts of your fire­place to expand and contract as the result of heating and cooling. When using a Majestic Fireplace unit, this can be done by placing sheets of corrugated paper between the sides of the unit and the masonry. When the first fire is built, this corrugated paper will burn away, leaving space for expansion.

A chimney is not always necessary. If you plan to burn only charcoal in the fireplace, the three masonry walls around the metal unit are all that is required. However, if either wood or coal is the fuel to be used, the fireplace should have a chimney. It is also wise to provide the chim­ney with a cap to keep out water and possibly a screen to check flying sparks from wood fires.

It is wise to provide a means of adjusting the depth of the firegrate beneath the grill, since a charcoal fire should be placed much closer to the grill than a wood fire. In the Majestic metal units, this adjustment for charcoal or wood is provided.

Here is a truly economical block fireplace for the “do-it-yourself fan one that you can put together in a few spare hours. Every­thing you need can be purchased easily, usually from one source such as a local building supply dealer. Some dealers even feature a “kit,” in which all necessary materials, including the Majestic unit, are delivered to your yard at one low price. For details on the Model OF-48 unit, see page58. Caution: Block sizes vary in some localities be sure the blocks you get are the same as those listed here.

Before construction, lay out the blocks loose for the first course. Assemble the metal unit and set it in place to determine the cor­rect width of mortar joints to use to provide proper space for the unit.

LIST OF MATERIALS

1     Model OF-48-S Majestic Unit
39   Blocks 8″ x 8″ x 16″   (Header

or Double Corner type)

 14  Blocks 6″ x 8″ x 16″

2     Blocks 4″ x 8   x 16″

13   Blocks 2″ x8″ x 16″ (Note: It will be necessary for 3 of these to be split to 2″ x 6″ x 16″)

 4   Chimney Blocks 8″ x 12″ (16″ x 21 ” overall size)

Blocks should be fire-resistant blocks. (Plus necessary sad, gravel and concrete for foundation and mortar. “Ready-Mixed” packages and ideal and usually sized for your requirements. Ask your material supply dealer.)

Select a suitable spot for the fire­place, giving thought to the notes on “Location” given on page 53. Mark off the desired size with stakes and string. The base should be at least 62″ x 38″, and should be larger if extension be­yond the block walls is desired. Follow the directions for a float­ing slab foundation as listed on page 56.

Any websites or stores that sell unique outdoor fireplaces?

There are a lot of options for an outdoor fireplace. You can also have a choice in the material to use. You can pick up ideas from http://www.outdoorfireplaceplan.com

These designs range from multiple-use fireplaces, with chimneys attached to the house, open pit fireplace with a central flue, etc. The design would depend on how large an area you have, what the weather is like in your area, wind conditions and other environmental conditions, as well as your budget.

Some fireplace designs might necessitate a makeover of your backyard. Or you might have a great valley view or mountain view, or maybe you have a pool, these are things you should also consider and make use of to your advantage.

We purchased a brand new OUTDOOR fireplace about a year ago. When we got it we used it, it lit fine, about 3 months then the weather got warm and stopped using it til it got again cold. Now it’s cold again, we went to try to ignite it, and it wont light. We know the gas is defiantly coming out of the tank…but somehow, it’s not getting through the lines to get it to ignite? We did leave it outside in the elements the whole time because we thought since it was made for outdoors, it would be fine. Any advice?

Could be a bad regulator or a sticking safety device not letting it lite up.

I have a fireplace (wood burning) that has a little vent outside that looks like a dryer vent. Apparently it sucks in fresh air from there. Due to remodeling, I need to close this up as it won’t be outside anymore and I don’t want to move it. Is it safe to do so (I don’t care about efficiency — we live in FL and rarely use the fireplace).

yes you’re ok, they don’t work half the time, if you do uses your fp, & it want draw, just crack a window

We just moved into a new house and one wall of the living room is hideous! I already have ideas how I am going to do the brick around the fireplace. But what can I do with the wooden wall paneling and surrounding shelves? Can I paint all that? SHould the wall and the shelves be the same color?

We are planning on painting the living room a dark brown color.
Here is a pic:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e35/Sparkleyes69/Fireplace.jpg

Nice cabinets. Classic Arts & Crafts design, Don’t paint them! If the finish is too awful to strip and re-stain, at least paint them a rich brown. I’d simply cover the paneled area with drywall — pull down the paneling first or just hang the drywall over it and paint it a deep toned color. I would also face the fireplace brick surround with glazed Arts and Crafts design tiles to match the style of the cabinets.

Look at these photos for examples.

http://www.craftsmanhome.com/home-design/fireplace.html

The one at the bottom of the page shows a wall similar to yours.

Something like this would greatly increase the value of the house.

I have a project, and I would like to know how much it would cost just to have the frame of the fireplace built. That would include the wood construction of the Hearth, mantle and where the fireplace unit would sit. And just include the Chimney as a option. Thanks for the help
labor only
for a 42" fireplace, the hearth would be 5′ in length, mantle would be the same

all i can tell you is that its quite expensive. my brother in law jus built one and it cost him something over 8000 dollars and he did all the work himself.

We moved into an older house recently with a fireplace, but it has been sealed up, so it is no longer in working condition. I was wondering if anyone could maybe give me some suggestions on what to put inside the empty fireplace for decoration. Anything helps! (The fireplace has a cherry wood mantel and structured with red bricks.)

I have seen them filled with a big basket of flowers (nice fake ones) that are changed seasonally or more often.
A basket of interesting "things" would work too.
You could also get one of those folding screens that are quite beautiful and simply place it over the opening.

My fireplace is lined on the inside with some type of fake brick sheet. Just curious as to what it is and how safe it is. It is a light gray almost white color and almost looks like a brick veneer. the bottom of the fireplace appears to be made out of the same material, but without the brick design.

Probably fire brick formed to fit your fireplace. Occasionally needs to be replaced, but you’ll know it when it cracks and breaks.

My husband and I bought a 50+ year old house a little over three years ago. We have a 200 square foot addition on the back that was built improperly by a previous owner. It has a beautiful brick fireplace in it, but the rest of the room’s structure is failing because of faulty construction. So we are hiring a contractor to tear the room down to the bare concrete slab, which used to be the patio (the room was never tied in to the original house, so not much will have to be done). We are thinking of saving the fireplace and hearth though, and use it as a freestanding outdoor fireplace since it is just too nice too destroy. I think that since we are losing value on our home by having to demo the room then maybe we can at least gain some by saving the big brick fireplace. I want to build a pergola around it and the patio to maximize our yard/patio potential (with an outdoor chandalier handing down from the pergola, maybe adding some flowers and vines growing up the top). Any advice or information on what to expect when making the fireplace an outdoor one would be appreciated. Thanks!
*By the way, it is a wood-burning fireplace, with gas connection but the gas is capped off.

I think you can just tear down the badly built room and use the concrete slab as a patio once more. Without seeing this fireplace, it’s hard to say if it will need any changes. Probably not. My guess is that you can just use it as it is.

My family loves to build fires in the fireplace during the fall and winter. What are some things that you can do to to prevent your home from catching on fire? please help!

I doubt if you will set my house on fire from wherever you are – but grammar aside….

a) Use a fireplace screen (link below) or glass doors as a start. This will prevent sparks from jumping into the room and possibly starting fires.
b) Make sure that the flue (chimney) is clear and unobstructed and has been cleaned recently – a flue may look clear but creosote build-up lead to a flue-fire – very hot, very dangerous.
c) Make sure that the damper (if equipped) is open.
d) Use dry, seasoned wood. Try to avoid evergreen wood as it is rich in creosote and can lead to build-up.
e) Try to avoid birch as it is a known ‘sparker’.
f) Use a grate to hold the logs above the based of the fireplace (link below). This will help with the burn and reduce ash.

Then, use common sense. Keep flammables away from the hearth, keep pets and children away from the flames, stack your fuel away from the fire and so forth.

But the two best things you can do is use a screen/door and grate.