Table of Contents
Step 1 – Moving the gas fireplace insert. Step 2 – Cut half size bricks. Step 3 – Measure and stencil horizontal guide lines on the wall. Step 4 – Mix the mortar. Step 5 – Lay brick the fireplace surround (the wall) Step 6 – Brick over the fireplace insert opening. Step 7 – Lay the brick hearth (the floor).
Can you use bricks for a hearth?
Bricks can be laid in rows or herringbone patterns or in a combination of colours and patterns that add visual interest to the hearth. Building a brick hearth is a simple process that can be completed in an afternoon by a novice handyman. Clean the surface of the floor where you will build the hearth.
How much does it cost to brick a hearth?
The average fireplace installation cost is $2,500 to $5,000, although an authentic brick fireplace constructed by a mason could cost up to $10,000 or more. Installing a prefabricated brick fireplace costs $2,000 to $3,000. A mason-built brick fireplace costs $3,500 to $5,000.
What is the code for fireplace hearth?
For Your Hearth Your fireplace hearth must extend at least 16 inches beyond the fireplace opening and at least 8 inches on either side of the firebox, according to the International Code Council. Hearth extensions will need to be at least 2 inches thick.
How thick should a hearth be?
The hearth must extend at least 300mm to the front and 150mm to either side. It must be at least 12mm thick. It must be made from non-combustible materials. It must also cover a minimum area of 840 x 840mm.
Can I add a hearth to my fireplace?
Be sure to check local building codes before starting a project around a gas or wood burning fireplace. A raised fireplace hearth adds a lot to a room: aesthetic appeal, a space where you can add more decor, or a bench seat for when you need more seating options.
What is under a brick hearth?
Under it is probably just a sub-floor, in other words whether you have carpet or wood in the room they wouldn’t have finished the floor under the hearth. You wouldn’t need to pour cement.
Can you use red brick for a fireplace?
If you can not locate fire bricks where you are or for any reason obtain them, Red Clay Bricks will perform much the same way in wood fire temperature levels and can be used instead.
How much does it cost to build a brick fireplace surround?
Most pay around $15,000 for a wood-burning fireplace with a tile surround and a tempered glass door, with a new chimney and flue in an existing home.Cost to Build a Fireplace Surround by Material. Material Average Costs per Sq.Ft. (Installed) Brick $25 – $50.
How many bricks do I need to build a fireplace?
On the exterior, the chimney is brick and the wall is veneered with brick. In all, this fireplace required 75 firebrick for the firebox, about 600 brick for the backup walls and throat, 700 brick for the shell and 1,100 brick for the chimney.
Are prefab fireplaces safe?
Prefab fireplaces are extensively factory-tested for safety. However, they must be installed correctly to be safe in your home. You must be sure that replacement parts are made for your specific fireplace, or risk a house fire. Some prefab fireplaces burn wood, some gas, some both.
How far does a hearth have to stick out?
The hearth should extend at least 150mm out from the stove at the sides and 300mm in front. This 300mm distance can be reduced a slightly if the stove is not designed to operate with the door open. A freestanding stove which is not in a recess should have a hearth at least 840 x 840mm.
Do I have to put tile in front of fireplace?
An apron of marble or granite tile directly in front of your fireplace is common, but not necessary. Gas fireplaces will not damage flooring or other materials that are in close proximity, like a wood-burning fireplace would.
Can you have a fireplace without a hearth?
Most modern gas only fireplaces with fixed glass do not require a hearth extension. The manufacturers usually require a 36″ clear space in front (no furniture, etc.).
What material can I use for a hearth?
Fireplace hearths are made out of a non-combustible material such as granite, stone, marble, ceramic, cement or slate.
How high should a fireplace hearth be?
The height of your hearth opening above the floor often is a matter of local building codes and personal preference. The average height would be 12 to 14 inches from the floor to the bottom of the hearth opening, which allows you to install a seating area in front of your hearth.
How big does a hearth need to be for an open fire?
A hearth must extend a minimum of 300mm (12 inches) in front of the fire or stove and 150 mm (6 inches) to the side of the fire or stove (see diagram 4). Under some circumstances the minimum depth of a hearth plate is 12mm (see below).
How can I make my fireplace look taller?
Add planked wood above the fireplace. A nice way to make your fireplace look bigger and your ceiling higher is to install planked wood above it. It’s a dramatic look and you can paint the planks in any color to compliment your room.
What is the hole in the bottom of a fireplace for?
Designed to hold old fire ashes, fireplace ash pits range from large pits holding years of ashes to small pits holding ashes from a few fires. These pits are recessed in masonry or other fire-resistant materials so that hot ashes do not accidentally reach wood or other flammable materials.
How do you make a brick fireplace look modern?
There are a ton of options for things that you can do to change the look of a brick fireplace: Whitewash or paint the brick. Stucco over the brick. Add tile to the surround or whole fireplace. Add a new mantle to the existing fireplace.
How do you break a brick hearth?
Remove the bricks at the surface of the hearth by chipping them up with the rotary hammer and chisel-bit. Remove the remaining rows of bricks and mortar that comprise the outer edges of the hearth. Chip out and remove the mortar-bed at the floor to expose the wire lath. Avoid digging into the subfloor.
Do you need special mortar for fireplaces?
Tools & Materials. The mortar in most brick joints consists of sand, lime, and portland cement. But in a fireplace, that mix just crumbles away when subjected to roaring wood fires. For this application, masons rely on a refractory mortar made of magnesium silicate, which can withstand heat up to 2,000 degrees F.
How do you fill mortar between bricks?
Fill the Joints Scoop a dollop of mortar onto a brick trowel or hawk, hold it up even with a bed joint, and push the mortar against the back of the joint with the tuck-pointing trowel. Eliminate voids with a few slicing passes of the trowel’s edge, then add more mortar until the joint is filled.
What mortar do I use with fire bricks?
Sakrete® High Heat Mortar is a dry, medium-duty mortar ideal for setting masonry units in fireplaces, fire pits or chimney applications such as setting clay flue liners and parging a smoke chimney chamber. It has high heat resistant characteristics and excellent strength properties.
