Small brick fireplaces. Preparatory stage of work

A real fireplace evokes stable associations with home comfort, a peaceful atmosphere of a winter evening and an aristocratic atmosphere. Making a brick fireplace with your own hands is a laborious task, but doable. To do this, you need to find a suitable masonry scheme, choose high-quality material and strictly follow all the steps of the technological process.

Basic structural elements

A traditional fireplace is an open stove of a simple design, equipped with a chimney hood. The aesthetic appearance of the hearth has the other side of the coin - a low level of heat transfer. The maximum efficiency indicator reaches only 25%, the rest of the heat leaves the room through the pipe. Therefore, the decision to make a brick fireplace in the room should be accompanied additional installation heating equipment. Regardless of the selected drawing, the construction of the structure must provide:

• high-quality traction and lack of smoke;
• heat generation at a level close to the maximum value for such a device;
• aesthetic appearance, compliance with the interior and the size of the room.

The main elements of a brick fireplace in some moments coincide with the device of the furnace:

• Construction begins with the arrangement of the fireplace table, which must be made of refractory bricks or concrete. It is located between the floor and the combustion chamber.
• A pre-furnace platform is equipped in front of the fireplace made of steel sheet, this will prevent the floor from igniting when sparks or coals fall out.
• The outer opening of the brick fireplace, located on the front side and performing a decorative function, is called the portal. It can be made different shapes: semi-circular, rectangular or other.
• The furnace is a fuel combustion chamber. Its bottom is called the hearth, it rises 15-30 cm above the floor.
• The grate performs the function of distributing air flows. It also serves to accommodate the fuel material.
• An ashpit is a collection point for waste and debris after fuel combustion.
• Above the firebox, for the purpose of protection and as an element of decor, it is necessary to make a smoke cornice.
• To prevent smoke and soot from entering the room where the brick fireplace is located, a gas threshold is called.
• Making a smoke box and a chimney for a fireplace out of brick is also a prerequisite. Back wall the smoke collector is equipped with a smoke tooth. Its main purpose is to limit a sharp drop in air currents and delay soot falling from above.

To achieve the maximum increase in the heat transfer of a brick fireplace and the exit of heat flows into the room allows the combustion chamber, whose dimensions expand towards the portal. For the same purpose, the back wall of the firebox is equipped with a metal sheet made of steel or cast iron. At a height of two meters, it is necessary to make a furnace valve, the task of which is to regulate the traction force. After the fireplace burns out, it is closed to prevent cold air from entering the room.

Remark ! A large deep furnace provokes a decrease in the efficiency of a brick fireplace, which is already characterized by low rates.

Placement and Standard Proportions

An important condition for the quality work of a brick fireplace is the choice of location. Experts recommend making it near the end wall. Alternatively, you can equip the corner between the end wall and internal partition premises. A serious mistake would be if you make a fireplace in front of the windows. This will provoke the formation of drafts and reduce the level of heat transfer. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room where you plan to make a brick structure should exceed 12 m 2. Another prerequisite for implementation is the equipment of a reliable and solid foundation, which we will talk about a little later. If you decide to make a brick fireplace on the second floor, work on additional strengthening of the floors is inevitable.

The desire to make a hearth out of brick requires strict adherence to standard proportions between structural elements, namely:

• The area of ​​the smoke hole should be 10-15 times less than the area of ​​the furnace.
• To ensure good draft, a straight section of the chimney must be made within 3-5 meters. In this case, the pipe above the roof should rise at least 1 m, optimally 2 m.
• The dimensions of the combustion chamber and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room have a ratio of 1:100, that is, for a living room that occupies 30 m 2, it is enough to make a firebox in a brick fireplace 0.3 m 2.
• The width of the combustion chamber in relation to the depth is increased by 1.5-2.5 times, and the height is 1.5 times greater than the width.
• For the pre-furnace area, a metal sheet of 0.35x0.5 m is sufficient.

An approximate ratio of brick fireplace elements depending on the size of the room is shown in the figure below:

Preparatory process

To make a brick structure on your own, as a rule, standard projects are used. Prepared ordering schemes provide verified calculations. It is better to draw them on your own on millimeter sheets, the drawing of each row is performed separately, indicating the exact parameters and the location of the bricks. Draw ordering start from the base.

A clear diagram of the future fireplace allows you to make a preliminary calculation of the required materials. In laying, you will need not only whole bricks, but also their individual parts. All bricks for the future fireplace are carefully inspected for compliance with the following requirements:

• the surface is flat;
• corners - whole;
• when struck with a hammer, the sound is monophonic.

Remark ! Whitish spots and melting are a sign of a violation of the firing process.

The approximate material consumption for a medium-sized brick fireplace is as follows:

• fireclay bricks - 130 pcs.;
• ceramic products - 250-350 pieces;
• refractory mix for masonry - about 3 bags;
• purified quarry sand- 4 bags, it is better to choose with a grain size of 0.2-1.5 mm;
• cement brand above 200 - 1 bag;
• crushed stone for pouring the foundation with a fraction of 3-7 mm;
• reinforcing bars 70 cm long and 8-10 mm thick - two dozen .;
• steel strip and corner;
• flap and door for cleaning.

Work order

Ideally, it is better to make a foundation for a brick fireplace at the stage of capital construction. The decision to supplement a furnished room with a home is associated with labor-intensive costs, but the task is doable.

Foundation

It is necessary to make a foundation for a fireplace, regardless of common ground Houses. The procedure includes the following steps:

• A small pit is being prepared, 0.5 m deep, its width and length exceeds the dimensions of the brick fireplace as a whole by 30-35 cm.
• Depending on the moisture content of the soil, a sand-gravel mixture or just sand is poured to the bottom.
• On top of even gravel, it is necessary to make wooden formwork, the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions of the future brick fireplace by 15-20 cm. Do not forget to use a level to align the edges.
• Reinforcing bars are laid crosswise, the joints are fixed using welding. Depending on the estimated weight of the brick fireplace, the height of the formwork must be at least 15 cm.
• For pouring, prepare a solution consisting of sand, cement and gravel. After the mixture dries, the gap between the old floor and the foundation of the fireplace is filled with clean sand, which acts as a deformation compensator. It is necessary to make the foundation below the floor level by 5-7 cm.

At least 48 hours are allotted for the foundation to solidify, after which you can proceed to building a brick fireplace with your own hands.

Advice ! A week before the start of laying the fireplace, the clay for the formation of seams must be soaked in a large container and periodically stirred.

Brickwork

Each brick before laying needs a short soak for a quarter or a third of a minute. This must be done to eliminate air congestion. The sand for the solution is pre-screened. A mixture of clay and dried sand for laying a fireplace is important to make the right consistency. You can check this when forming a small sausage with a diameter of 2 centimeters from a solution. Evidence of the optimal density of the solution will be if the figure does not crumble and does not stick to the skin.

On top of the foundation, under the dimensions of the future brick fireplace, a layer of roll insulation spreads. A drawing of the adjacent side of the structure is applied to the wall. The sawn off parts of the bricks must be walled up in the mortar, their exit from the outside is not allowed. When laying a brick fireplace, you should regularly check the horizontal and vertical level of the corners, as well as the correspondence of the diagonals. This can be done using a plumb line or a level and a tape measure.

Work according to the chosen ordering scheme includes the following steps:

• The laying of the base should be done on a solution consisting of sand and cement. Bottom part firebox includes rows 1 to 3.
• Refractory bricks and the same mixture are used for the bottom of the furnace. The ashpit is located in the 4th and 5th row.
• The salary of the fireplace is formed in the next two rows.
• From the 8th to the 12th row, the walls of the fireplace are laid, refractory material is used from the inside, the outer walls must be made of ceramic bricks. The masonry of the 12th row ends with a frame in the form of a steel strip and a metal corner.
• The smoke collector is located between 13 and 19 side by side. At the very beginning, it is required to make a smoke tooth; from the 15th row, the fireplace chimney begins to narrow. On the 16th row, a cleaning door is installed.
• From the 20th to the 25th row, the fireplace chimney is laid. On the 25th row, it is necessary to make an oven damper.

It is desirable to make seams in height thin, this will reduce the risk of cracking of the solution during operation. In the core and depth of the masonry, they may be slightly thicker. The installation of each brick for the fireplace is accompanied by the removal of excess mortar.

Important ! The inner surface of the walls of the fireplace must be made smooth, otherwise in the future it will hum and premature destruction will begin. Roughness in the chimney provokes excessive accumulation of soot.

After completion of work, a brick fireplace needs to be dried for 5 days, after which you can proceed to gradual heating. This will ensure uniform sintering of the clay solution and prevent further crumbling. After that, they move on to finishing work.

For a beginner without practice in the furnace business, immediately lay out brick fireplace with your own hands is a very difficult task. But three components - the availability of time, patience and a great desire - will help you succeed and make a wonderful home, a source of comfort and warmth in the living room. We will provide all the theoretical information and tell you about the procedure for conducting masonry work in the form of a simple instruction.

General information and device

In fact, a traditional English fireplace is a stove of a simplified design, consisting of the following main elements:

• a large open firebox in the form of a rectangular niche (portal), lined with solid ceramic bricks;
• the straight chimney shown in the diagram is equipped with a special protrusion - a chimney tooth and a tapering part - a smoke box;
• the pre-furnace frontal platform plays a decorative role and at the same time protects the floors from sparks from the firebox;
• valve for adjusting thrust.

Note. AT simple designs grates and an ash chamber are not provided, firewood is burned directly on a brick hearth.

AT current conditions fireplaces are built solely to create a unique atmosphere of comfort in private houses and summer cottages, and not to organize heating. The fact is that open foci are extremely ineffective, even in more complex models with two smoke circuits, the efficiency does not exceed 20%, since the lion's share of the heat simply goes outside through the pipe.

Scheme of a complex fireplace with two smoke circuits

The room is heated by infrared radiation emitted by an open flame. As soon as it decays, the heat transfer stops. Convective heating does not work here - the chimney draft, which has a large cross section, literally sucks heat out of the room along with the air flow. It is impossible to reduce the transverse size of the pipe - the fireplace will smoke into the room. For the same reason, brick walls practically do not accumulate heat.

Tip for calculating the size of the hearth. When building fireplaces with your own hands, it is important to achieve a compromise between the smoke in the room and too much draft, which helps to remove heat along with the air. The flow area of ​​the chimney should be 1/9 of the area of ​​the open part of the firebox (portal). In turn, the dimensions of the front opening are taken in the ratio of 1/50 to the area of ​​the room, and its height is 1.5-2 times the depth of the firebox.

So that you can choose the right dimensions for the fireplace without delving into calculations, we present a table with the dimensions of the main elements tied to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

Instructions for laying a fireplace

On various Internet resources and in the technical literature, it is easy to find a variety of projects for home and outdoor hearths, accompanied by orders and photos. But at the heart of all the proposed designs is a traditional English fireplace, which we offer to lay for beginners. As an example, let's take a look at a relatively small model shown in the drawing and designed for a room of 20-25 m².

Note. If your room differs in dimensions, then the dimensions in the drawing can be changed in accordance with the table, only more accurately fit them to the length and thickness of the brick (taking into account 5 mm joints).

Step by step work steps look in the following way:

1. Preparation - choosing a place for the future hearth and purchasing building materials.
2. The device of a reliable foundation - reinforced concrete or brick foundation.
3. Mortar preparation and laying.
4. Trial ignition and warm-up.

By design, fireplaces are divided into wall, corner and built-in. We chose the first option because of the ease of execution - the building is being built next to the existing wall. Making a corner model without proper experience is much more difficult, and to embed the structure in the partition, the latter will have to be disassembled.

The optimal location of the hearth is near the inner bearing wall or partitions, closer to the center of the room. At the same time, try not to complicate the passage of the chimney through the roof - make sure that it does not get into the ridge. On both sides of the fireplace, you need to provide free space along the walls of at least 1 m. The worst place for a hearth is near the outer fence or next to the doors.

Advice. It is not recommended to place fireplaces in too small rooms up to 12 m². Moreover, it is not allowed to build them in apartments. multi-storey buildings. The way out is to install a gas or electric fireplace insert and make a lining of decorative bricks and drywall, as shown in the diagram.

Necessary building materials

To independently fold the fireplace according to the above drawing, you need to prepare the following materials:

• ceramic solid brick - 300 pcs.;
• fireclay (refractory) brick - 120 pcs.;
• chimney damper;
• dry mortar for refractory masonry - 150 kg;
• ready-made clay-sand mixture for laying out stoves - 250 kg;
• metal equal-shelf corner 50 x 3 mm - 2.5 m;
• revision oven door.

Red ceramic brick grades 150-200 - the main material used in the furnace business. Choose a solid stone of standard dimensions 250 x 120 x 65 mm without cracks, preferably with smooth sides. Building materials of low quality and used materials cannot be used for laying fireplaces.

Fireclay bricks used to form fireboxes for wood and coal stoves are produced different sizes. A stone 250 x 124 x 65 mm of the ShA brand will suit you, laid on a special solution of refractory clay and mortar.

Material saving advice. Ordinary ceramic brick calmly withstands temperatures of 700 ° C, which corresponds to heating when burning firewood. Refractory stones, whose price is much higher, are designed for a maximum temperature of 1690 ° C. Hence the conclusion: if you do not plan to heat the fireplace hot every day, then feel free to make a combustion chamber from cheaper red brick.

Furnace craftsmen know how to prepare a masonry mortar from individual components - sand and clay (cement is not added!), Intuitively selecting the exact proportions. For beginners, there is nothing left but to build a fireplace based on ready-made dry mixes sold in stores. If you want to make the solution yourself, then we strongly recommend that you first get your hands on simpler designs. For example, add outdoor grill or barbecue, choosing the proportions experimentally to feel all the nuances of working with clay.

We arrange the foundation

Since the total mass of the brick hearth exceeds 1 ton, a reliable foundation is indispensable. It must be arranged separately from the foundation of the house, maintaining a minimum indentation of 5 cm. future design 100 mm in each direction. For our example, the dimensions of the site will be 137 x 124 cm (according to the diagram above, the dimensions of the building are 127 x 114 cm).

The device of the foundation for the fireplace follow the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Dig a pit and carefully tamp the bottom. The depth is determined by the existing foundation of the house.
2. Lay sand on the bottom and compact again. The final thickness of the pillow is 100 mm.
3. Lay the pit to ground level with a rubble stone. In the process of backfilling, fill all cavities with liquid cement or lime mortar mixed with clay.
4. Form a flat concrete platform on top and, after hardening, lay 2 layers of waterproofing from ordinary roofing material on it.

Note. As a backfill, fragments of concrete, old brick, shell rock and other piece materials will fit.

The second stage of laying the foundation can be done in two ways: pour a reinforced concrete slab or lay out a red brick base. The first option, shown in the drawing, is more reliable and convenient for further construction, since a solid slab allows you to lay a wall anywhere on the site. It is implemented like this:

1. Make and install wooden formwork to the height of the clean floor of the building so that the foundation slab protrudes 50 mm beyond the dimensions of the future fireplace in all directions.
2. Tie a mesh of iron reinforcement with a diameter of 12-16 mm and set it at a height of 5 cm from the roofing material, using small wooden linings.
3. Prepare concrete grade 150 by mixing M400 cement, sand and gravel in proportions 1: 3: 5. Lay concrete mix into the formwork and level the site with the rule according to the building level.

After 7 days of concrete hardening, remove the formwork and treat the foundation walls with bituminous mastic. Before laying out the fireplace, wait for the reinforced concrete slab to harden completely (another 3 weeks), then cover it with 2 layers of roofing material and proceed to the masonry itself. To avoid mistakes when building the foundation, watch the video from the furnace master:

Fireplace Rules

Laying out an ordinary wall and a brick fireplace body are two different things. So before you build a home, check out general rules its erection:

• in the manufacture of refractory and clay mortar, strictly observe the ratio of the dry mixture and water indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer;
• first lay the stones of each row dry, adjust and file according to the order, and only then put them on the mortar;
• soak the red brick in water for 3-5 minutes before laying in place until air bubbles stop appearing;
• observe the maximum joint thickness of 5 mm;
• do not tie sections of masonry made of ceramic and fireclay bricks together;
• constantly check the vertical at different points with a plumb line and the horizontal with a building level;
• when installing metal corners, a number of stones resting on it must be laid without mortar.

Note. It is not recommended to soak refractory stones, but only rinse with water from dust, because the material gives off moisture for a long time and may burst after kindling.

During operation, bricks can be tapped, but moving in a horizontal plane is highly undesirable. Remove protruding excess mortar with a trowel, and from the inside, wipe the entire wall with a damp cloth to form a smooth surface. For a detailed description of the process, see the next video:

Work order

First of all, the foundation slab is covered with a sheet of galvanized roofing iron, and on top - with basalt cardboard. However, according to experts, the latter is successfully replaced by felt soaked in liquid clay. The required set of masonry tools is shown in the figure.

The first two rows of ceramic bricks form the base of the fireplace and the pre-furnace platform, the 3rd and 4th - the hearth part of the furnace. Please note: in order, red and fireclay stone are indicated in different colors. The fifth and subsequent rows (up to the 11th) form the walls of the combustion chamber and outer contour portal.

After laying the 12th row of stones, install the steel corners that serve as a support for the front wall. The next levels form a smoke box and a chimney tooth, which is shown in the ordinal diagram. On the 16th row, a cleaning door is built into the back wall.

Rows of bricks from the 17th to the 23rd form the body of the fireplace, and the remaining 3 levels form the chimney. On the 26th row, a valve is built into it.

Further laying of the chimney is carried out to the desired height according to the same scheme, excluding the passage through the ceiling. Here it is necessary to lay out a special extension - cutting, whose task is to protect wooden structures from red-hot flue gases. According to the rules fire safety combustible material ceiling must be protected brick wall 38 cm thick. All requirements for the chimney pipe, including its height, are reflected in the diagram:

In conclusion - trial kindling of the hearth

After the solution has dried, which will take 10-14 days, make the first kindling. It is important to follow one rule here: the entire masonry should warm up gradually so that cracks do not occur. Put a small pile of brushwood or wood chips on the hearth, open the damper fully and set fire to them. Then lay firewood in small portions for several hours, watching the walls of the hearth and chimney. Fix the appearance of cracks - then close them with the same solution.

The finished fireplace can be issued different ways- plaster, decorate with tiles with tiles or paint. Of course, provided that after a full warm-up it functions properly and the masonry did not give large cracks. If you did everything according to the instructions and without haste, then commissioning will certainly be without problems.

Features and Benefits

Home fireplaces appeared in Russia as early as the 13th century, and replaced the stove in some houses. The fireplace was not only a heating structure, but also a luxurious decor. Open fire and crackling firewood create home comfort and warm atmosphere. A fireplace, as a way of heating and decor, will easily fit into many interior styles: classic, modern, high-tech. With the help of a fireplace, you can zone the room and create cozy corner for family holidays.

Which is better: brick or cast iron?

cast iron. The design of a modern fireplace usually consists of a thick-walled firebox, body and chimney. Some models can be connected to the pipeline using a heat exchanger. This eliminates the need to connect central heating and purchases of water heaters. The service life with constant use will be more than 15 years. It is worth choosing high-quality models with firmly installed parts and made of thick cast iron.

A fireplace made of durable cast iron will last a long time. The material withstands the highest temperatures and is less prone to fading.

When exposed high temperature the design of the furnace is not deformed.

Cast iron has a high heat dissipation. After the firewood in the fireplace burns out, the cast iron will store and distribute heat for a long time, which allows you to heat large rooms and saves costs.

Many companies offer to buy a ready-made cast-iron fireplace. Assembly and installation will not be difficult, but if you plan to install a heat exchanger, it is better to enlist the support of a specialist.

The cast iron stove option will not be as expensive as stone or brick models. The average model will cost 20-25 thousand rubles.

Don't let your cast iron stove cool down too fast. cold water, ice or snow can damage the material. Also, do not hit a red-hot fireplace, this can cause it to burst.

Requires regular and thorough maintenance. All heavily polluted parts of the fireplace: the ash pan, the chimney, must not be left unattended and regular cleaning must be carried out.

To many, this version of the fireplace seems unpresentable because of the black color and the simplicity of the material. But the cast iron stove can be ordered with any finish, the special paint does not change even due to the high temperature.

A brick oven is most often installed in country houses. The material allows you to build a structure with your own hands. With regular use, a brick fireplace will begin to deteriorate after 5 years. Brick stoves allow you to quickly heat the room even in the cold season.

The design is quite strong, resistant to sudden changes in temperature and humidity, which makes it less fragile.

A real brick fireplace is quite easy to use, unlike cast iron, it does not need frequent cleaning.

High-quality brick does not emit harmful substances and unpleasant odors when heated.

To independently lay out a brick fireplace, you must have the appropriate experience and special tools, otherwise you need the help of a stove specialist. On the Good work the fireplace can be affected even by minor mistakes made during installation.

High-quality brick is an expensive material. Also necessary are the costs of the work of the stove, strengthening the floor and decoration.

brick ovens They are heavy enough to require a solid foundation.

Installation on lower floors. In modern apartments it is difficult to install a brick fireplace. The partition between the floors may not withstand the weight, and the installation of the hood will have to be coordinated with a special authority.

Varieties of material

The modern market offers a wide selection of bricks: fireclay, clinker, etc. Basic requirements for bricks for laying fireplaces and stoves:

Resistance to temperature changes. Unsuitable bricks can crack or deform when suddenly cooled or heated, which leads to rapid wear of the fireplace.

Accumulation and preservation of heat for a long time. In the cold season, it is important enough that the room heats up quickly, and the brick retains heat for a long time, even after the firewood stops burning.

Mechanical strength

Resistance to open fire. Be sure to check the quality certificate, which indicates the main characteristics and properties of the material. For fireplaces and stoves, GOST 390-96 must be specified.

Fireclay bricks are made from special fireclay clay and some additives. Aluminum oxide gives the brick special strength and protection from environmental influences.

Clinker brick - has high strength and low moisture absorption. It can be applied both at construction, and at facing. The color palette varies from yellow to dark brown.

special kind clay, "skinny", is mixed with various mineral additives, which gives the brick a special strength and temperature resistance. Clinker bricks wear out less, and options with a glazed surface do not absorb moisture at all (ordinary brick absorbs up to 25% moisture), which is especially important for outdoor fireplaces.

Periclase brick is expensive, rather rare minerals are used in its manufacture. But, at the same time, periclase brick has a high fire resistance and is often used for the construction of fireplaces.

Curly bricks are used to decorate the fireplace. Can choose different shape, texture and color. Do not forget that the facing material for the fireplace must have the same characteristics of strength and fire resistance. Sometimes, when facing, carved ceramic brick elements are used in the form of a triangle, arch, trapezoid, and even a circle.

When choosing a quality oven brick, you should pay attention to the brand of the manufacturer. One of the best firms producing facing and oven bricks - Lode. The Latvian company uses high-quality and environmentally friendly clean materials keeps up to date with the latest technologies and trends. Thanks to a wide color palette you can pick up a brick for any interior: make modern fireplace from light brick or antique from a material with an artificial effect of antiquity.

The effect of antiquity to the fireplace can be given by using hand-molded bricks in the masonry. Do not worry about the quality of such a brick, it has the same high-strength properties. But, such material is quite high at a cost. The advantage of hand-moulded bricks is not only in appearance, but also in environmental friendliness, in its manufacture pure clay without impurities is used.

To obtain a unique texture and color, apply:

1. Firing with the addition of special coal powder.
2. Perform secondary firing.
3. Forced through a mold with water.
4. Treated with colored sand.

Types of models

You can choose a brick fireplace by location, by the amount of space and functional preferences. Modern manufacturers provide a large selection of fireplace designs with various features: small outdoor, for a house or even an apartment.

Allocate according to location classic options fireplaces: corner model, built-in, island.

The corner model is suitable for relatively small rooms and does not take up much space. Such a country mini fireplace is quite simple to manufacture, has good traction and a stable design. Corner models quickly heat up and heat the room.

If you need to install a fireplace in the apartment, you should choose outer wall, but not near a window, this will reduce the heating of the brick. It is necessary to coordinate the project with the construction and fire inspection, find out which ceilings in the room, you may have to install an electric smoke exhauster in addition to the chimney.

In order not to take risks and avoid unnecessary red tape, you can install a small false fireplace or an electric wall-mounted one. You can make a false brick-like fireplace with your own hands, and wax candles of various shapes and heights will replace the fire.

An island fireplace is perfect for zoning a room, unlike a wall-mounted one, it can be placed anywhere. This model is suitable for large rooms, because. takes up a lot of space. The suspended chimney is not attached to the wall and must be of sufficiently strong and stable construction. The minus of the island-type model is low heat transfer, but this can be corrected by using high-quality bricks and additional decorative elements, they are also designed to retain heat.

The built-in version is the most compact. The chimney is laid inside the wall, and the portal protrudes from it by only half a brick. This option is a must decorative material, it will keep warm and decorate the interior. Often, built-in models complement the top shelf, it will perfectly accommodate photo frames, elegant figurines or candles of various sizes and heights.

Open or closed?

Option open fireplace classical. There are models in which the fire is visible from one side, two, three or four. Corner and built-in designs involve one-way opening, and island - two, three or four. An open fire will create a cozy atmosphere in the interior, but the more open sides, the less the degree of heating of the room. Due to the absence of brick walls, the heat goes into the chimney without lingering in the room, the brick fireplace acquires a more decorative function.

An open firebox is more functional, it is often installed on the street. On an open fire, you can cook a barbecue, which eliminates the need to buy a barbecue. The classic English fireplace is always made open, this gives the interior more comfort. Models made of old brick look especially impressive.

A closed firebox is safer than an open one; combustion takes place behind heat-resistant glass. The heat released during combustion stays indoors longer. The advantage is the possibility of precise regulation of combustion up to several degrees, the air is supplied with the help of special mechanical levers, and not through open space. A closed firebox, even with panoramic glazing, can be the main source of heat in the house and at the same time allows you to admire the fire. A glazed fireplace can be combined with a stove.

Fireplace stoves

The fireplace looks great in the interior, but it has a lot of heat loss, to avoid this, you can combine two structures - ovens and a fireplace.

The stove will allow the heat to remain in the room longer, and if you equip a special plane with hob, it will be possible to cook without using gas stove. The fire in the oven can provide enough temperature to heat food and cook it. This model is called "Swede" and is suitable for cooking, heating, storing clothes. hob made of cast iron and can have several burners.

The fire in the fireplace stove can be open or closed. The closed design is more functional and takes up less space. Glazed firebox can be used as a stove and a fireplace at the same time. These patterns are more suitable for home interior than for street.

Device and design

Chimney - main part fireplace design and has two versions:

Direct design. The option with a direct chimney is installed directly at the time of construction of the building. Simplicity and versatility make the design convenient and widely used.

Tilt design. Convenient for reconstruction or repair, allows you to attach the chimney to ready-made channels.

The chimney can be with corners (rectangular, triangular) and made of brick, but experts recommend embedding a chimney-pipe made of metal with a smooth surface into it, this will help to avoid the formation of soot.

To improve heat transfer in the construction of the furnace, you can place its walls at a slight slope, and installing a special smoke chamber will protect the room from sparks and soot.

Also, to improve heating, you can additionally lay out a brick heating shield, it will allow the heat to linger longer, which is very important in large rooms with fireplace heating.

The exterior design consists of a portal and cladding. The portal is the part that frames the firebox from the outside. Doors can be attached to the portal if the brick fireplace closed type. A fireplace with a glass door gives a full view of the fire and is not much inferior to an open device.

You can also insert a door made of high-strength tempered glass with tinting, the fire behind it looks very nice and soft. Warm bronze tones will do, but in modern interior cold graphite will also look good.

Each owner of a suburban household strives to organize comfort in his home. A special atmosphere is created by an open or closed hearth of fire, which will have a calming effect and warm in the cold months. In order to make the heat source safe and efficient, you can build a corner stove with your own hands. This will require drawings of such a structure and bricklaying skills.

What is a fireplace stove, its advantages and disadvantages

A fireplace stove is a unit or a capital structure made of fire-resistant materials that accumulates heat from a flame in the combustion chamber.

These structures are most often used as sources of heat and comfortable interior elements in cottages, country houses and private households.

Fireplace stoves have a number of advantages and disadvantages, which are expressed in the following criteria:

Table: advantages and disadvantages of fireplace stoves

Advantages

disadvantages

the design of the wall structure is designed for heating rooms up to 100 m², which makes it universal for the construction of both country houses, and suburban households; corner design allows you to save usable space, and the displaced symmetry of the form will make it possible to choose the best option; It has high efficiency, since heating is carried out not only as a result of convection of hot streams, but also as a result of thermal radiation. This property of the design allows you to raise the temperature inside the rooms from 0 ° C to +25 ° C for a period of time from 60 to 120 minutes. a fireplace stove, erected in the corner of the room, will be able to heat several rooms.

if the design of the fireplace stove is not equipped with a fuel chamber door, then the heat does not linger inside, and the walls cool down quickly; high construction cost; for independent construction, special knowledge and skills in the construction business will be required.

Design features and principle of operation

The design of the fireplace stove consists of two main elements - the combustion chamber and the chimney system. The degree of efficiency and productivity of the heating facility depends on how accurately the ratios of their parameters are calculated.

The principle of operation of the fireplace stove is that the flame in the combustion chamber burns with the chimney open (at the upper end). Smoke removal is carried out under the influence of traction, the power of which depends on the length of the pipe. Effective heat radiation occurs during the combustion of the furnace material, but when it is burned, the heating is significantly reduced. To increase heat transfer, the fireplace stove is equipped with a convection chamber. This upgrade allows the circulation of air from the room into it, and the heated air back.

Like any capital structure, the fireplace stove has a solid foundation.

For fire safety purposes, the structure is equipped with a firebox. It is placed on the floor in front of the fireplace. For this, non-combustible materials are used - metal, stone, refractory bricks or tiles.

In accordance with fire safety standards, such a platform should be made 30–35 cm wider than the perimeter of the fireplace stove.

Above the platform there is an ash pan cavity and a fuel chamber. The space between these compartments is equipped with a grate. This increases the efficiency of the heating facility, since a place is formed under the burning furnace material for dumping the burnt material.

Designs with a closed combustion chamber are equipped with a special blower, thanks to which it is possible to change the power of heat inside the fireplace stove. This makes it possible to extend the burning time, thereby saving furnace material.

All surfaces of the fireplace stove that are in contact with an open flame are laid out with fire-resistant materials. This is necessary because the temperature in these areas of the fireplace reaches and sometimes exceeds + 1000 °C.

To enhance heat radiation, the back wall of the fireplace stove is equipped with sheets of of stainless steel or cast iron. For greater heat transfer, the back wall of the combustion chamber is built at an inclination forward. Due to this, heat flows are directed towards the platform, additionally heating the floors.

Above the combustion chamber, a smoke collection chamber (hailo) is installed. She has irregular shape reminiscent of truncated pyramid, in front of which there is a special barrier. This barrier does not allow cold air flows to mix with combustion products, and also prevents smoke from entering the room.

The rear wall of the smoke collection chamber is equipped with a special protrusion (chimney tooth), which keeps the accumulated gas from entering the room.

The chimney tooth prevents soot from falling out into the combustion chamber. To clean this section of the fireplace stove, a door is installed near it.

The smoke collection compartment (hailo) and the chimney system are separated by a metal valve. This element serves to block the path of warm flows from the room to the outside, after the firewood burns out. The valve is also used to adjust the thrust.

The pipe of the chimney system is built according to the same principle as in other heating structures. To ensure good draft, its height must be at least 500 cm from the base of the combustion chamber.

Calculation of the main parameters

The efficiency of the fireplace stove operation depends on the correct calculation of the parameters of all its elements. A discrepancy in the calculations will lead to a significant decrease in heat transfer or part of the smoke from the combustion chamber will go into the room. Therefore, for the construction of the correct design of the fireplace stove, the following rules must be observed:

1. The size of the combustion chamber window should not be more than 2–3% of the area of ​​the heated room.
2. To determine the area of ​​the hearth surface, it is necessary to multiply the square of the furnace chamber window by 0.7.
3. The width of the combustion chamber is recommended to be made in the range from 20 to 40% more than its height.
4. To calculate the depth of the combustion chamber, you need to multiply the parameter of its height by 0.7.
5. The diameter or section of the chimney pipe is recommended to be at least 10% of the square of the furnace window. At the same time, it is not recommended to make its channel smaller: 150x280 mm for a brick structure, 160 mm in diameter for a pipe.
6. The chimney must be laid out in such a way that it is conical in shape.

In order not to make mistakes in the calculations, you can use ready-made tables and projects of such structures.

Calculation of bricks

To obtain an accurate calculation of bricks, you must use ready-made schemes orders. The amount of building material depends on the specific design of the fireplace stove. In the proposed schemes, half or smaller fractions of the material should be considered as whole bricks. In this case, their total number must be multiplied by 1.2.

The resulting value will make it possible to purchase material with a small margin. This is necessary because the bricks may be damaged during transportation or unloading, and some of them may be defective.

For the construction of a fireplace stove erected according to the scheme below, about 360 pieces of red brick and about 60 fireclay bricks will be required.

Calculation of the foundation and mortar for masonry

When calculating the mortar for masonry, one should be guided by the fact that with a layer thickness of 3 mm, one bucket of the mixture for 50 bricks is required.

Knowing the parameters of the material used, it is easy to calculate how much concrete and sand will be required to install the slab base.

The foundation for the corner fireplace stove will be in the form of a cylinder sector, the angle of which is 45 degrees.

To calculate the volume of concrete of this shape, it is necessary to remember the school geometry course, namely the formula for finding the volume of a cylinder, which looks like this: V = πR²h, where π is a mathematical constant expressing the ratio of the circumference to the diameter, equal to 3.14, R is the radius, h is the height of the figure.

The length of each side right angle figures can be easily calculated, knowing the parameters of the brick.

According to the masonry scheme of the rows of the fireplace stove, it can be seen that these sides have 3 lengths of the bed side of the brick and one - the bond side. On an example, it looks like this: 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.12 = 0.87 m. The foundation for the fireplace stove must be made on each side 10 cm more than the structure itself: 0.87 + 0.1 = 0.97 m.

For example, the height of the foundation will be 10 cm.

Now you need to substitute the values ​​\u200b\u200binto the formula to find the volume of the cylinder. The result obtained must be divided by 4, since the sector of the cylinder has its fourth part. The formula will be: V=(π R² h):4. Substitute the values: 3.14 0.97² 0.1 \u003d 3.14 0.94 0.1 \u003d 0.295: 4 \u003d 0.073 m³ of concrete mixture will be required to pour the foundation of this form.

Video: brick corner fireplace

Necessary materials and tools

For the construction of a fireplace stove, you will not need any special equipment. All the necessary tools for this can be found at each owner:

1. Bayonet and shovel.
2. Big scrap.
3. Manual a circular saw.
4. Hacksaw.
5. Building level.
6. Yardstick.
7. Plumb.
8. Big square.
9. Rule for leveling a concrete base.
10. Tanks for water and masonry mixture.
11. Deep vibrator.
12. Trowel.
13. Mallet with a rubber striker.
14. Pliers.
15. A hammer.

To fill the foundation, you will need the following materials:

1. Material for waterproofing. You can use roofing material or thick polyethylene.
2. For the manufacture of a reinforcing lattice - reinforcing bars with a cross section of 0.8 cm.
3. Sand.
4. Fine-grained (from 20 to 30 mm) crushed stone or large screenings from granite.
5. For the manufacture of formwork - edged boards, plywood or OSB boards.
6. Concrete mix brand M 300 or M 400.
7. Nails and self-tapping screws to strengthen the formwork.
8. Wire or plastic clamps for attaching reinforcing bars.
9. Chamotte brick of the SHA brand 8 standard parameters.
10. Red refractory brick grade M 150 regular sizes.
11. Facing material.
12. Cement.
13. Clay.
14. Metal corners made of steel with a shelf width of 50x50 or 60x60 mm.
15. Metal latch.
16. Insulating heat-resistant material made of asbestos or basalt.

As a masonry mixture, it is convenient to use ready-made material from hardware stores. Such mixtures are specialized for the construction of such structures.

Preparatory work, site selection

For a fireplace stove of this shape, there are not so many places to install. However, even from the four corners, it is necessary to choose the correct location.

Best for fireplace stove a large room or a hall with an area of ​​at least 20 m², since a large volume of air is required for its full operation.

Furnace specialists recommend building corner fireplace stoves at internal walls rooms. This is due to the fact that the fireplace, with this arrangement, does not lose its heating capacity, and problems with the operation of the chimney system are also excluded.

It should be noted that the fireplace stove should not be installed near doors and windows, as strong air currents arise between the combustion chamber and the opening, which can lead to loss of heat radiation or fire.

If the fireplace stove is equipped with a closed-type combustion chamber, then the draft inside the structure will be constant regardless of the place.

Do-it-yourself fireplace stove: step by step instructions

The base for the fireplace stove is most convenient to lay at the pouring stage strip foundation for home. If the house has already been built, then the installation of the foundation will be preceded by the dismantling of the flooring.

It should be taken into account that concrete base for heating installations must not be connected to the foundation of a residential building. Between the bases it is necessary to leave a distance of 50 to 100 mm. If this is neglected, then the massive structure of the house will shrink over time. As a result, the elements of the fireplace stove will shift or deform, forming cracks and gaps. The integrity of the structure will be violated, which will affect its functionality and performance.

Foundation laying

To lay the foundation, you must perform the following steps:

1. In the room of the house, at the place of the future location of the fireplace stove, make markings. To do this, on the wall it is necessary to make marks of the dimensions of the foundation with a marker.
2. disassemble flooring. Using a plumb line and a building level, extend the markup down.
3. Do not remove wooden logs at this stage, until the foundation of the fireplace stove is brought up to their level.
4. Using the same tools and marks on the wall, determine the exact location of the base on the floor of the basement level of the house.
5. Using crowbar and shovels to disassemble the floor to the foundation of the house.
6. Dig a pit with a depth equal to the base of the house, 10-15 cm wide more than the design of the fireplace stove. If the construction site is dominated by sandy or sandy soil, the walls of the pit may crumble. To avoid this, it is necessary to cover them with polyethylene.
7. Level and carefully tamp the bottom of the pit.
8. Pour in sand to get a layer thickness of 10 cm. It should be noted that wet sand is better compressed.
9. Pour the same layer of gravel on top of the sand cushion.
10. From boards or plywood sheets, make formwork for pouring the foundation.
11. Drive one piece of wood into each corner of the pit. Formwork panels will be attached to them. If the formwork is made of boards, then there will be gaps between them, through which the earth will spill out. To avoid this problem, you need to wrap the finished shield in polyethylene.
12. Using roofing material or thick polyethylene, make waterproofing.
13. From reinforcing bars with a cross section of 0.8 cm, make a reinforcing frame for a concrete base. Make the width of its cells no more than 10x10 cm. Fix the intersections of metal rods with wire, electric welding or plastic clamps. The entire metal structure must not lie on the waterproofing. Therefore, it can be placed on halves or fragments of bricks.
14. Pour concrete mixture of grade M300 or M400 into the formwork. Using a deep vibrator, remove air bubbles from the uncured substrate. Liquid concrete must completely cover the protruding parts of the reinforcement cage.
15. Cover the foundation with waterproofing material. This will allow the concrete to set evenly. After 3-4 weeks, the base will completely harden.
16. Now you need to cut wooden logs gender. Their ends will be located on the foundation of the fireplace stove.
17. The base is ready for laying brick rows.

Masonry mix preparation

Hardware stores abound with a variety of mortars and heat-resistant mixtures for laying stoves, fireplaces and other heating structures. However, experienced furnace specialists recommend resorting to the old and proven method - using clay mortar for this purpose. For this, it is necessary to use clay of fatty varieties, the best of which is blue clay.

When dried, blue clay does not crack.

The material is pre-soaked in water for a couple of days. During this time, the clay becomes viscous. Its consistency will resemble liquid cottage cheese with lumps. In order for the material to have a uniform structure, it is filtered through a large sieve, kneading the lumps.

Prepared clay will allow you to make a masonry joint with a thickness of 3 to 5 mm.

To obtain a solution, you need to add sand to clay. To do this, it is recommended to use coarse river sand, which is added before the start of brickwork.

To determine the quality of the resulting solution and the correct proportion, the material is rolled into a ball the size of a medium-sized apple. Then it is placed between two boards and slowly squeezed. During this process, the appearance of cracks in the clay is monitored:

• if they appeared immediately after squeezing - this indicates a large number of sand in solution;
• if the ball is compressed to half its height, and no cracks appear, this indicates a lack of sand;
• the proportions of sand and clay are considered ideal if cracks appear when the ball is compressed by 1/3.

Step-by-step instructions: features of brickwork

In order not to get confused in the rows of masonry, even experienced stove-makers do it first without mortar. It would be useful to print the ordering scheme.

Before proceeding with the brickwork, it is necessary to cover the concrete base with waterproofing, and only after that they begin to build a fireplace stove. This process consists of several stages:

1. It should be noted that the first rows must be made perfectly even, as they will become the basis for the entire structure. As shown in the diagram, they are laid out in a continuous layer. Using a square, a plumb line and a building level - to achieve strict perpendicularity. Before laying, bricks must be soaked in water for 1.5 - 2 hours.
2. The second and third rows form a place for storing furnace material. This niche is covered with two rows of bricks with a small (up to 3 cm) overlap of the upper masonry from the front side of the fireplace stove.
3. Starting from the fifth row, lay out the base of the fuel chamber. To do this, use fireclay bricks. The depth of the chamber will be 460 mm. Hailo fireplace stove has dimensions (630x490 mm).
4. From the sixth to the eighth row, build up the walls of the fireplace stove with an inclination of the back side of the firebox. That slope in the future will form a stone tooth. At this stage, you will need a hand-held circular saw with circles for working on stone. In the ordering scheme, incomplete or sawn bricks are visible.
5. From the ninth to the eleventh row, build up the walls of the fireplace stove in accordance with the diagram.
6. In the twelfth row, lay two steel corners 60 cm long. The shelves of the corners must be placed inside the chamber, horizontally to its base.
7. The thirteenth and fourteenth row forms the front overlap of the firebox window. Bricks must be laid on the spoon side, while fireclay material should be placed on the inside of the combustion chamber.
8. The fifteenth row forms the transition from the firebox to the chimney system. At this stage, the smoke tooth is formed and the back wall is built.
9. The sixteenth and seventeenth row forms the shelf of the fireplace stove, so the bricks must be laid out with an external shift.
10. From the eighteenth to the twentieth row, the design provides for a narrowing. At this step, a smoke collection chamber is formed.
11. From the twenty-first to the twenty-fourth row, a chimney is laid out.
12. From the twenty-fifth to the twenty-seventh - an increase in the transition section of the chimney. At this stage, a metal valve is mounted.
13. Subsequent orders determine the height of the chimney.

Chimney installation features

The inner surface of the chimney is a straight channel, but its outer part has design features.

At the intersection of the floor beam, the chimney has an extension. This design element is important because it reduces the temperature of the outlet streams. As a result, there is no need to make additional thermal insulation in this place.

At the level of the intersection of the roof, the chimney has an extension. This feature protects brickwork from the harmful effects of atmospheric precipitation.

The smoke channel also has protection in the form of a metal cap. It is recommended to equip the chimney with a spark arrester.

Operation features

When operating a fireplace stove, you should follow the basic rules:

1. Before kindling the fireplace stove, you must make sure that there is draft. To do this, you need to push the metal valve. If there is no draft or it goes in the opposite direction, this is a sign of clogging of the grates, air holes or the entire chimney system.
2. If the fireplace stove has not been used for a long time, then before kindling it is necessary to remove the cold air plug in the chimney system. To do this, it is necessary to light paper or a bunch of straw near the gas channel. After a while there will be traction. After that, you can use the fireplace.
3. As a heating material, it is better to use aspen, birch, oak, beech or hornbeam firewood. Aspen firewood is especially valuable, since when they are burned, the amount of soot is minimized. The smoke of this type of wood is able to clean the chimney channels from soot. Furnace experts advise using aspen firewood for every tenth kindling.
4. Coniferous woods contain resins, so it is convenient to use shavings, chips, as well as spruce and pine cones for kindling.
5. It is not advisable to put a lot of firewood into the combustion chamber. The best option is loading 1/3 of its part.
6. The room in which the stove is located should be well ventilated. To do this, the room is equipped with a ventilation system.
7. If the fireplace stove is used constantly, then soot cleaning should be carried out after each heating season. If the stove is fired several times a month, cleaning can be done once every two to three years.

The fireplace stove will become a key element of the interior of the room. Warm and comfortable atmosphere will be unforgettable in cold weather. winter evenings. This functional heating facility will become the main recreation area of ​​your home.

An ordinary wood-burning fireplace can drastically change the atmosphere of a home. And it is not at all necessary to hire craftsmen or buy ready-made expensive units for this.

Laying out a brick fireplace with your own hands is within the power of every homeowner who has a desire to equip his home. This requires patience and good scheme fireplace with firebox.

How to choose size and design

All construction work according to the rules begins with projects. Everything needs to be accurately calculated. the right dimensions brick fireplace, the power and aesthetic appearance depend on it. The most important thing is the guarantee of safe operation.

On a note. Perfectly calculated finished sizes the fireplace does not exist, since the houses are different, the materials of manufacture also differ in form and quality. One can only approximate standard size bricks.

Simple do-it-yourself fireplaces are now a very common phenomenon. It is important to correctly determine the dimensions of the combustion chamber.

The calculation is performed as follows:

• The area of ​​​​the room is divided by 100. So, for example, in the living room 30 square meters. m, the firebox will be 30 cm.
• Now depth. When laying the fireplace inserts, they maintain proportions: the depth is 1.5-2.5 times less than the width. In this example, you can take a conditional proportion of 1:2. That is, the depth is 37.5 cm (one and a half bricks), and the width is 0.75 m (3 bricks).
• The height of the furnace part is one and a half times the width. As a result, it turns out that a combustion chamber with a width of 3 bricks has a height of slightly more than one meter. In reality, it will be necessary to lay out 15 rows of masonry.
• The smoke channel in relation to the area of ​​a fire chamber 1:10-15. It can also be made wider. However, a straight section cannot be made in height less than 3 meters and more than 4 meters. These parameters are maintained for good traction.

To represent the construction of a brick fireplace, it is better to stock up on a ready-made drawing so as not to make mistakes in the calculations.

The fireplace will help out not only as an independent source of heat in the off-season, but also as an addition to the main space heating. When opportunities allow, there is experience in the construction of such structures, they choose complex fireplaces with additional features. This may be a water circuit connection, water heating, hob. The classic brick fireplace is not very large in size, and even a novice home master can master its construction. There are a lot of types of fuel for a fireplace now, but ordinary firewood is still the cheapest.

What are ordering schemes

There are a lot of options for schemes, you can choose the one suitable for this room, purchase the right materials and start building brick fireplaces on your own.

Saves space and looks stylish corner fireplace. Its advantages include good thermal performance and cost savings on building materials. They are required for such a design is much less than in the construction of wall or island options. In terms of dimensions, it is not large - 100x100cm. The material of the outer walls is 200 pieces of ceramic red brick, the firebox is 100 pieces of refractory brick.

simple brick fireplace experienced craftsmen Requires very few building materials. However, such a structure is not only for beauty, it can heat an area of ​​​​35 square meters. meters. In terms of dimensions, it is 65x115 cm, ceramic bricks need to be purchased 245-255 pieces. You should also prepare 90-100 pieces of fireclay, 2 bags of oven clay, 3-4 bags of sand, a small amount of cement. You need to purchase a gate valve and a metal corner.

An impressive do-it-yourself English brick fireplace is good to install in a spacious living room. To cope with the construction of this option, you need the skills of a bricklayer, as well as careful adherence to the ordering scheme.

Materials to be purchased for an English fireplace:

• 300-320 pieces of red ceramic bricks;
• 130-150 pieces of fireclay;
• 2 bags of oven or refractory masonry mix;
• 4 bags of ordinary sand;
• 1 bag of cement;
• 3 meter narrow metal plates and a corner;
• gate and cleaning door.

If you carefully study the image of the fireplace in the section, you can understand the principle of its device.

Starting from the foundation

The main rule when building a fireplace: the foundation must be made reliable. And this means that it is erected separately from the building, otherwise uneven shrinkage will lead to cracks in the fireplace walls. There will be a security risk, because the furnace part and the chimney canal may be damaged.

When the structure is placed next to the load-bearing wall, a layer of sand is sprinkled between the foundations of the house and the fireplace. The upper level of the foundation is compared with the floor.

The recess in the ground is not made too deep. If the soil is mobile, a sand and gravel layer should be made at least 50 cm thick. It will play the role of a compensator for capillary rise ground water. This is a kind of waterproofing of the base and fireplace walls.

For pouring take concrete M150. Perform in without fail reinforcement. The formwork will turn out strong if it is made of boards or plywood, fastened with self-tapping screws. According to the parameters, the foundation should be larger than the structure itself, at least 0.1 m on each side. The fireplace drawing usually indicates the required foundation parameters.

On a note. When the foundation is completely poured, it is necessary to wait until the concrete "grabs". This happens within 6-7 days.

A roofing material must be laid on top of the concrete, which will not allow moisture to be “pulled” from the soil. After that, you can mark up and start laying, strictly adhering to the scheme.

Preparing for laying a fireplace

Laying brick fireplaces is an interesting and simple matter, if you have the initial skills of a brick master.

For fire safety and heat retention, the wall behind the fireplace must be covered with a metal sheet or a thick foil layer. If the structures are wooden, they must be treated with a flame retardant mixture for interior work.

You also need to protect the floor in front of the hearth from possible ignition from ash. For this purpose, a refractory coating is laid.

On a note. For speed and convenience, it is desirable to sort out defective bricks. They will go to the bottom.

Before each stage of work, the bricks are laid out dry, cut and sanded.

Red ceramic bricks are first placed in water for a short time. Refractory bricks are not wetted, this cannot be done. From their surface, wipe the dirt with a slightly wet rag. This is required for uniform drying of the solution.

How to arrange bricks

The device of a brick fireplace is clearly visible in the ordering scheme. It is impossible to deviate from it, as this can lead to a deterioration in the operational properties of the focus.

All seams during operation should be carefully filled with mortar, otherwise the fireplace will start to smoke, as the draft will be broken.

Stages of work:

1. The first two rows of an English fireplace are laid with solid red bricks. The surface area is 1 m 140 cm by 1 m 270 cm. These two rows are made with dressing, having previously checked the level of the foundation. If the irregularities are small, then the thickness of the seam is easy to adjust. It is very important to make the initial step perfectly even, the slightest bevel will give an error, increasing the slope with each new row.

   On a note. The foundation is laid using cement-sand mixture in a ratio of 1:2, and 1:3 is possible.

2. Rows 3 and 4 following the scheme. The furnace bottom in the 4th row must be made of refractory bricks using a fire-resistant mixture. Clay and sand are mixed in such a proportion that the mixture does not fly off the trowel during laying, and does not stick very much.
3. Next comes the laying of the walls. Domestic perform refractory brick on a clay mixture, external - ceramic, using a cement-sand mortar. If necessary, 10 to 20 percent of cement is added to clay and sand.
4. For good heat transfer, the bricks of the rear corner of the combustion chamber are cut diagonally.
5. The final stage of laying the firebox is the 12th row. On top of the masonry, it is necessary to install a steel corner and a strip. The back wall of the furnace part in the 12th row is made with bonded masonry. The brick is cut at an angle so that the dome eventually comes out.
6. From the 13th to the 16th row, a fireplace vault and a special ledge are being formed, which prevents the return of combustion products to the room. The 15th row narrows the chimney channel, thereby increasing traction. Then the channel is again expanded, and a cleaning door is built into it to remove soot. Inside the chimney channel is laid out with fireclay bricks, outside - with red ceramic. The portal for a brick fireplace should not exceed in height the size of the depth of the hearth by more than twice.

   Important. When laying the chimney, you need to carefully rub the internal seams with your hand and wipe from the solution with a damp cloth. If this is not done, soot will be attracted to the roughness in the future.

7. 17-20 rows - the final stage of laying the fireplace. Then comes the pipe, up to about 26 rows high. The clearance must be narrowed to one brick and closed with a damper at the level of the 25th row.

After the completion of construction work, you need to wait 3-5 days without melting the fireplace.

The first firebox should be gentle. It is necessary to achieve uniform heating of the entire surface of the fireplace and smooth gluing of the clay mortar. In the future, this step will prevent the fragility of the seams, the service life of the structure will be extended.

After the first firebox is made, you can start finishing. It is advisable to observe moderation, since the main decoration of such a hearth is fire. Therefore, it will be enough to have a beautiful vase, or to complement the fireplace with forged accessories and a beautiful firewood basket.