Choosing material for making fireplaces
In order to lay out a fireplace in a suburban area, you need to use only fire-resistant materials. For this purpose the following are most often used:
- brick,
- concrete blocks,
- stone.
Sometimes there are wooden fireplaces, but their interior decoration will still be one of these building materials. The main difference between an outdoor fireplace and a fireplace installed indoors is materials that can withstand climatic and weather conditions. It is for this reason that for the construction of outdoor fireplaces it is worth giving preference only to wear-resistant building materials.
An outdoor fireplace may not have an adjustable damper, although indoors you cannot do without one. This is due to the fact that air masses circulate freely outside.
Outdoor fireplace on a wooden terrace
As a rule, an outdoor fireplace is installed on a covered terrace or veranda. It must have a chimney that passes through the wall of the building and goes out onto the roof. You can also make a free-standing fireplace that will not come into contact with the walls of the house. In this case, the smoke exit pipe is made lower.
Advice. It is best to place outdoor fireplaces in gazebos or on verandas, that is, under a canopy. This will significantly reduce the threat of structural damage caused by weather conditions.
Very often people confuse an outdoor fireplace, which can be placed under a canopy, and a device designed for an open area with a barbecue. Fireplaces are not intended for cooking. They can only heat the air and create an atmosphere of comfort.
An outdoor fireplace serves to a greater extent as a decorative addition to a suburban area. It will be very comfortable to place wicker rattan chairs next to it and enjoy the fire while sitting in a chair under a blanket.
Outdoor stone fireplace for summer holidays in the country
You can make a fireplace with a barbecue. Then it will not only serve as a decorative decoration, but also perform the utilitarian function of cooking. You can install a stationary grill next to the fireplace. Such structures are quite complex, and their construction requires preparation and construction skills.
Tools and materials
To build a stove-fireplace for a summer house with your own hands or a chimney, use red ceramic bricks. It can be solid or hollow. For the hearth, take material without internal cavities. It has no pores and is not destroyed by high temperatures. To arrange the base you will need a cement mixture. It costs more than concrete, but is more practical. It is made from grade 300 cement.
A sheet of galvanized metal is laid on the base. Then they make hydro- and thermal insulation. Additionally, fireclay slabs are used to protect the base of the firebox from cracking. Instead, they make masonry from refractory refractory bricks.
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Rolled cardboard impregnated with resin and sprinkled with sand is laid as thermal insulation. Roofing felt or roofing felt is suitable for this. The insulating material is placed on a layer of tar or bitumen mastic. A metal pipe is installed for the chimney. To ensure that the brickwork is strong, monolithic and smooth, the elements are held together with a clay-based mortar. It is supplemented with fine sand from rocks. This solution can withstand the high temperature of burning wood well.
For the construction of the portal, different materials are used, since the mouth is subject to thermal load and exposure to open fire:
- Marble adds elegance and looks expensive and pretentious. A marble fireplace is suitable for interiors in a classic style. In combination with simple wall and floor decoration, it looks out of place.
- Granite is suitable for a Gothic or Scandinavian interior, like marble, but in darker colors.
- Tiles are used for facing fireplaces in Russian or ethno style. They are made from faience or ceramics and decorated with drawings. To lay the tiles, a special viscous mixture and special tools are used.
- Ceramic tiles are suitable for facing fireplaces and, if necessary, replace tiles.
- Natural stone is used to decorate the hearth in chalet, rustic, and country styles. The material is suitable for building and decorating a fireplace in the country house with your own hands.
- Artificial stone performs the functions of natural stone, but costs less.
- Facing bricks come in different shades. It is used to decorate the facade of the portal.
- Natural wood is used only for exterior decoration. More often, carved portals are made from valuable wood of a dark shade.
- The galvanized profile is suitable for creating a rough finish in the style of a Scandinavian castle or in modern loft-style interiors. When using forging, gratings or volumetric elements, the fireplace is decorated in Victorian style.
- Plaster parts are used to create an imitation of stucco. The decor is done in classical or baroque style.
- Mini fireplaces are finished with parquet boards. Narrow slats are not suitable for decorating wide and high portals with a shelf.
Advice! If the fireplace has a closed firebox, the door should be cast iron or glass with fire-resistant properties.
Brick fireplaces
The brick fireplace is very popular among the types of fireplaces. It is practical and durable. This design looks pretty good and can decorate any suburban area.
Brick outdoor fireplace
Brick outdoor fireplaces are built using the same technology as conventional home fireplaces.
For such purposes you will need:
- shovel;
- concrete mixer;
- cement, kitchen salt, bitumen stone, sand;
- container for solution;
- roofing felt or roofing felt;
- brick;
- level and other measuring instrument;
- gratings;
- finishing material.
Initially, it is worth deciding on the location of such a fireplace. Next, you will need to draw a plan diagram of the future structure, which will indicate all the dimensions and quantity of building material used.
After this, you need to build a foundation for the fireplace. It is worth taking into account the fact that such a general structure can have quite a lot of weight. It is for this reason that rubble stone is added to the foundation solution. As a rule, a foundation is often used for brick fireplaces, which has a depth of up to 40-50 cm. The base can be monolithic or strip. Both types of foundations are distinguished by their strength and material consumption.
A small area laid out next to the garden fireplace
Very often, not only a foundation is made for a free-standing summer fireplace for the garden, but also an entire area. In this case, the load-bearing base can be made superficial and deepened only 20-30 cm into the ground. But here it will be necessary to first assess the soil. If it is sand, then the depth of the future site should be greater. If it is sand and clay, then you can make a platform that is buried 30 cm into the ground. This design of an outdoor fireplace in the form of a platform for it will not only serve for decorative purposes, but also be very convenient for use.
Types of fireplace
Before building a brick fireplace with your own hands, think through the location of its installation. The heat source is not installed opposite the entrance to the room. Otherwise, cold air masses prevent the movement of warm currents. Choose a place away from the entrance, where there are no drafts. There are several ways to place a fireplace.
With a central location, the fireplace is installed in the middle part of the room. It is the main object in the interior. The hearth in the center effectively heats the entire room, since the heated air moves freely. This arrangement is not suitable for small rooms, since the heat source takes up a lot of space and impedes movement.
A wall-mounted fireplace is more common. It doesn't take up extra space in the room and heats well. A separate recreation area is set up next to it. When arranging such a fireplace, enhanced fire safety measures are required. The wall adjacent to it is laid with non-combustible material.
Corner fireplaces take up very little space. Therefore, they are often made in country houses. In terms of efficiency, it replaces a wood stove. The hearth has a simple ordering scheme. Therefore, its construction is possible for beginners in the construction of furnaces. The design at an angle conceals all inaccuracies and unevenness of the masonry. If the frontal zone is performed correctly, other defects are covered with finishing materials.
Operation of outdoor fireplaces
The operation of an outdoor fireplace is almost no different from the rules for using home fireplaces. You cannot light an outdoor fireplace immediately after rain: cracks may appear on the walls of the fireplace. In order to protect the fireplace from exposure to weather conditions, you will need to cover it with a protective film. But this will be required when the summer fireplace is a free-standing structure.
Wood is considered the best fuel for any fireplace. But due to the high cost, they are often replaced by other types of fuel:
- ash,
- peat,
- briquetted coal,
- coal.
In order for any of these types of fuel to burn well, it is necessary to install appropriate grates in the fireplace that can ensure a good supply of oxygen. Thanks to this, the combustion process will be stable.
Construction of a garden stove
Garden stoves are considered one of the types of outdoor fireplaces. The firebox in it is at a level of 1-1.2 m, as in a conventional stove. Such a stove will not only be able to decorate the interior of the garden, but will also be used for cooking. But this should only be done in special fireproof containers, since the fire source will be too close to its walls.
Garden stove design diagram
Since in this design it is possible to remove smoke through a chimney, such a stove can be placed on a terrace or veranda. The garden stove fits very well into the design of a country plot, which is made in a rustic style. It is also possible to build an outdoor stove in a high-tech stylistic direction. It all depends on your wishes.
Oven with barbecue
The design of the barbecue oven resembles an outdoor fireplace. The firebox in it is located, like a garden stove - approximately at the level of a person’s waist. If the garden stove is considered a successor to the ordinary village stove, then the barbecue stove is equipped with a variety of devices for frying shish kebab, vegetables or fish over coals.
Original barbecue oven in the shape of a dragon
Such ovens can be stationary or portable. Portable ones can be put away for the winter period of the year. And stationary fireplaces are best placed under a canopy to protect the structure from the effects of climatic conditions. There is a downside to portable BBQ ovens. They have rather small capabilities and do not have a smoke outlet.
Step-by-step technology for building a fireplace with your own hands
It is possible to install a corner fireplace with your own hands in various interiors of a private home. The main thing during the construction process is to observe the design features and brickwork. We have collected several videos for you that answer basic questions about arranging a fireplace area.
Video: fireplace laying
Brickwork in the video is a labor-intensive process that requires compliance with certain rules. We invite you to watch a video on this topic.
Video: interesting design of the corner fireplace “Annushka”
The corner fireplace “Annushka” is very popular among modern cottage owners. It showcases a luxurious look that suits all design styles. The design features are discussed in the following video.
The construction of a corner fireplace structure requires specialized knowledge and skills from the master. You must be careful and follow the developed design project, then the finished product will delight your household for a long period of time.
