DIY brick fireplace

Recommendation points

• Features of fireplace heating
• Choosing the location of the fireplace in the room
• Fireplace foundation – monolithic concrete
• Instruments
• Concreting sequence
• Fireplace
• Trumpet

The fireplace today is more of a design element in the interior. However, a properly folded fireplace will equally effectively warm the room and create a warm, cozy atmosphere with the participation of live fire. In this article, we will consider in detail the process of creating a brick fireplace with our own hands, with all the nuances and useful tips.

Features of fireplace heating

A fireplace in a modern house cannot act as the main source of heat, but it does an excellent job of drying the room, and also provides additional ventilation, and all year round. It can be used as a heating device for one- and two-room country houses.

The main part of the heat from the fireplace enters the room with infrared radiation from an open fire, as well as convectively from the walls of the firebox. The dimensions of the fireplace are selected not only on the basis of aesthetic considerations, but also the size of the room in which it is installed and must effectively warm up.

The ratio of the area of ​​the firebox opening to the area of ​​the room is 1:70; 1:80. If the volume of the room is less than 60 m³, then the area of ​​the firebox opening is taken less than 0.3 m², with a volume of 60 to 100 m³ – less than 0.5 m².

To increase the flow of heat into the room, attention is paid to the quality of the interior surfaces of the firebox. Sometimes its walls are upholstered with steel or bronze sheets. The thrust, which ensures good fuel combustion, also depends on the ratio of the dimensions of the firebox. Optimal ratio:

• 1 (depth): 0.6 (height);
• 1 (height): 0.7 (width);
• 2 (width): 1 (depth) or 3 (width): 2 (depth).

Choosing the location of the fireplace in the room

When choosing a position for the location of the fireplace, one should first of all be guided by fire safety rules, as well as predict the air flows that will occur during its operation. If you make a mistake, then the very first problem will be the occurrence of reverse draft, when, due to drafts, smoke will not enter the chimney, but vice versa inside the house.

It is impossible to place fireplaces in rooms without opening windows (transoms, vents), where the ceiling height is less than 2.2 m. When choosing the location of the fireplace, it is important to take into account the location of the elements of the roof truss structure, as well as the option of the beam ceiling – the chimney pipe must freely rise up, not touching the main structural elements. There must be a gap between the walls of the chimney and the supporting structures for arranging a fire belt made of non-combustible materials and insulation.

Fireplace foundation – monolithic concrete

A fireplace, like a classic wood-burning stove, requires a solid and reliable base. The foundation under the fireplace should be deepened to the same level as the foundation of the house, and also have a thermal decoupling with it.

The concrete mixture for the foundation is not difficult to make yourself. You can apply the following composition of ingredients by volume to obtain concrete M200 (B15):

• cement M400 – 1 part;
• gravel or crushed stone up to 30 mm – 4 parts;
• sand – 2 parts.

It is possible to calculate the consumption of materials for the entire foundation based on the approximate consumption per m³ ready-mixed concrete M200. Composition by weight approximately in the proportions 1 (C): 1.65 (P): 3.45 (U):

• cement M400 – 300 kg;
• sand – 495 kg;
• crushed stone – 1035 kg;
• water – 185 l.

The volumetric weight for this composition is adopted:

• concrete mix – 2350 kg / m³;
• cement – 1200 kg / m³;
• sand 1800 kg / m³;
• gravel – 1400 kg / m³.

It is very important not to allow materials that could weaken it to get into the concrete for the foundation under the fireplace. These include particles of organic origin, clay and dust particles of clay, mica. In sand, impurities should be less than 10%, in coarse aggregate – less than 2%.

Instruments

1. Concrete mixer. 2. Vibrator for concrete. 3. Ironer. 4. Mop-float. 5. Capacity for solution. 6. Trowel. 7. Rectangular trowel

1. Chisel. 2. Brush. 3. Plumb line. 4. Bubble level. 5. Roulette. 6. Trowel. 7. Twine. 8. Rubber hammer. 9. Furnace hammer. 10. Corner

Chimney valve is required with dimensions 240×130 mm.

Concreting sequence

The depth of the foundation for the fireplace is determined based on the following data:

• heated building in winter or not;
• soil properties under the foundation;
• groundwater level;
• the presence of a basement at the location of the foundation;
• the depths of the base of the foundation under the walls of the building, to which the fireplace adjoins.

In unheated buildings during the period with negative outside temperatures, the level of the basement for the fireplace should be at the level of the basement of the outer walls to which the fireplace is adjacent. In heated buildings, the elevation of the foot of the foundation for the fireplace may be higher, but at least 0.50 m below the ground level.

1. Wall foundation. 2. The foundation of the fireplace. 3. Sand. 4. Fireplace. 5. Wall. 6. Finishing floor

It is advisable to lay the foundation under the fireplace together with the foundation under the walls to which it adjoins, so as not to weaken their bearing capacity. The groove between them is filled with compacted sand. A cushion of compacted gravel at least 15-20 cm is arranged under the base of the foundation.

The size of the foundation is taken 10 cm larger than the size of the fireplace on the sole. Concreting can be carried out without formwork in the case of dense non-crumbling soils. If formwork is nevertheless necessary, then the size of the pit is made by 0.1-0.15 m larger than the size of the formwork.

To ensure the required strength of the concrete, it is best to pour it in one go. The concrete mixture is laid in layers with obligatory compaction to remove the remaining air bubbles.

The top edge of the foundation should be 15 cm below the level of the finished floor in the room. Waterproofing of 2 layers of roofing material is made on the foundation for the first row of the furnace.

For the fireplace, you will need four more concrete blocks to cover the firebox. They should be reinforced with a rod with a diameter of 8-12 mm. For formwork, it is better to use moisture resistant plywood or steel sheets..

The sizes of the blocks are based on the ordering below, taking into account that they will not protrude beyond the structure, but they can be adjusted to create characteristic shelves along the top of the fireplace.

The length (L) of the beams is determined according to the order and is specified locally. Height (H) corresponds to brick height, width (B) corresponds to brick width. The reinforcement (АIII O 12) consists of 3 rods, laid from below, taking into account the protective layer. For reinforcement, a protective layer of concrete of 20 mm is required (from below, from the ends).

Fireplace

The furnace will require 370 pieces of refractory fireclay bricks GOST 390-96.

The quality of bricks must meet the following requirements:

• correct geometric shape;
• absence of foreign particles;
• required strength;
• fire resistance;
• clear sound when tapped.

Kiln clay is most often used red without impurities.

The mortar sand is used sifted through a sieve with openings of 1–1.5 mm. It must be free of plant residues, foreign matter, especially combustible.

Only purified drinking water should be used. Process water, sea water or directly from the well, will significantly reduce the strength of the solution; over time, various salt deposits will appear on the surface of the masonry.

Today the building materials industry offers ready-made fire-resistant dry mixes for kiln work. With your own hands, you can prepare a clay-sand solution of the following composition:

1. Oily clay (sand content 2-4%) – 1 part, sand – 2.5 parts.
2. Medium clay (sand content 15%) – 1 part, sand – 1.5 parts.
3. Skinny clay (sand content 30%) – 1 part, sand – 1 part.

In clay soaked for a day, sand is added in portions, as well as water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed. Before laying, add the last portion of water.

The designation of section A-A cm – order 26, section B-B – order 27, cut B-B – order 28. The thickness of the seams is allowed less than 5 mm. Masonry joints are completely filled with mortar.

If necessary, L-shaped pins are installed in the fourth row for the fireplace grate, in the fifth – the fireplace grate.

Reinforced concrete beams can be made a little larger than the main body of the fireplace, as a design solution.

A valve is placed in the twenty-eighth row. Traction regulation occurs with its help. In the process of warming up, the valve must be open, then it is closed, trapping gases in the gas collector and in the space of the mantel.

Trumpet

The fluff and the otter are necessary for the thermal decoupling of the main channel of the chimney, through which hot gases rise from the combustible materials of the building structure. The groove size must exceed the overlap thickness by 7 cm.

1. Rows for the main part of the pipe. 2. Fluff. 3. Otter

The mortar for the outer part of the pipe is taken from cement-sand. A metal cap is mounted on top of the pipe to protect it from precipitation.

You can look at the fire endlessly. It relaxes, burns out our troubles, fills the room with energy. All this will make a simple fireplace possible in our home..