Arrangement and installation of a fireplace

Before installing a fireplace in a particular room, you must answer the question of what tasks you will set for this equipment. Many consumers are trying to find a universal solution in this device, but it is not capable of performing several functions at once. You must understand that a decorative item does not have maximum heat dissipation. It is also important to remember that there is a big difference between a three-story building.

Fireplace device

Before starting the installation of the fireplace, you must familiarize yourself with its device. In any such equipment, there are basic components, among which should be highlighted:

• portal;
• firebox;
• chimney.

The portal is a decorative part that frames and surrounds the firebox. The firebox itself is a niche where a fire is made. When installing a fireplace, it is important to remember that there is a chimney through which smoke will be removed. The most decorative element of the entire structure is the portal, and the rest of the parts play a rather functional role.

Installing a fireplace

Installation of a fireplace involves the assembly of a huge number of small parts. The structure will be quite massive, therefore it will require a reliable base that will undergo significant stress. In terms of structure, the foundation is almost no different from that which fits under any structure.

If possible, it is necessary to consider whether it is possible to build the foundations for the fireplace and the main building at the same time at the design stage of the house, because in the future you will not have to dismantle the coatings. However, the foundations cannot be made in such a way that they form a single structure, because they will carry different loads. Shrinkage during operation will also be different.

A gap of 5 cm should be left between the bases, which is covered with sand. However, the installation of a fireplace is accompanied by the need to comply with other rules. If we compare the size of the fireplace table with the plane of the foundation for the fireplace itself, the parameters of the latter will be 5 cm larger. It is necessary to lay the foundation by at least 50 cm. The final value will depend on the condition of the soil.

Sometimes the laying is carried out to a more impressive depth. If you have to work with sandy soil, there are a few things to keep in mind. Under the influence of the foundation, such soil will be compacted, therefore, it can sag within a short time. Clay soils are unreliable; they have characteristics determined by the current moisture content. If it is quite high, then the soil will not be able to bear the load.

The installation of the fireplace is accompanied by a foundation device, the materials for which are used:

• rubble stone;
• crushed stone;
• gravel;
• brick.

Cement or lime-cement mortar is used as binding elements for base fillers. When preparing the mixture, the ratio of sand and cement will be sufficient, which looks like this: 1 to 6.

Features of installing a fireplace: installing a chimney

Fireplaces, the assembly and installation of which can be carried out by DIYers, have chimneys. They should be collected taking into account the rules and requirements, otherwise it will not be possible to talk about the safety of even the highest quality fireplace. The chimney must not be located in outer walls. The pipe is closer to the ridge.

If the pipe section on the street is smaller, this option is the most optimal. The best material for a chimney is brick. Umbrellas and reflectors should not be placed at the exit of this part. When installing a fireplace with your own hands, you must remember that it is important to provide an influx of fresh air, otherwise the equipment will not work.

If we compare closed structures with open ones, then the former lose. By creating a draft of the required intensity, it will be possible to ensure the removal of gases and air using a flue structure, ensuring the removal of combustion products. The chimney must be resistant to soot, condensation and the temperature of the flue gases. It should be designed in such a way that this unit complies with building, fire and operational standards.

Chimney installation features

The instructions for installing the fireplace provide for compliance with the rules when installing the chimney. For each of the latter, certain processes can be considered for strengthening the smoke exhaust structure, its assembly and installation. If you decide to use a brick, then first you need to arrange the foundation, then you can start laying the walls.

Do not forget about the mop, the head and the need for a chimney. If the chimney is made of ceramics, then the fixing of modular elements must be carried out. The design must provide for a revision and a connection tee.

It is important to take into account during installation which is characteristic of the operation process. It is unacceptable to break the tightness of the channel. When creating and designing a structure, it is necessary to calculate the order of installation of the chimney, its height, cross-section and the correspondence of the constituent elements.

Fireplace insert installation

The installation of a fireplace in the house must be accompanied by the observance of fire safety rules. The wall around the equipment should be covered with fire-resistant materials such as ceramic tiles. The device will work effectively only on a level surface.

The bottom of the firebox must have a protective covering made of fire-resistant materials. Basalt wool is considered the best solution among the latter. It is not recommended to install the fireplace insert on an unprotected floor surface. Side walls should not be less than 6 cm thick; as for the back, its thickness should be 10 cm.

Features of the placement of the furnace

Stoves and fireplaces, the installation and installation of which can be carried out by you yourself, are functional and decorative components of the room. As for the first, they can be located close to the wall and even in the corner. If the main function is expressed in cooking and creating a cozy atmosphere, then when the equipment is located against the wall, part of the thermal energy will be spent on heating it, but this factor is not critical.

If it is necessary to install an electric furnace, the requirements for fire safety are somewhat softened. A non-combustible covering must be laid on the floor in front of the firebox; for this, you can use a metal sheet. The nearest wall must be 125 cm away from the stove door from the heater. A distance of 120 cm from the ceiling to the top must be maintained. The distance from the side walls to flammable surfaces of the room must be 50 cm. This also applies to the distance to the wall from the side of the device. To protect the floor, it is necessary to lay out a brick base.

Fireplace decoration

Different materials can be used to install the fireplace cladding. Porcelain stoneware acts as one of them, but the following solutions are also suitable:

• unglazed tiles;
• glazed ceramic tiles;
• plaster volumetric tiles;
• natural stone veneer;
• imitation of different types of stone.

For each type of tile, its own glue is selected, which is combined with the surface and facing material. The adhesive composition must be heat-resistant to withstand temperature extremes.

Fireplaces, the device and installation of which are described in the article, are revetted after cleaning and priming the surface. In addition, the base is leveled with plaster. If the walls need to be perfectly aligned, then beacons are installed on them, and a reinforcing mesh is fixed on the surface. In this case, a plaster mortar is thrown onto the surface, and the alignment is carried out by the rule.

Methods of work

If you do not plan to apply a thick layer, then the application should be carried out with a wide spatula and distribute the composition over the surface. The tile is laid only after the layers are completely dry and gain strength. The glue is applied with a notched trowel, which leaves grooves for high adhesion. Laying must be started from the bottom row, going up.

The first row must be brought out to the ideal horizontal using the building level, because the accuracy of the entire masonry will depend on it. This applies to all products that are stacked one at a time, and not in a chaotic mess. In order to ensure the same size for vertical and horizontal seams, each craftsman resorts to his own solutions. Tile pieces can be inserted between rows, while you may prefer special crosses, however they are suitable for small joints within 5 mm.

Finally

Before choosing a fireplace design, you must think about safety. For example, a closed firebox outperforms an open one in this respect. Therefore, the most correct solution in a house where there are children is to install a fireplace with a cast-iron firebox.

If we are talking about a closed structure, then you should know that it is a firewood combustion chamber in which one of the walls is glazed. A door with a lifting mechanism is very convenient, which moves upward under the cladding and allows you to turn a closed firebox into an open one.