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home  /  the washing up/ Raised fireplace in your home: do it yourself. How to make a fireplace with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

False fireplace in your home: do it yourself. How to make a fireplace with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

The aroma of wood and a blissful feeling of warmth throughout the body - these are the associations that most people have when they see a fireplace. It is believed that an open fire can burn everything to the ground. negative energy accumulated during the day. Perhaps this is why most owners of private houses and cottages dream of building it.

However, a fireplace is a rather complex device, and if there is the slightest mistake in its design, when lighting, instead of blissful warmth, only acrid smoke will enter the room. When building a fireplace with your own hands, special care and careful adherence to installation rules are required.

So, how to build a fireplace with your own hands? We tried to describe the entire construction process step by step.

How the fireplace works

As you know, any material can burn only in the presence of an oxidizing agent - oxygen. To ensure its constant circulation and exit from the fireplace, special holes are made in it - smoke ducts. Under the influence of heat, the air in the firebox, heating up, rises, making room for the next batch of air masses, thereby creating cravings. Along with the air, combustion products in the form of soot also rush upward.

If the smoke comes out too quickly, in a straight line, it takes with it almost all the heat generated during combustion. That is why stoves and fireplaces are equipped with chimney bends. However, their size and quantity must be calculated as accurately as possible.

If it is difficult for smoke to move along them, it will appear reverse thrust: smoke will flow into the room. There is a rule: the larger the size of the firebox, the wider the hole for the chimney should be. It can range from 18 to 25 cm.

Fireplace flue diagram

In the stove business, masonry schemes have long been thought out and verified: orders. Therefore, to create a fireplace with your own hands, it is better to use them, choosing the most suitable one. Only an experienced stove maker can make any changes to them. So if you don't want folded with my own hands the fireplace was smoking mercilessly, you shouldn’t change the chosen scheme yourself.

Fireplace design

Unlike a stove, a fireplace has fewer smoke ducts, but it warms up much faster. However open fire is able to quickly warm up a room only next to the fireplace and only when combustion is maintained in the hearth. Therefore, this device is always installed as additional heating in places where it was needed.

The main parts of the fireplace are:
In the stove business, masonry schemes and orders have long been thought out and verified. Therefore, to create a fireplace with your own hands, it is better to use them, choosing the most suitable one. Only an experienced stove maker can make any changes to them. Therefore, if you do not want the fireplace you built with your own hands to smoke mercilessly, you should not change the selected design yourself.
Fireplace design

Unlike a stove, a fireplace has fewer smoke ducts, but it warms up much faster. However, an open fire can quickly warm up a room only next to the fireplace and only when combustion is maintained in the hearth. Therefore, this device is always installed as additional heating in places where it was necessary.

The oven has large quantity chimneys and thick walls, so it retains heat much longer. Such a device is capable of heating the adjacent room due to the heat coming from its walls. However, in other respects the operating principles of the fireplace and stove are similar.

The main parts of the fireplace are:
chimney: a system of passages that runs along the entire contour of the fireplace and is discharged into a chimney;

Firebox (firebox): the chamber in which the fuel burns can be either open or protected by a door made of fireproof glass;

Grate: a thick cast iron grate located at the bottom of the firebox on which the fire is built; through its holes, decayed firewood or coal falls through and ends up in the ash pan; since the fire in the stone is open and clearly visible, the grate can have a bizarre shape and be decorated with ornaments;


Fireplace grate

Ash pan: a device for collecting ash;

Hailo: a narrowed arch above the firebox, a smoke collector located between the firebox and the chimney;

Lining: fireproof finish on the inside of the fireplace;

Fireplace tooth: a protrusion for narrowing the smoke collector and changing the direction of smoke exit; prevents the emission of smoke indoors during gusts of wind; Not available in all fireplaces;

Mirror: The slope of the wall above the back wall of the firebox, designed to reflect smoke and move it along the chimney;

Heat exchanger: not built into all fireplaces, it looks like a closed system of pipes through which water passes; the heated liquid transfers heat further to the heating radiators;


Heat exchanger for fireplace

Doors and dampers;

Damper: a plate built into the chimney to manually regulate the smoke output;

Portal: decorative frame of the firebox; can be made of cast iron, stone and even wood;

Pre-furnace sheet: a metal sheet to protect the floor.


Diagram and order of a corner fireplace

Types of fireplaces

There are three types of fireplaces:
closed: built into the wall, allowing you to significantly save usable space;

Semi-open: adjacent to the wall;

Island: free-standing structures that can be located in any part of the room.

By way of heat transfer they are divided into:
designs with one-way radiation: quite simple, heat comes from three slanted walls firebox in one direction;

Fireplaces with two- and three-sided radiation are less common; have a larger firebox with two or three open walls, however, although they give off heat in several directions, they only have one reflective surface, therefore there is less heat from them; are used mainly due to their high decorative properties.


Fireplace inserts open on two and three sides

Depending on the type of fuel fireplaces are:
working on solid fuel (wood, less often coal);

Gas;

Electro.

Fireplace foundation

Brick weighs a lot, so the fireplace must be built on a solid and massive base that does not have distortions. Otherwise, subsidence and deformation of the entire structure is possible.


Foundation for a corner fireplace

Since cutting the load-bearing lower beams and floor beams is strongly discouraged, the foundation for the fireplace and the opening for the chimney should be provided at the design stage of the house.

Important! The load on the foundations of the house and the fireplace will be different, so they will have varying degrees shrinkage, so tying them together is not recommended: the minimum distance between them is 5 cm.

1. The foundation for the fireplace should protrude beyond the structure by 10-15 cm. Its depth depends on the type of soil and the degree of freezing and should be at least 0.5 m.

2. Before pouring the solution, a layer of sand is poured onto the bottom of the pit, spilled with water and compacted. Next, crushed stone is laid in a layer of up to 30 cm.

3. The formwork is placed at the bottom of the pit and waterproofed with film or roofing felt to prevent cement laitance from seeping into the ground.

4. To strengthen the base, reinforcement is pre-laid before pouring. After the solution has completely dried and the formwork has been removed, the resulting gap is filled with crushed stone and compacted.

Order selection

If this is your first project, it is better to choose a design with lightweight (simplified) masonry or invite a specialist to supervise your work.

When choosing an order, you should take into account room size: The oxygen supply must be sufficient. The fireplace should be installed taking into account the movement of air flows around the room, however, it is not recommended to build it next to opening windows and doors. The photo shows the consumption of materials for masonry of the simplest design and options for arranging wall and corner fireplaces.


Calculation of the amount of materials for laying a small fireplace


Arrangement of wall and corner fireplaces with simplified masonry

Masonry mortar

Cement is not used to build a fireplace, as it can crack under the influence of high temperatures, so the masonry is carried out using clay-sand mortar. Skinny and low-plasticity clay becomes too brittle after drying, so it should not be used. To prepare the solution, select fatty and soft clay with sifted clean sand in a 1:2 ratio. For masonry, you can also buy a ready-made mixture.


Mixtures for masonry

Fireplace stove laying

1. At least two layers of waterproofing are laid on the finished foundation: roofing felt or roofing felt impregnated with tar or bitumen.

2. To lay out the hearth (the lower part of the firebox), the fire chamber and the chimney, you need fire brick. To prevent sparks accidentally falling from the open fireplace from falling onto the floor, the area in front of the firebox is also made of the same brick. To improve adhesion, the bricks are soaked in water before starting work.

3. The solution is applied to both the bed (the wide part, the base of the brick) and its side part (the butt), which will be adjacent to the adjacent bricks. It should be noted that the order indicates how the brick is laid: on the edge or on the wide part of the brick (bed).

4. To avoid mistakes, it is better to number each row of masonry with chalk.

5. Recommended seam thickness sand-clay solution 3-5 mm. The thickness of the solution prepared from already ready mixture, indicated by the manufacturer. The brick laid in the masonry should be moved a little and, lightly tapping it with a trowel, pressed.

6. Laying is carried out with offset so that the joint of the bottom row is blocked.

7. Layout begins from the corners of the structure. The brick that will be in the middle part of the row is trimmed to the right size. It is better to cut bricks with a grinder with a diamond blade.

Important! After laying the row, it is necessary to check its horizontal and vertical using a level. Angles are checked using a plumb line or angle. To obtain perfectly even corners, you can stretch cords along them.

8. The first row is always laid out as a continuous sheet. In most cases, an ash pan is installed in the second row, so free space is left for its installation.

9. After installing the grate and hearth in the fourth row, the formation begins portal. To do this, the bricks are moved forward a few centimeters.


The order of laying bricks

10. The main difficulty of masonry consists in the construction of inclined walls and lintels of chimneys. This tilt is achieved by cutting the brick at a given angle. To prevent soot from accumulating in their corners, the walls of the shaft must be perfectly even and smooth. When laying inclined parts of a chimney and cutting bricks at a certain angle, it is better to prepare wooden templates with the same angle.

Important! Placing cracked bricks and halves into the chimney is not allowed: if they fall out, it will be blocked and smoke will begin to flow into the room.

11. Additional air flow is provided by air wells - holes in the side parts of the fireplace. Heated air enters the room through additional openings - stranglers.

12. Sometimes they build into the back wall of the firebox metal screen to reflect heat. It is hung on pins, which are laid in the masonry. You can also purchase a ready-made firebox made of cast iron and build it into the brickwork.


Fireplace with cast iron firebox


Example of firebox layout

13. The smoke collector chamber, located above the firebox, gradually narrows and turns into a chimney. At the point where the pipe comes into contact with the ceiling, a thickening is made, called “ fluff" To protect against rain and snow when passing through the roof, another thickening is provided, called “ otter" A protective barrier is erected over it apron of steel.

Important! The ceiling next to the chimney is sheathed with foil or sheets of iron. The pipe near the ceiling is additionally wrapped in fireproof material.

We tried to answer the question: “how to build a fireplace with your own hands?”, and if you still have questions, watch the video on this topic.

Everyone knows that maximum relaxation can be achieved by contemplating flowing water and the quiet crackling of wood in an open fire. Therefore, many people living in country houses dream of having a fireplace in their room, creating an atmosphere of serenity and tranquility. It is worth noting that the presence of a fireplace insert indicates the well-being and high social status of the owner of the house.


Today, many companies offer various fireplaces, which differ from each other in design and functionality. However, purchasing a finished structure is considered a rather expensive service, so many people begin to think about how to build a fireplace with their own hands. If you decide to build a fireplace insert yourself, this procedure will be less expensive, and this article will help you understand the construction procedure in detail.


Subtleties of design choice

If you have not built fireplaces before, you might think that it will be impossible to build a fireplace in your home yourself, but this opinion is wrong. However, when laying a furnace, you need to be extremely attentive to every detail and carefully study the theoretical material.

The fireplace is a regular stove with an open firebox. The design heats the room using the heat generated by the combustion of fuel. At the same time, the fireplaces have a simple design, in which there is only a firebox and a chimney.

The chimney must have a curved shape so that sparks and smoke from the flame do not enter the room, and rain or snow from the street does not enter the house.

In past centuries European countries Portals were used as the main source of heating in the house, but at the moment it has more of a decorative function, or is used as auxiliary heating.

It is unprofitable to operate the portal as the main source of heating because it has a low heat capacity. The unit releases only 20% of the heat into the room, and all remaining heat evaporates through the chimney with air currents. Another disadvantage of a fireplace insert is uneven heating of the room.


This happens because a significant portion of the heat enters the room from the firebox, and the side walls practically do not heat the room. To increase the performance of fireplaces, it is recommended to build fireplace inserts of sufficient width and shallow depth.

Similar structures can be built in a house from ordinary bricks, paying special attention to the decorative component of the unit. Before you begin construction, you should develop a design for the unit. You will need to find a fireplace diagram that will show the location of the fireplace insert.

As a rule, the fireplace is installed opposite entrance doors. However, if you wish, you can build a corner-type portal, or install it separately. There are a large number of models of fireboxes, which you can choose based on the size of the room and the taste of the residents of the house. You should not build a fireplace insert opposite windows to avoid drafts.

Before starting construction, calculate the cross-section of the chimney pipe. You should carefully calculate so that the diameter is selected correctly.

Care must be taken to ensure that there is a constant supply of fresh air, and the base for the stove was secure. Therefore, before construction, you should prepare an order, which is a detailed diagram of each brickwork in the fireplace. You can use ready-made diagrams. Each type of fireplace has its own order. With the help of drawings you can understand the rules of masonry.

Hearth type

Before installing a fireplace, you will need to select a fireplace type. There are opening and closing types of fireplaces.

Closed fireplaces have a cast iron base, which is lined with brick or stone on the outside. When using a door with fireproof glass, you will be able to observe the open flame without interfering with the combustion process. A cast iron cassette is cheaper than brick and its operation will cost less. Fireplace open and closed type you can do it yourself.


Fireplace foundation

The future portal must stand on a foundation. If you are planning to build in one-story house, then the depth of the bookmark should be at least 0.5 meters. For two-story houses, the depth should be increased to 0.8-1 meters. The most affordable option is reinforced concrete.

Foundation laying rules:

  • the foundation hole must be dug around the entire perimeter of the fireplace. Use a level to measure the bottom;
  • Broken bricks or stones should be placed in the pit large size and compact them well;
  • After this, a layer of cement is poured into the hole. Level the layer and repeat the procedure;
  • the internal walls of the foundation are also filled with liquid concrete mortar, and outer part it is necessary to spread it on a dense thick solution;
  • layers are poured until approximately 30 cm remains to the top of the pit. Make sure that each layer is even;
  • Then, on the waterproofing, which is made from two sheets of roofing felt and clay mortar, lay two rows of bricks.

Thus, there should be about 7 cm left to the clean floor. This recess will be the basis for a home fireplace.


How is masonry done?

Fireplace masonry is practically no different from stove masonry. It must have similar quality in order for the end result to be high quality. monolithic design. To ensure reliability, dressings of the longitudinal and transverse seam are responsible. For these purposes, you can use a partial-size type of brick or use the method of alternating tongue and groove pieces of brick in the corners of the fireplace.

Make sure that the seams have a strictly specified width:

If this condition is not met, the masonry loses its strength and when heated, the seams undergo deformation. To ensure uniformity, use a smooth plastic solution.

Before laying red brick, it should be placed in water for a few minutes so that it does not absorb liquid. If you choose refractory brick, you can use it immediately.

To ensure good adhesion of the solution, dust should be washed off from it. It is unacceptable to use ceramic and refractory bricks for dressing joints at the same time, because they have different performance data, as well as expansion coefficients. You should not lay chipped bricks inside the smoke channel, because this will interfere with the normal circulation of gases.

Features of masonry

After you have completed the preparatory stage, you can build the fireplace itself. The laying process itself occurs in this way: with one hand you need to place the brick on wooden slats and press, then a solution is applied to the material and with the help of the lung pats he nails it. The bricks are laid in layers. Do not allow the clay mortar to push the lath and cause clay to come out of the cracks.

When laying the bottom row, the bricks should lie on edge. Check every layer building level and a square. The angle should be 90 degrees. Don't forget to check the diagonals.

When you start laying vertical layers, use a trowel and trowel. The solution should be checked by hand to ensure that small stones and other debris do not get into it.


Each row must be checked against the drawn drawing and the laid out layers must be shaded with a pencil.

Do not allow the fireplace to come into contact with external walls so that temperature changes do not occur and the masonry does not collapse.

After you have completed laying several rows, you should remove the framing slats. After the third row, you will need to lay two pins for the fireplace grate. Pay attention Special attention protrusions. They should be laid out using half bricks. Grouting of joints is carried out using colored decorative mortar.

After you finish constructing the structure, you need to remove interior walls chimney and firebox with excess solution. There is no need to plaster the interior of the fireplace.


When you lay the firebox, pay special attention to the position of the pipe; it should be strictly vertical. Cement and sand are used to lay the chimney pipe, which is located on the roof.

Cover the roofing carpet using an overlap, thus protecting the wooden ceiling from the fireplace flames.

To increase the heat output of the fireplace, the wall of the fuel part should be at an angle, and the side walls should be turned outward, while tilting the back wall at a slight inclination forward.

How to calculate the size

If you decide to build a fireplace with your own hands, you can order a personal project, or download ready-made diagram stove masonry from the Internet. Calculating the size of the future fireplace yourself is very easy and this procedure will not take much time. When drawing up drawings, remember that when carrying out work you will use not only solid bricks, but also halves.

How to correctly calculate the size of the fireplace:

  • Initially, you should measure the room in which the fireplace will be located.
  • Then, observing the scale, you need to draw a diagram.
  • Calculate the dimensions of the firebox. It is worth considering that its dimensions cannot be less than 1/50 of the size of the room.
  • The fireplace portal should be equipped in a ratio of 2:3 or 1:2 (this is the proportion between depth and height). Pay careful attention to the calculation of these parameters, because they affect the smoke in the room and proper heat transfer.
  • The size of the chimney opening will depend on the area of ​​the firebox. The hole should be eight times smaller. Make sure that the diameter of the pipe is not less than 10 centimeters. The length of the chimney pipe is usually 5 meters.


Construction of an outdoor fireplace

Many people dream of installing an outdoor fireplace with barbecue in their yard. Similar structures can be built from iron, bricks or stones. It all depends on your preferences. Stone portals are in demand because they are characterized by increased strength and durability. At the same time, making such a fireplace in the yard yourself will be very difficult if you have decided to take such a step for the first time.

Installing a fireplace is a fairly complex engineering task. This work cannot be described as simple or impossible; much depends on applied skills and experience in masonry work.

Choosing the type of fireplace

The construction of a fireplace begins with determining its location - against the wall, in the middle of the room or inside the wall, if its construction is just planned. The built-in option saves space and allows you to use heat in adjacent rooms. An island-type hearth looks impressive in large rooms in the form of a circle, visually accessible from all sides. Attached fireplace – universal solution for performance in ready premises: located in the center of the wall, sometimes in the corner.

Using certain tricks, craftsmen create “airy” designs for corner fireplaces

Open fire for the soul

Fireplaces with an open firebox are characterized by high heat losses due to the impossibility of limiting and regulating the air supply. As a result, hot combustion products are removed too quickly compared to stoves and closed fireplaces, taking with them the lion's share of the thermal energy obtained from burning wood. The productivity of these devices rarely exceeds 15%, so they are used in small rooms. Such a fireplace will not be able to heat a significant area, but will only serve as an element of the interior, consuming 2–4 times more firewood than a fireplace with doors. Open fire It heats up immediately, but the wood burns out quickly; after the fuel burns, the firebox stops emitting heat.

The possible scattering of sparks from an open fireplace determines increased requirements for fire safety:

  • Construction of the surface in front of the firebox from fireproof material;
  • Absence of flammable objects near the fire;
  • Controlling the combustion process until the fire is completely extinguished.

Tip: dry hardwood logs produce less sparks than pine firewood and leave little soot in the chimney.

Safe warmth of a closed fireplace

In a closed fuel chamber, the firewood burns completely: without any remaining coal, and the ash accumulates in a removable tray. With the door closed and minimal oxygen supply, the combustion process can last for many hours. The fireboxes for these heating devices are equipped with combustion control systems and are made of fire-resistant steel. Advantages characteristic of closed-type fireplaces:

  • Productivity up to 75%;
  • Safe operation;
  • Selecting a firebox from a variety of models;
  • Ability to work both indoors and outdoors.

Closed fireplaces allow you to organize extensive systems air heating Houses

For heating other rooms of a private house in indoor fireplace a heat exchanger is installed in the form of a container, coil or water “jacket”. The heated coolant is supplied to the radiators; the circuit can function independently, as well as connect to an existing heating system.

We calculate the design of the fireplace

Heat transfer and absence of smoke depend on the correct proportions individual parts, present in a fireplace of any configuration. The fireplace design includes the following components:

  • Under – a place for burning wood, lined with fire-resistant bricks above the floor, equipped with a grate;
  • The firebox is a combustion chamber made of fireclay bricks that can withstand high temperatures;
  • Smoke collector - a place where flue gases slow down, heat up, and draft is formed due to the difference in temperatures of cold air and gaseous combustion products;
  • Smoke tooth - a protrusion between the fuel chamber and the smoke collector, responsible for the formation of a gas threshold;
  • Gate valve - to regulate draft and shut off the chimney after the logs burn out;
  • Chimney - removes gases to the outside: the higher it is, the better the draft, the minimum permissible is 5 m.

The dimensions of the fireplace depend on the size of the room; the optimal proportions are calculated using the formulas (S - area):

  • S of the portal = 1/50 of S of the room;
  • S pod = 70% of S portal;
  • Firebox depth: portal height = 2:3 or 1:2;
  • Chimney cross-section = 10% of the S portal.

Based on the calculations carried out, a project for the future fireplace is drawn up - a drawing with dimensions and order, clearly showing the location of the bricks in each row

Necessary materials for construction

For the solution, sand with a fraction of 0.2–1.5 mm (within one cube), Portland cement grade 300 (up to 100 kg), Cambrian or oven clay (for the hearth) is suitable. Easier to purchase ready solution. The foundation will use reinforcement with a diameter of 8–10 mm, crushed stone of a fraction of 2–6 cm. In addition to the main materials, you will need a furnace valve and a grate.

Sand for the masonry mixture is sifted through a fine sieve and soaked in water several times until it stops becoming cloudy. The clay is infused in water for 7–10 days, sometimes stirring until smooth. Red brick is soaked for a minute immediately before laying.

Advice: experienced stove makers have known for a long time that the best clay is not the one dug up yesterday, but the one that has lain under the sun and rain for many years.

We build a fireplace with our own hands

Using the example of a country fireplace with a glass door that increases its efficiency, let’s look at the construction technology hearth and home.

  • The first thing you should take care of before making a fireplace is to prepare detailed drawings brick construction: plan, views from all sides, sections. A novice stove maker should definitely have orders; even an experienced master can find it difficult to lay out a fireplace without plans for each row. Those who do not perfectly understand the principles of operation of the hearth should not try to invent their own fireplace design; it is better to take an already proven diagram from a manual book or download it from the Internet.
  • The foundation for the fireplace must support its weight, which the prepared drawings will help you determine. Average weight one stove red or fireclay brick - 3.5 kg, clinker brick - 4 kg. You need to add 10% to the weight of the brick, this is the approximate weight of the masonry mortar and additional elements. The weight of the chimney, if it rests on the fireplace, must also be taken into account. The foundation should be waterproofed to prevent moisture from penetrating into the masonry. If there are at least three rows of bricks from the concrete level to the ash pan, or, if there is no ash pit, four rows to the firebox, you can put roll waterproofing. If the thickness of the brickwork is less, apply a cement-polymer waterproofing mixture to the concrete in two layers.
  • Let's start laying. We recommend pre-wetting each brick by immersing it in a container of water for a few seconds. The first row must be laid very accurately; the whole stove will “dance” from it. From the second to fourth row, lay out the ash pan and the ash pan; for a medium-sized fireplace, its height will be one row. Cover the ash pan with a grate. If the fireplace firebox is lined, line it with fireproof bricks underneath the grate.

Please note that experienced master first lays out each row dry, precisely fits all the bricks that need to be cut, and only then places it on the mortar. By the way, we preferred to buy ready-made masonry mixtures, they are inexpensive, there is no point in fiddling with self-cooking clay and fireclay mortars. Brick yellow color- fireproof, fireclay

  • We continue laying in accordance with the order. First we build the outer part of the fireplace.

We carefully control both vertical and horizontal levels

  • Having laid out 3-5 outer rows, we proceed to lining from the inside. Its masonry must be independent, we do not bandage it; for reasons of economy, they decided to lay expensive refractory bricks on the edge. To increase heat transfer, the configuration of the firebox in plan should be trapezoidal. Since our fireplace is equipped with a door, it’s time to install it. Be sure to remove the door with glass, and attach oven tape to the frame in four places. It must be laid in the horizontal joints of the masonry.

When erecting a firebox and installing a door, a sheet of basalt cardboard should be laid between the red and fireclay bricks and between the steel door frame and the brickwork; it will reduce the heat transfer between these fireplace elements and protect them from deformation

  • We reach the level of the top of the door, the stove band and the frame itself are securely fastened. The space between the outer walls and the lining is filled with broken bricks and filled with mortar. If we decided to make a fireplace with a water circuit, we would insert the registers here. We begin very important work: we begin to lay out the chimney tooth, constantly checking the drawings, because it is impossible to make a mistake in its shape and cross-section.

The seams in the masonry look terrible. It is very difficult to make neat facial jointing during the laying process. In our case, it was decided to leave this work for later; during the work, the master wipes the surface of the brick with a damp cloth or sponge until the solution has completely dried

  • We lay out the smoke collector, this is also not easy, you need to periodically look into the project. Let's move on to the chimney, not forgetting to insert a damper.

The damper in the chimney is placed no lower than the fourth row from the smoke collector

  • Done, now you need to thoroughly clean the masonry from the mortar and install the glass door.

You can check the draft by burning a newspaper the very next day, but it will be possible to fully heat the fireplace only after the masonry has dried and gained strength, this may take weeks and months

To sum up, let's conclude - the decision to self-production the fireplace is taken thoughtfully and reasonably; if you are unsure of your capabilities, it is more advisable to trust the masters of the stove business.

Video: DIY fireplace

Modern fireplace

Fireplaces have been used as a source of heat for centuries. Today they are used as a decorative interior item. Majority modern models can act as an additional heating device in a country house or cottage.

Installing a fireplace, made according to all the rules of construction with your own hands, can significantly reduce fuel costs and provide efficient heating premises.

Examples of improper installation of fireplaces can be easily found in the history of mankind, for example, knights' castles, which were always cold, despite the numerous fireplaces in the hall.

To avoid mistakes when building a fireplace with your own hands, you need to study all the intricacies of this matter.

Types of fireplaces

Unlike their medieval predecessors, modern fireplaces fall into several categories. The criteria for distinguishing them are the following parameters:

Location

  • built-in structures.
  • wall-mounted
  • island.

The materials used are brick, granite, marble or natural stone. For island structures, cast iron, metal or glass are mainly used.

  • Open type.
  • Closed.

The first option is characterized by the use of an open firebox in classic design, the second option uses closing the firebox with doors.

Heat transfer method

This indicator is determined by the number of sides that can transfer heat into the room.

Fuel used

  • Wood burning fireplaces.
  • Gas.
  • Electrical.
  • Biofireplace.


Types of fireplaces

Design principle

The fireplace structure consists of two main parts - the firebox and the chimney. In addition, there are other components:

  • heating device,
  • smoke collector,
  • valve,
  • ash pan,
  • grate bars,
  • lining,
  • forced convection system,
  • fire cutter,
  • protective doors.

As for the external device, it consists of a cladding and a portal. The portal performs decorative functions, supporting a particular style of the room.

Chimney and draft provision

Chimneys can be divided into several types based on their design.

  • Direct view. Because of its simplicity and versatility, it is used in most cases. Its installation is possible only during the construction of the main building, otherwise the ceilings will have to be broken to install a direct chimney.
  • Oblique view. This type of chimney is used in a country house that has undergone reconstruction, or indoors when constructing a fireplace. The design of the chimney allows it to be connected to already installed chimney channels or wells for ventilation or hoods.

To achieve traction efficiency, maintaining the height of the structure is very important. Unlike the chimneys of conventional stoves, its height should be greater. In addition, the hydraulic resistance in the structure will need to be reduced to minimum values.

This is achieved by selecting the right design. The most a good option is considered to be the use of a round pipe, it does not contain corners and has smooth surface. These qualities avoid the formation of soot, which can delay the movement of smoke. That's why chimney May be square shape and is made of brick, but the chimney is made of a pipe.


Fireplace and chimney. Scheme 1

In addition to the height of the chimney, it is necessary to take into account the cross-section of the pipe; it must be proportional to the size of the combustion opening. The optimal match is considered to be a proportion of 1:10 or 1:12.

To reduce heat loss, you need to take care of the materials used and their thickness. Typically refractory or hollow bricks are used. Based on the location of the chimney, the type of masonry is selected, for example, for a structure near outer wall, they carry out masonry with 1 brick, and for devices located inside the ceilings, they use the ½ brick construction method.

The construction of the chimney must be accompanied by tightness of the seams; inattention to this process can lead to air entering through the cracks of the structure, resulting in a decrease in the draft of the fireplace.

In addition to the listed factors, the pipe head can affect the reduction in draft. To avoid this, you need to purchase the most simple designs, without additional design elements. In addition, when installing it, it is necessary to take into account the width of its walls above the roof level; the optimal width should be at least 1 brick.

To protect the chimney from influence climatic conditions use a special nozzle, which is installed above the head.

Firebox and its structure

To improve the heat-reflecting ability of a fireplace in a private house, use an inclined arrangement of the firebox walls.

This can be achieved by turning the side partitions outward and positioning the rear wall tilted forward. The tilt angle can be formed from 1/3 of the firebox height.

A smoke chamber is installed on top of the combustion hole. To prevent soot and sparks from getting into the room from the combustion passage, a special “pass” is installed between combustion hole And smoke chamber. In addition, its functions include protecting the room from smoke.

The start of construction begins with the counting of materials. The easiest way is to build a fireplace with your own hands using bricks. To calculate the size of the combustion chamber, several factors must be taken into account:

  • Brick sizes.
  • The thickness of the seams.
  • Dimensions of the fireplace based on the estimated area.

After this, a serial drawing (order) of all steps is developed. For the convenience of forming an order, use a regular sheet of notebook in a square, since in the process of work a masonry of 1, ½ and ¾ bricks is used.

The laying of the hearth begins from the base part. To improve the external data, this row is laid out by placing bricks on the edge, and from the next row, the laying continues with bricks flat.


Masonry and arrangement of the fireplace

Additional items

In addition to the listed parts, other parts are also involved in the design of the fireplace:

Drawings and diagrams

Building fireplaces with your own hands will require a drawing or diagram of the work. Schemes are performed from four angles:

  • side view,
  • above,
  • directly,
  • in the section.

Having a drawing simplifies not only the process of making a chimney with your own hands, but also counting the quantity necessary materials goes much faster.

When preparing the drawing, it is necessary to take into account the following details:

  • Calculation of the foundation and the possibility of combining it with ready-made design Houses.
  • Diagram of openings in the floors and roof structure.
  • Calculation of materials for construction and finishing.
  • Development appearance fireplace.
  • Calculation of heat transfer.
  • Ease of use of the design and explication.
  • Fire resistance.
  • Safety of use.

Professionals always draw up a drawing with an order, which indicates the location of each brick. When building stove equipment with your own hands, drawings or diagrams must be carried out under the supervision of an experienced stove builder; this will significantly simplify the process and help avoid errors in the design.

Selecting a location

To build a fireplace with your own hands, you will need to decide where this structure will be located. Based on this, fireplaces are divided into four types:

  • Wall-mounted.
  • Angular.
  • Built-in.
  • Freestanding.

Typically, a place for a fireplace is selected near the main wall of the house, away from drafts, stairs and corridors. Next to it, it is necessary to provide a recreation area, which you can make with your own hands according to your taste and capabilities.

The base under the fireplace must be made of fire-resistant material.

Video: DIY fireplace stove

Who doesn't dream of their own fireplace? After all, with its help you can make almost any room stylish and comfortable. And despite the complexity of the design, as well as the high price of materials, it can be assembled with your own efforts. It is in this article that you will find many answers to questions about how to make a fireplace, as well as step by step instructions its construction.

Materials estimation and overall cost calculation

As I already said right away, a fireplace is quite an expensive pleasure, despite the fact that you will assemble it with your own hands. This factor is influenced not only by the materials, but also by its location and the type of house.

  1. Ceiling footage and number of floors of the house. This point plays very important role, whether you have an apartment or a house. The higher the ceiling, the more money you will spend. And if you are the owner two-story house, then get ready for additional expenses on wiring a long chimney.
  2. Type of fireplace and its finish. At this point it all depends on the room and desires. Small ones are suitable for small rooms corner fireplaces, but large ones open up wide possibilities for design. It can also be either built into the wall or outdoor fireplaces with a wide variety of finishes.

  1. Features of the foundation. The foundation for a fireplace directly depends on the type of fireplace chosen.
  2. Flooring. Naturally, we will need something that is heat-resistant and of the highest quality.

  1. Insulation and materials for facade walls. One of the key points, since heat transfer, as well as smoke entering the room, depends on insulation.
  2. Weather conditions and climate. The fireplace serves not only for decorative purposes, but also for heating, therefore climatic zones also needs to be taken into account.

These six points will play a key role in pricing your fireplace.

You can save money on some of them, but I recommend that you choose the highest quality materials, since making a fireplace with your own hands is a very difficult task, especially if you do not have any experience in this field.

Beginners who have not encountered such work may make a number of such mistakes:

  1. Incorrect location for the fireplace.
  2. Pass important elements such as ash pan and internal insulation.
  3. Uneven masonry without the use of refractory bricks.
  4. Poor foundation, as well as crooked layers.

All of this will become fatal mistakes that will simply lead to the impossibility of using the fireplace, and you will be forced to dismantle it. But high-quality materials will help you avoid certain mistakes and risks.

Components of a fireplace

Before you start assembling the fireplace, I will show you what main parts it consists of.

Of course, many people know that its main components are the firebox and chimney, but there are also many other elements:

  1. Ash pit.
  2. Collection of smoke.
  3. Convection system.
  4. Heating device.
  5. Gate valve for ash collection.
  6. Grate.
  7. Lining (Internal protective facing layer).
  8. Flame cutter.
  9. Doors for protection.

Each of these elements provides comfortable and safe work with a fireplace, while the main process falls on the firebox and ensures stable air circulation inside the fireplace system. Don’t forget about the “portal” - it is this part of the fireplace that falls under the decor.

Choosing the best location for the fireplace

Basically, they prefer to install fireplaces near main walls. It is very important to take into account the fact that they cannot be overcooled, so try not to display the structures in drafts, in the corridor, near stairs and in very small rooms. And before designing the fireplace, compare the placement of the pipes with the beams and with the roof rafters.

I remind you once again that flooring must be fireproof! Therefore, before building a fireplace, try to consult with specialists who will help you take into account all safety requirements. Also, furniture should not be placed close to the fireplace - the minimum distance from the fireplace to any interior items should be 800 mm.

In general, all fireplaces, according to their location, can be divided into the following categories:

  1. Angular. The chimney of this fireplace is diverted into one of the adjacent walls. Before assembling such a fireplace, it is necessary to obtain all the information about the condition of the foundation and adjacent walls.
  2. Wall-mounted. The most popular type of fireplace because it is very easy to assemble and is the most versatile.
  3. Built-in. It is best to design at the stage of building a house, since the main part of the fireplace is hidden inside the wall.
  4. Separate. These fireplaces act as a separate area that protrudes above the floor level.

When calculating any of these fireplaces, you need to consider the total area of ​​the room. Approximately, the area of ​​the fireplace portal should be about 2% of the area of ​​the room. But it is worth considering the fact that even a large fireplace will not be able to cope with open drafts, and a small one will not be able to cope with big room. Therefore, answering the question “how to make fireplaces with your own hands,” first of all you need to talk about the materials used and, after them, about the step-by-step construction method.

Materials for building a fireplace

You've probably already guessed that the most popular material for building a fireplace is brick. This popularity is due to more in a simple way masonry of a brick fireplace, as well as the low cost of the brick itself.

To build an average fireplace, you will need the following materials:

  1. Clay.
  2. Cement.
  3. Red brick.
  4. Sand.
  5. Crushed stone.
  6. Rubble stone.

This is not the entire list of components, but they are the most necessary. Also, the materials depend only on your financial capabilities and the type of fireplace. Please note that the brick must be the most best quality, including uniform structure and straight shape. It is best if you check each brick for damage when purchasing.

It is advisable to avoid purchasing light-colored bricks, since bricks that have not undergone good heat treatment have a lighter shade and a non-uniform structure. Therefore, it is better to take only red ones. Their number is determined by the type and design of the selected structure.

Step-by-step construction of a fireplace

Finally we begin the process of laying the fireplace. I will tell you and show you using a specific example of building a budget fireplace for a summer house. Such step-by-step instruction may be suitable for other types of fireplaces, but you need to take into account their features.

Stage 1 – Material preparation

To lay a small economy class fireplace, you need about 500 M-150 bricks. You also need to take 50 pieces of refractory bricks, which will serve reliable protection for other components.

Next, we take about 5 bags of mixture for stove masonry and a glass-magnesium sheet 12 mm thick. Now, as I said above, we buy the main components: a stove band for fittings, a fireplace door, a sandwich chimney (I was guided by a height of about 3 meters), a chimney view and 8 iron corners measuring 50 mm. All this will cost about 100-200 dollars.

Stage 2 - Preparatory work

We are preparing the upcoming work site. Cover everything around protective film. Also try to lay it on the floor where all the work will take place.

Stage 3 – Preparing the base

At this stage we organize the foundation for the fireplace. Since I designed it in an old house, I was unable to dig a deep foundation. Instead, I reinforced it with iron corners.

Having placed the corners, we begin to place bricks between them. Be sure to leave gaps between the bricks - the cement mixture will get into them.

As soon as the bricks are laid, we begin to fill them with mortar, spreading it evenly with a trowel over the entire foundation.

The corners should be laid out in such a direction that the bricks form strong foundation. To prevent them from moving, the corners can be welded together.

Try not to make a liquid solution, since in the future excess water will negatively affect the foundation. Therefore, the ideal quintessence of cement is a sour cream mixture. The unfolded base will act as the frame of the fireplace, so its unevenness can be smoothed out using mortar. After all these operations with the foundation, we leave it to dry for 2 days.

Stage 4 – First rows

Laying a fireplace includes several stages, and the first of them is called the “hearth”. It is the beginning of the future fireplace, so it should be treated with the utmost care. It must be measured in a precise manner so that the base forms a rectangle with even diagonals.

We will place further rows on this basis. IN in this case, the fireplace will not have long-lasting ductwork. It will include the following elements: exhaust pipe, chimney casing, ash pan and combustion chamber.

According to the design, this fireplace is hollow, so an air pocket is formed between the outer wall and the combustion chamber. That is why my choice fell on 150-M brand brick, since it will not be in direct contact.

Having laid the starting row of the base, we proceed to the second row, on which the ash pan will be placed. To do this, we begin to place along the edges ordinary brick, and closer to the middle we place a fireproof brick, also known as fireclay brick, on which we place grate. Thus we got a blower and an ash pan.

The solution must be poured into each row only after you have verified their accuracy by measuring with a level.

When the next row of brickwork is laid, it is necessary to leave a hole in it for the future door. In the photo you can see an example of how the next row of bricks is not laid out to the end - leaving a gap the size of 2 bricks under the door.

Stage – 5 Preparing the firebox and installing the door

Using twists, we attach 4 pieces of oven tape to the door itself. We lay the lower oven strips in the rows themselves, securing them to the seams with self-tapping screws. It is best to line the sides of the door with basal cardboard to form a sealed contact between the metal and the brick.

Inside the fireplace we make masonry from fire bricks in the form of the letter V, just “blunt” it sharp end. There must be a distance between the outer walls of the fireplace and the fireproof inner liner for air circulation. Once you have everything exactly laid out, start pouring mortar into the cracks between the bricks. Make sure that the bricks match each other proportionately and finally meet the door.

Now we proceed to the glass-magnesium sheet, marking it according to the air pockets of the fireplace, with an overlap of 2 cm on each side. We install it on the masonry, and in the end we get flat surface for furnace solution.

This sheet can withstand temperatures of 1000°C and in the photo you can see an example of it.

We fill the pockets themselves with broken bricks. We lightly tighten the upper edge with the solution, and then lay down the glass-magnesium sheet and apply the solution. And behind the front part of the door we put a corner in which we will hide the upper oven strips located on the door.

Step 6 – Laying the chimney casing

At this stage, everything falls under your imagination, since in addition to the idea of ​​​​hiding the chimney itself, you get the opportunity to make interesting decor. There is nothing complicated about this, just follow the standard pattern with which the brick was laid when assembling the entire fireplace . The main thing is to connect the pipes protruding from the fireplace to the pipes passing through the chimney.

All we need is a hole in the floor and roof, along which we will lay out a chimney of bricks layer by layer, layer by layer cement mortar. Make sure that it is completely sealed on all sides.

The final stage of the brickwork is the assembly of the back wall, or rather its further construction after installing the fireplace. Also now it is necessary to deal with external insulation, as well as decorative elements. After all, you want your own brick fireplace to bring not only warmth, but also comfort and aesthetics?

  1. Rubble stone.
  2. Decorative brick.
  3. Ceramic tile.
  4. Porcelain tiles.

Each of them has its own structure, so they have different specifics of fastening. In this regard, before working with them, consult with the seller about the method of fastening. All I can say is that they use special adhesive mixtures, capable of withstanding high temperatures, and the formed seams are simply filled with a standard putty solution.

Summing up

As you can see, making a home fireplace is not so easy, but it is quite possible. The main thing is to adhere to maximum precision and accuracy at each stage. If you make a mistake at any point, you can seriously spoil further layers. But if you follow the instructions above, you can avoid many problems. And the video in this article will help you get even more useful information on this process. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.