17 Tips For Building A Fireplace

This guide to building a fireplace contains only basics so you can get an idea of the work and skills involved. If you want to build a fireplace, use this as your first basic guide before delving deeper into studying online resources, reading books or consulting experience fireplace builders. The easiest first fireplace is an outdoor fireplace because no wall modifications are needed. For that reason, this guide will address building a free standing outdoor fireplace.

 

 

Decide the material to use; choose fireplace brick for your first effort. You’ll need mortar, plastic sheeting, heat resistant tiles for floor protection, a chalk line, trowels (masonry / finishing), hammer, whisk broom, and a tuck pointer available. Here are the basic steps to building a fireplace outdoors:

 

1. Draw your design with measurements.
2. Place plastic sheeting around work area for surface protection and scratch prevention.
3. Mix a little mortar; attach heat resistant tiles to patio pr area where the fireplace will stand.
4. Extend the tiles to form a heart if desired.
5. Cover the laid tiles with plastic sheeting to keep moisture out, cure overnight.
6. After mortal is set, check that tiles are secure.
7. Begin laying first course of bricks. Use builder’s chalk line to mark outside line for brick placement.
8. Ensure mortar is compressed well between materials.
9. After laying second course, use tuck pointer to remove excess mortar between courses for a finished look.
10. Ensure corners are square. Continue adding courses of bricks or stones. Ensure construction is level and straight vertically and horizontally.
11. Remove excess mortar with finishing trowel.
12. Cover; cure overnight.
13. The next day, chip away any mortar lumps; whisk away debris.
14. If a chimney is planned, construct it after the base is completed. Learn how to install a flue but the other basic construction is same as fireplace base construction.
15. Construct the hearth from the same materials as the fireplace if you chose not to use tiles.
16. Place a purchased metal fire box in the fire pit; add dog-irons to hold logs. Add fireplace screen or glass doors if desired.
17. A mantle added if desired.

 

 

Source: http://multifuelstoves.org

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Easy 6 Step Guide – Wood Stove Installation

Professional, certified wood stove installation experts can be located in your local phone book’s yellow pages or through home and garden shops. Proper installation of wood burning stoves requires expert knowledge of the safety regulations and inspections required to ensure the wood stove measures up to fire regulations and environmental standards.

 

Installing a wood stove could easily require a weekend of work and the hardest part is cutting the passageway for the wood stove pipe to go through the wall.

 

Place your stove far enough from the home’s wall to prevent creating a fire hazard. It should also be placed on a fire-retardant sheet to prevent heat from damaging or causing fires on the floor of your home. This is especially important if you have a wooden floor. Pipes for your stove must be connected carefully and cleaned on a regular basis. Wood Stove chimneys should be properly insulated and contain a spark arrestor at the top of the chimney to prevent roof fires. You must also be concerned about preventing birds and other small wildlife from entering your wood stove’s chimney. Creosote build-up is another concern.

 

 

Follow our easy 6 Step Process to make ease of your wood stove installation:

1. Get Installation Area Prepared - You must space the stove a minimum of 36 inches away from any wall. Then you must measure the diameter of the stove pipe and multiply that number by three. This provides you with the necessary clearance needed for the pipe and the wall. A hole must be cut in the wall in order to place the stove pipe into the wall according to the calculated clearance.
2. Positioning the Stove – Locate the best position for the stove so that it will provide the most heat. Professionals recommend placing the wood burning stove in the central portion of the house to provide the best radial heating as well as a safe distance from the walls of the home.
3. Heat Protection – A heat shield crafted of copper, metal or another type of material, aids in relaxing some of the strict clearance requirements. The wood stove hearth protects the floor from fires and damage caused by sparks and embers. Some options include brick over metal, mortared brick, ceramic tile, and prefabricated hearths which are insulated.
4. Create A Brick Wall - Build a brick wall 3 1/2 inches thick around the edges of the wall near the stove. This will prevent any heat damage to walls or possible fire hazards. Maintain at least 12 inches between the bricks and the actual structural wall.
5. Install Your Wood Burning Stove Pipe - Using a factory-made stove pipe, install it into the hole cut into the wall. You must leave a minimum of nine inches between the chimney cap outside and the exterior house wall.
6. The Chimney – Stacking of the piping on top of the wood stove is crucial for safety. You should :
   • Place an end of the wood stove’s pipe into the collar of the flue of the stove.
   • A steel connecting sleeve is used to make the final connection from the exhaust pipe to the stove. As you begin to use your wood burning stove, check for any leaking air in the pipes.
   • Add additional stovepipe to raise the pipe towards the room’s ceiling.
   • Add insulated chimney pipe support for connecting the pipe to the room ceiling.
   • Using a factory-made stove pipe, install it into the hole cut into the wall. You must leave a minimum of nine inches between the chimney cap outside and the exterior house wall.
   • ONLY use only insulated chimney pipe to pass floors until you reach the roof.
   • Add required seals and flashing ensure there are no leaks around the piping.
   • Add the storm collar piping for extra durability, safety andstrength.
   • Complete the outdoor portion of the chimney by adding the chimney cap.

 

The future of wood stoves :

 

Wood stoves are basically a container made of metal for holding a fire. They are often manufactured from cast iron and may or may not be brick lined. They may be created of welded steel plates. All wood stoves have an inlet for air to be able to create combustion and a means for gases to exhaust. The exhaust gas is the smoke from the fire. This control permits a wood burning stone to heat far more effectively than an open-faced fireplace. Wood burning stoves manufactured during the 1970s and early part of the 1980s have efficiency rating ranging from 50% to 60%. The new government requirements put in effect in 1988 provide efficiency ratings from a minimum of 75% to as high as 90%. This means that up to 90% of the wood burned in the stove turns into heat.

 

Particulate emission concerns regarding dangerous gases and toxins contained in wood smoke caused changes in wood stove designs. The old fashioned wood stoves emitted up to 50 grams or more of particulate matter for each hour smoke was generated by the stove. The newer designs only emit about 5 grams of particulate matter per hour of use.

 

More and more people are installing eco-friendly alternative heat sources which require no chimney and a wood stove pipe is used. These heat sources, such as wood pellet burning stones, no not have any type of chimney for exhaust to exit. A wood burning stove pipe going through the wall is sufficient for exhaust of gases. It only requires a few hours to install a wood pipe stove properly and the job is quite easy to do.

 

Source: http://multifuelstoves.org

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Small Wood Stove

As heating costs sky-rocket, more people are turning to wood stoves for heat. These wood burning stoves are easy to install in your home and easy to use. The prices are affordable, too. Wood or any other type of inexpensive eco-friendly fuel option can be used in these small stoves. Wood stoves can be used to heat homes as well as for cooking food.

 

Wood stoves are found in a variety of shapes, many sizes, and a wide price range. You'll find just the one to suit your personal home needs. A small wood stove is one of the most popular types available today. Just as the name makes you think, this is a small stove which burns wood and is easy to transport to where ever you need to use it. This type of wood stove is great for campers, travellers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. By carrying a light-weight small wood stove on a camping trip or other adventure, you can heat water, cook food, and warm your surroundings.

 

These small wood stoves are perfect for smaller houses where only a few family members reside. Because the residents are fewer in number, they are perfect for both cooking and heating the home. Small homes often have tiny kitchens and a small wood stove is just the perfect fit.

 

Though small in size, these wood stoves are highly efficient. The method and mechanics used are exactly like their larger cousins -- the normal-sized wood stove -- and therefore the results are just as efficient and effective. Suitable for heating family rooms or resort cottages in the wilderness. People save tons of fuel and conserve energy with these small wood stonves.

 

The multiple functions available with these stoves have resulted in more companies manufacturing smaller wood burning stoves. These stoves are less expensive than the larger, more traditionally styled wood stoves. Consumers should study their needs and then buy the small wood stove which fits their personal needs and finances.

 

Source: www.ezinearticles.com | by Danny Mitchell Ashton

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Do You Have an Iron Wood Stove in Your Home?

Wood burning stoves have been popular since the 18th century and while most people still prefer the traditional way of burning and keeping their fireplaces warm, its popularity has increased. If you happen to have not planned to build a fireplace during the planning stage of your house but wish to have the same warm feeling during the winter and add to the elegance of your living room, you can still add on an iron wood stove.

 

It is similar to your small fireplace and comparatively inexpensive. Also, the installation is quick and simple that you can easily build it along with your add on room or extensions.

Aside from the convenience of installing it, many homeowners prefer this to the traditional fireplace because it gives a distinctive and modern look to your living room without compromising the quality of heat and giving the same feeling that conventional fireplaces give. 

 

There is simply a wide range of designs to choose from and see which among the options would coordinate well with your current living room design. How many appliances in your house can serve not just a dual purpose but also astoundingly multiple purposes?

An iron wood stove is definitely such a brilliant appliance in your house, which serves several purposes aside from the usual. It is such a good investment because you can't just heat an entire house but you can also use it to cook dinner especially when there's no electricity or when the gas is out.

 

With it, you can keep your energy bills down during the winter months when it is usually the season when your electricity bills are skyrocketing. It does not require excellent skills in order for you to install or maintain this stove because all you need is a good supply of wood and a sharp axe to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. 

 

Why would you prefer an iron wood stove fireplace? While the latter are what most homes trust, it can be such a great addition to a den or your living room because they are much safer, multipurpose and doesn't expel any unwanted smoke while giving your home the same warmth that conventional fireplaces give.

 

Imagine having the same convenience only with added some more features. Most of these stoves are free standing and elaborately designed with engravings making them a perfect ornament to your either classic or modern living room. It also eliminates the need to use gas or lighting a match just to keep it running. Your family will also be saved from the dangers of leaving the gas on or breathing deadly fumes because the smoke goes through a pipe outside the house.  They are also much easier to distinguish, easy to manipulate or control. They are ecologically responsible because they do not utilize gasoline, coal or any other nonrenewable energy sources. 

 

To ensure that every part of the house and its inhabitants are kept warm during winter, you need to place the iron wood stove in a central location. They are efficient, convenient to install and maintain, environment friendly and inexpensive.

 

We provide information on all things related to fireplaces such as a propane fireplaces, ventless fireplaces and even a fireplace vacuum along with many other items concerning your fireplace. Visit our site today for more information.

 

Source: http://EzineArticles.com | By M. Applebaum

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Installing a Freestanding Pellet Stove

A freestanding pellet stove can be a great way to add heat to your main living spaces while also enjoying the look of a lovely new piece of furniture. Pellet stoves come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles, and one that stands on its own can be a great way to add a focal point to your living room, dining room, or even large kitchen. Before you buy a pellet stove like this one, though, you need to know exactly what it takes to install one in your home.

 

First, check out the specifications on any stoves that you're looking at to see how much space you need to leave around the stove. Freestanding stoves will do best if they are in a large area, which will allow for more regulation of heat and better circulation throughout the area you need to keep warm. Different stoves will, obviously, have different space needs, and you should be sure you have enough room to safely install your stove.

 

Second, figure out what you need to have on the floor. Anytime you're installing a pellet stove, you'll have to have some sort of protection on your floor, whether it is tiles set into the floor or a more traditional-looking hearth. Again, the specifications for the floor covering will be different depending on what type of stove you buy and how large it is.

 

Thirdly, you'll have to figure out how to install vents for your freestanding pellet stove. Depending on where you need to install your stove, you will probably have to knock a few holes in your walls or ceilings, which could be more or less complicated, depending on the area around the stove. Before you buy a stove, figure out how large of a vent it will need, and plan out where you will install the vent in your walls or ceiling.

 

Finally, you'll have to find a place to install your pellet stove nearby to an electrical outlet, since it will need electricity to run properly. Setting your stove up right in front of an outlet might be the best option so that you will have less cords to deal with. If you can't put the stove right in front of an outlet, you should consider how you will hide the cords that will trail along the floor, for the sake of both safety and appearances.

 

Source: www.goarticles.com | by Chris Brown

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Fireplace Inserts - Wood vs Pellets

These days, many people are turning to fireplace inserts in an effort to reduce heating costs. Fireplaces can be great with their open, crackling flames, but they aren't very efficient. Fireplace inserts, whether they burn wood or pellets, can keep an entire room or an entire home warm, and they can better regulate the heat in an area. Around a wood fireplace, seats closest to the fire may be unbearably hot while seats across the room will be cool.

 

Using a fireplace insert can help circulate heat around your entire home, but there are a couple of different types of fireplace inserts that you can use: wood burning and pellet burning.

 

Wood burning fireplace inserts burn one of the cheapest available sorts of fuel, especially if you can find and chop your own wood or get it from local landscaping companies who would otherwise discard it.

 

Fireplace insert pellet stoves burn special pellets, which can be bought at local hardware stores; these pellets aren't as cheap as wood, but they will still save you money on your overall heating costs.

 

One potential problem with pellet burning inserts is that they require electricity to run properly, so if you go through a power outage, you may have a problem. You can, however, buy battery-powered backup power sources to keep your stove running during an electrical outage. A wood burning stove, on the other hand, doesn't take any electricity and will continue to work during a power outage.

 

One of the best parts about fireplace insert pellet stoves is that they don't need complex ventilation systems. You can usually just run a short length of pipe or pellet vent straight out the wall behind the stove. With a wood burning stove, on the other hand, you'll have to have a more complex chimney, which can be really expensive.

 

Another great thing about pellet burning stoves is that it can regulate the heat in your home by turning on and off based on the temperature of your home; besides this, pellet stoves can have fans added to them, which can circulate heat around your entire home. Wood burning stoves, on the other hand, have to be stoked and messed with in order to change the level of heat in the room, and if you are gone overnight, your home is likely to be freezing when you get home.

 

Source: www.goarticles.com | by Chris Brown

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Take Your Fireplace to the Next Level with a Fireplace Insert!

Get the most out of your fireplace with a fireplace insert. These high-tech stoves can take your fireplace from inefficient to excellent! Increase heat output while cutting pollution with a fireplace insert today!

Who doesn't love the crackling warmth of a fire in the winter time! But from sooty smoke to inconsistent heat, even the best fireplaces can leave something to be desired. That's why fireplace inserts are a great choice for upgrading your fireplace while still keeping the cozy charm of an open fire. Essentially a wood stove designed to fit snuggly into your masonry fireplace, these units can help you get the absolute most out of your fireplace this winter!

With their efficient firebox construction and warmth circulation systems, fireplace inserts can dramatically increase your fireplace's heat output. And because these inserts typically burn much hotter than a traditional wood burning fireplace, they also burn more cleanly-that means fewer toxic emissions and virtually no accumulation build-up in you chimney. From reducing your heating bills with their energy-efficient output to eco-friendly reduced pollution, inserts for your fireplace are a great investment in your home!

Fireplace inserts are available in three main types, each designed to capitalize on the distinct properties of their fuel source. These options include:

• Wood Fireplace Inserts 
• Gas Fireplace Inserts 
• Pellet Fireplace Inserts 

The construction of your fireplace and the heating needs of your home as well as the availability of fuel can help you determine which type of fireplace insert is right for your home. Available in a variety of looks and styles, most fireplace inserts include a glass front that allows you to enjoy the flickering beauty and ambiance of the flames.

Fireplace inserts are available from a wide variety of sources, but you may want to ask your chimney sweep for recommendations. He may provide installation services himself or may be able to suggest a local fireplace contractor with the expertise to correctly and completely put in your new fireplace insert. Get ready to get the absolute most out of your fireplace with a beautiful, high-performance insert today! Learn more here.


Source: www.goarticles.com | by Matt Gallo

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