Style selection
A fireplace stove for a small country house or country house should not only be quite functional, but also be suitable for the given interior of the living room, which in turn can be very diverse.
A fireplace stove for a summer residence can be made in a classic style, which is characterized by a wall arrangement, an open hearth and a firebox, which is framed by a portal. Such a classic fireplace, due to its open hearth, will allow you to contemplate the burning flame, which will look especially bright and mesmerizing. However, classic open fireplace inserts also have their disadvantages, which include the fact that when the fire burns, harmful decomposition products are released, which are not fully discharged through the chimney to the street and enter the room in small quantities. That is why, if you prefer to install an open fireplace in your home, add a slider, screen or removable damper that will prevent combustion products from entering the room, increasing the efficiency and safety of using such equipment.
A cast iron fireplace will fit most harmoniously into the classic design and interior of your living room or kitchen; such fireboxes often have a natural and environmentally friendly cladding with marble, sandstone, granite, calm shades and simple shapes predominate. Such portals are predominantly U-shaped, complemented by various candles, paintings, a mirror or frames with photographs.
A wood-burning fireplace for a small country house can be made in a country style, which is otherwise called rustic; it is characterized by a D-shaped outline and a method of location in a corner or near a wall. These country-style fireplace inserts are ideal for placement in small rooms with an area of up to 30 square meters and are complemented by a spacious firewood rack, which makes them even more convenient to use and functional.
A wall or corner fireplace stove for a summer cottage can be made in a modern style, which is characterized by unusual shapes and original ways of placement in the interior. The Art Nouveau style, which is dominated by rich and contrasting shades, intricate decor, patterns and combined materials, is very popular. No less popular is the high-tech style of facing fireplaces, which contains calmer shades: metallic, chrome, mirror surfaces, matte inserts, white, gray and black tones. The preferred materials are steel and glass; a high-tech fireplace can be complemented by a TV and other appliances, electronics; the portal can be supplemented with a minimalistic electric fireplace.
Fireplaces
Note. There is a misconception that a fireplace is not capable of heating the entire house, but in fact this is not the case. Despite the fact that the thermal effect is largely due to infrared heating, that is, from the heating of objects surrounding the firebox, a closed firebox allows you to install a water jacket or simply work with the effect of a conventional cooking stove.
Styles
Classic English style
- The U-shaped shape of the built-in portal and the open firebox indicate that this is a classic style heating design. Although recently the firebox is increasingly being made closed - this increases the efficiency when burning fuel. A damper or door that regulates the air flow into the combustion chamber can make it smaller, therefore, the rate of release of hot gases into the chimney will also be less, thereby maintaining heat in the room. Marble is most often used to finish classic designs, but it can also be ceramic tiles, steel, cast iron and even wood.
- The D-shaped shape of the portal, as in the photo above, indicates that we have a fireplace made in a rustic style or “country” style, as it is often called in the Western style - it can be made in a wall-mounted or corner version. As a rule, the dimensions of such a heating device are small, and sometimes even miniature, which is very convenient for country houses where wood-burning fireplaces are installed for quick heating. For the construction of such structures, inexpensive building materials are usually used, for example, sandstone or shell rock, and a niche is often made in the lower part of the portal for storing and drying firewood.
Laconic hi-tech style
Bionics - original design
- At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, an architectural style arose called bionics, which, in fact, has no straight lines and angles - all forms are streamlined and as close as possible to natural conditions. Each of these fireplaces, in fact, is a work of art, so their price is quite high and there is no point in installing such a heater in a rarely visited room.
Country style electric fireplace
- Electric heaters of this type are fundamentally different from wood-burning and coal fireplaces, which require a chimney. Here heating occurs due to weak injection of hot air by a fan, or using infrared radiation. But here it is possible to design the portal in almost any of the above styles, in addition, you see a picture of burning wood or coals, which creates the feeling of using natural fuel. Even if your home is not electrified, renting a diesel generator for your dacha will solve this problem.
We turn what we want into reality
Note. You can pay attention to the fact that no instructions oblige you to make a fireplace as exclusively a heating device - the presence of a hob will allow you to cook food and boil a kettle, which is very convenient for a country house.
Small fireplace with hob
First of all, it should be noted that small fireplaces for summer cottages must, in any case, perform their heating functions. This means that such a device must occupy at least 1/50 of the area of the entire room.
Imagine that the total area will be 20m2, therefore, a heating device of this type should occupy 20/50=0.4m2. The height of such a structure will depend on the height of the ceilings, the architectural style, as well as your own preferences.
Note. If you decide to install a fireplace with an open firebox and a direct chimney (without an attic bed or draft wells), you receive an additional means of natural ventilation of the room.
Fireplace diagram with direct draft
Let's say that we need to build a fireplace on a previously agreed area of 20 m 2, therefore, its width can be in the range of 70-80 cm, and its height 55-65 cm with a firebox depth of 35-37 cm, the back wall will have a height of 35 cm and about 50 cm wide.
If the chimney has smooth walls, then its cross-section for a room of 20 m 2 can be made 14 × 27 cm and 27 × 27 cm with rough walls. In cases where the area exceeds 20m2, but not more than 25m2, then for both smooth and rough walls of the chimney its cross-section should be 27x27 cm.
As you understand, the draft must be adjustable, therefore, when arranging a country fireplace, you will need a stove grate, valve or damper. But before you begin installing the heater, you absolutely need to make a floor, even if these are country houses made of block containers - there should be no flammable or fusible materials on the floor.
As an option, for this kind of protection, a fireclay brick flooring is laid or a sheet of galvanized sheet is simply laid down.
Regardless of whether the fireplace is on a pedestal or on a flat floor, the fireproof part of the base must protrude at least 1/3 of the firebox along with the walls. For example, if the depth of the firebox is 36 cm plus the walls, it will be about 50 cm, which means that the protrusion should be at least 18-20 cm from the outside of the door.
Selection of firebox and dimensions
The stove, with which the cottage will certainly become more comfortable and warmer, may have a different structure, operating principle and type of fuel or other resources used for operation.
Classic models ideal for installing and heating a small country house include a wood-burning stove-fireplace, which consists of a firebox into which fuel is placed, a portal that frames it, and a chimney through which all combustion and decay products are discharged to the street.
A long-burning fireplace stove is more suitable for those who want to maintain a certain temperature for quite a long time and at the same time reduce the amount and consumption of fuel.
a potbelly stove, the dacha with which can be quite small, despite its small dimensions, simple appearance, has high power and has an affordable price, simple functionality, does not require additional maintenance and complex installation.
Gas fireplace stoves are suitable for a small country or country house and also require an exhaust hood in the house, and in order to install such gas equipment indoors, you will need to obtain permission for its use and installation from the relevant gas services in your city. The advantages of gas fireplaces include efficiency and the ability to connect even to a gas cylinder in the apartment.
An alternative to gas fireplaces will be biofireplaces, which, unlike the previous ones, also have a burning fire in their firebox, however, due to the safety of the combustion products emitted, they do not require a chimney, sufficiently large windows and regular ventilation of the room.
If the decorative and visual component comes first for you, we recommend paying attention to modern electric fireplaces that run on electricity and have high-quality visualization of the fire using a picture, a steam generator or LEDs. An electric fireplace is not designed for full heating and can produce a small amount of heat, and can be controlled using a remote control, phone or tablet in the most modern models.
Choosing a fireplace for a summer house
When choosing a design, it is important to take into account the style of the room where the fireplace will be located and the dimensions of the room. You also need to pay attention to the features of the fireplace itself, taking into account its simplicity and ease of use, dimensions and efficiency. In addition, you need to carefully study the technical characteristics of the structure, taking into account its appearance and design. The last indicator when choosing a fireplace will be its power, as well as the type of fuel that will be used to heat the interior space.
As you know, the Bavaria fireplace stove is very popular in special stores, which has a high efficiency factor, which allows you to quickly heat the interior of a country house. In addition, the design is equipped with a slow fuel use system, which makes the fireplace economical. This model is not only affordable, but also attractive in appearance and will easily fit into the interior of a country house (dacha).
As for a fireplace that will be used outdoors, there are fewer requirements. Depending on the number of household members and the requirements of the dacha owner, the type of structure and its size are determined. Of course, it is better to install a grill or barbecue in a gazebo or on a veranda; in extreme cases, equip a small canopy that covers the space from precipitation and other weather phenomena. It is important that the outdoor fireplace is made of wear-resistant material, such as stone or brick.
Installation and location
When purchasing a small fireplace for your dacha or country house, you can not only choose the design style, power and functionality of the firebox, but also the way it is located in the room.
The most popular in terms of their installation method are wall-mounted models, which are installed near walls and partitions, which makes them quite compact, since they will not be larger than a chest of drawers or a closet.
Hanging fireplaces have small dimensions and are an ideal arrangement for rooms with a non-standard and complex layout; they are mounted on brackets to the wall and often have an external resemblance to modern TVs or classic paintings in openwork and patterned frames.
Built-in fireplaces consist of one firebox, for which it is necessary to prepare a special niche or recess in the wall or partition, which will become a portal. A niche is often made when renovating a house or a specific room, since in this case you will have to break a wall. The space around the built-in fireplace insert can be decorated with various materials: stone, tiles, wood, forging, glass.
An important role is also played by what functionality your heating equipment will have, for example, for a small country house, a fireplace stove equipped with a hob or oven is ideal, with which you can prepare aromatic and tasty dishes, baked goods, and boil water. Such stove-fireplaces with a stove and oven have good power, functionality, and their dimensions are ideal even for a small kitchen.
For a garden house, a decorative fireplace is more suitable, which does not have a heating function or provides a small amount of heat, which is enough to create a comfortable atmosphere in the room.
If the house is large enough and has a second floor, you will need a high-power fireplace stove, for example a long-burning cast iron stove, with a water circuit and a necessarily closed firebox, complemented by fire-resistant transparent glass with a self-cleaning function.
If we talk in more detail about the efficiency of the layout of a room with a fireplace, it should be noted that the stove must have suitable dimensions for efficient heating, namely no less than 1/50 of the total area of your home.
Corner mini fireplace made of brick for a country house
The laying of a corner mini fireplace will be somewhat different from the laying of a regular mini fireplace, in particular in the initial stages of construction. It is best to design such a structure at the stage of building a house, and build it after the concrete walls have hardened. If wood is used to build a summer house, before laying a corner mini fireplace, it is necessary to insulate the walls, and the back wall of the fireplace is laid out at a distance of 1.5 meters from them. Cement is added to the mortar for laying bricks in the basement.
To build a corner mini fireplace, as a rule, smooth fireclay or ordinary bricks, crushed stone are used, as well as clay-sand mortar dried for 3 days and pressed through a sieve to lay the foundation. It must be designed in such a way that the plinth, which is being built in the next stage, is 60 ml less than the area of the foundation.
To lay the foundation, a hole is dug, the area of which should be 100 mm larger than the future foundation. Next, the hole, 15 cm high, is filled with crushed stone and filled with cement and sand. The ratio of sand and cement should be 1:3. To dry, leave the hole filled with solution for several days, after covering it with film. After drying the foundation, the firebox, firebox, side walls with channels and chimney are laid, according to the project completed in advance.
Preparation and installation
After you have bought a fireplace insert, it is time to install it correctly, in this case everything also depends on what type of fuel your heating equipment runs on.
If this is a wood-burning stove-fireplace, we select a place for it in the room in which the chimney is installed or planned to be installed, and if the equipment is large, we also build an additional foundation. Since the stove runs on solid fuel, it is necessary to install it near an insulated wall and on a similar floor; any heat-resistant materials are used as insulation: brick, stone, metal, glass. You can build a low podium, and you need to leave a little space between the fireplace and the wall, due to which the surface will not be heated.
a gas fireplace, as mentioned earlier, is installed only with the permission of the relevant services of your city, all necessary communications must be installed in the house, and the gas fireplace can also be connected to a cylinder, which requires periodic replacement.
the biofireplace is placed on the floor or on any horizontal plane (for tabletop models), it does not require a hood, foundation, insulation of the floor and walls, sealing and insulation is carried out only for built-in models, it is also best to insulate the space in front of the biofireplace if it is completely open.
Electric fireplaces are the easiest to install, since there is no real flame burning in their hearth, and the heating is not so powerful; they are simply installed on the floor, wall or niche.
If you decide to give preference to false fireplaces, remember that, unlike all previous heating units, which are recommended to be placed in the living room or dining room, a decorative fireplace can even be located in the bedroom or in the nursery, and a wide variety of materials are used for its design and cladding. materials, even flammable ones: paint, wallpaper, cardboard, boxes, plywood, metal profiles.
A fireplace in a small house should also be quite miniature and functional, for example, if you decide that only decor or heating is important to you, it should cope with this task one hundred percent.
The video shows how to make a mini brick fireplace with your own hands for a small country house:
Homemade option
Doubts overcome any novice master, and they are motivated and justified by the fact that at any time the stove maker was considered the most skillful mason. And in order to build a stove, it is not enough just to master brick or stone laying. Does this apply to the fireplace?
The question is ambiguous. This is not to say that you can make a mini fireplace for a country house with your own hands in no time, but you shouldn’t be scared, even if you don’t have any experience behind you.
The concept of a fireplace is simple: ash pan, firebox, chimney. All that remains is to implement them in such a way that they have maximum efficiency, heat transfer, and functionality.
Due to the fact that garden fireplaces are usually small in size, its cost will be so low that you can afford to make a mistake and do all the work again. We don’t leave you free to float and suggest that you familiarize yourself with the step-by-step instructions for laying out a brick fireplace.
Original fireplace construction
In order to get a working and beautiful-looking fireplace, you can use refractory brick, which is also a facing brick. Laying should be done on a mixture of clay and sand. They must first be cleared of large elements by sifting. Remember, too massive layers of mortar between bricks reduce the overall heat transfer rate. Professionals apply the solution by hand. But if you have no experience, you can use a trowel.
Good to know: Built-in fireplaces: main types, features of selection and installation
