Not everyone will venture to lay out a brick hearth in the house, but anyone can mount a fireplace insert and revet it if desired. In this case, you need to choose the best place, prepare a base that will be able to withstand it, put non-combustible materials on the walls. You also need to think about the question of how the chimney pipe will be mounted, which should be fireproof.
The concept and classification of the equipment in question
Firebox fireplaces are divided into open and closed. The latter are considered safer, especially if children live in the house. In these situations, it is better to use cast-iron fireplace inserts.
In a closed variety, one of the walls is replaced with a door, usually made of glass.
This form has its drawbacks and advantages.
The first include:
- small view of the fire;
- the glass behind which it burns must be constantly cleaned;
- cast-iron fire chambers related to high-quality ones cost quite a lot of money;
- by default, its color is black - if you want to supplement it with a color frame, you will also need to pay a decent amount.
She has more advantages:
- greater efficiency, especially for those that are equipped with heat stores;
- huge assortment;
- manufacturer's warranty;
- longer service life in comparison with open, at the same time details which have burned out can be replaced;
- better fire safety due to lack of open fire;
- relatively low cost compared to open chamotte brick models;
- installation is simpler, which can be done independently.
Also emit water fireplace inserts. They are used for heating, and not just for creating decor. Their main drawback is that in winter the work must be uninterrupted, otherwise the heating system may unfreeze. With the help of such a fireplace, you can survive the winter on an area of up to 500 square meters. m. At the same time, it is compatible with all heating systems installed in the house, so it can be installed with your own hands without the involvement of specialists.
In this article we will look at how to install a cast iron firebox.
Tools and materials for foundation preparation
At this stage, you will need:
- brick;
- cement-sand mixture;
- insulation;
- roulette;
- trowel;
- level;
- metal reinforcing mesh;
- waterproofing material.
The mass of the fireplace insert along with the hearth body is quite impressive, so the base should be as reliable and durable as possible. It should not have differences in height, which can lead to uneven subsidence of the structure and the appearance of cracks. If it is impossible to purchase non-combustible materials, the walls adjacent to the fireplace insert are lined with galvanized sheets with refractory material.
We markup
The place under the fireplace is chosen with such an aim that it is clean and free. Using a tape measure, measure its linear dimensions in a horizontal plane, using chalk to mark the floor. If there is a wooden supporting wall, it is better to remove part of it under the fireplace by cutting, or replace it with brickwork, or lay a brick wall right next to it .
In the latter case, its installation is carried out on the same foundation on which the firebox will be located. Accordingly, in this case, it is necessary to add the thickness of the masonry to the linear dimensions. On the wall, to which it will adjoin, also draw lines with chalk along its width.
It should be borne in mind that if a fireplace with a closed firebox is installed, then it needs an average of 500 cubic meters of air, so it is necessary to ensure its additional influx into the room by installing a pipe with an automatic ventilation system.
Foundation pouring
It is made of a slightly larger area compared to that of the fireplace, for which 30-40 cm is additionally added on each side. The depth of the foundation for the fireplace insert, installed by yourself, should be at least 50 cm. If the floor in the house is planked, then a place under the foundation is cut out with lags. The mixed cement-sand mixture is poured into the prepared formwork, gradually leveling and shifting with a reinforcing mesh.
The foundation can be made of red brick, which is laid out with dressing in several rows until the base reaches the level of the final floor. The surface for evenness is checked with a level, using the prepared solution for leveling. After drying of the latter, the base is waterproofed.
The construction of the partition and the manufacture of the pedestal
Masonry is made of refractory materials: tongue-and-groove plates, brick or aerated concrete. Between the furnace and the masonry leave free space, which will ensure the release of heated air. Blocks or bricks do not fit close to the walls of the furnace or the pedestal. A bunch of the bearing wall with the masonry is provided with metal rods laid between the bricks and driven into the first.
After preparation, the masonry can be plastered or laid with mineral wool, covered with some foil material on top, placing it with the foil out. It can also be upholstered with galvanized sheets. When installing a fireplace in a corner, the resulting seams between it and the walls are sealed with sealant.
The pedestal is laid out of red brick in the form of the letter P. It usually includes 3-4 rows, which depends on the height of the fireplace that you want to receive. The binder solution is sand and clay mixed together. Instead of brick, you can use aerated concrete blocks, which are plastered. Each row is checked by level, if there is an excess of solution, then it is removed with a trowel.
Steel corners are laid on the last row of bricks in such a way that they ensure the connection of opposite walls. They are placed at a distance of 15 cm with a ledge up. After that, the bricks are placed on the edge, and grooves are cut, which are placed in the ledges of the corners. They must come in tightly. Using a brick, 65-70% of the pedestal is laid.
Installation and lining of the furnace
On the created masonry, using heat-resistant glue or mastic, a U-shaped porcelain tile is mounted, while free space is left at the wall. Side sections deepen it into the walls for a short distance. Check the evenness with a level, after which the furnace is placed on it so that there is a distance of 4-5 cm between the wall and its rear wall.
The lining of the fireplace insert is performed in the following sequence:
- lay out the walls of the fireplace;
- make out a facade;
- join the side masonry with the supporting wall, while taking into account that they should not be connected to its surface;
- joints are treated with sealant or gypsum plaster;
- when the height of the masonry is exceeded this value in the furnace for 2 rows, another U-shaped heat-resistant plate is laid on top, after which it is checked with a level and glued.
Chimney installation
A hole is cut out in the ceiling with dimensions of 70x50 cm, the perimeter of which is lined with a metal profile. It is made over a cutout in a plate. Between the plate and the cutout in the ceiling, 4 metal profiles or duralumin corners are mounted, which are fixed at the corners with self-tapping screws. This design will serve as a chimney frame.
The pipe is inserted at one end into the furnace opening, and the other is led out to the attic through the opening in the ceiling. To maintain a vertical position using clamps. Its frame is lined with insulating mats from the inside, and the entire surface is covered with foil.
For the purpose of thermal insulation, a foil-coated insulation can be used. They close the ceiling of the box, making a cutout for the pipe. Between the insulation and the pipe leave a gap of 2 mm. From the outside, the frame is closed with asbestos-cement sheets, gypsum boards or wood panels. A cutout is made in the casing under the ceiling, in which the ventilation grill will be placed.
Finish the assembly of the chimney in the attic. A pipe slice around the circumference is smeared with hot-melt adhesive and attached to the pipe coming from the fireplace. Around the pipe, a box is installed, which is insulated and sheathed with plasterboard sheets. A ventilation grill is mounted on the floor of this room.
A gasket is put on the last part of the pipe, on top - a protective cap, bituminous mastic is used to coat the lower cut. After joining the second and third parts of the pipe, the roofing is smeared with mastic, to which the seal is pressed. The edges are fixed with screws, the joints are sealed.
Finish finish
The floor at the foot of the fireplace insert is faced with decorative stone or tile. Do not make wood or pressed paper floors up to 50 cm from the fireplace, as it can catch fire from sparks or fallen coal. It will be better if a metal grille is installed in front of the fireplace, painted with openwork to give an aesthetic appearance. The interior should include accessories for the fireplace, which should be predominantly black.
The first check of the operation of the fireplace should be carried out with the windows open, since the paint will burn and the smoke may begin to penetrate into the room. The latter case indicates a violation of the installation technology. To eliminate it, it is necessary to check the tightness of the seams of the chimney and the air supply to the furnace.
Manufacturers
The production of fireplace inserts is carried out by many business entities. The most top-end models of them, as well as the fireplaces themselves, are made by the following companies:
- Totem;
- Seguin;
- Kal-fire;
- Heatilator;
- Stovax;
- Piazzetta.
Moreover, Heatilator mainly produces outdoor fireplaces.
One of the promising are fireplace inserts KAW-MET. This Polish company occupies one of the dominant places in the East European market of the goods in question. They are produced on an automated line of high quality cast iron with high resistance to corrosion and strength. They are quite durable, they provide a gate with a door lock, which eliminates the ingress of smoke into the living room. Also, the furnaces of this company are reinforced with convection ribs, which improves heat transfer. This company has been operating in the market for 35 years. Currently, its products can be seen in Russia.
Reviews
As with any product sold at retail outlets, there are reviews on fireplace inserts. Users praise such products manufacturers "Invicta", "Caddy", as well as the production of Poland. But they also say that there are errors in the products of the Bavaria brand, which ensures the penetration of smoke into the room when the furnace door is opened.
Finally
Installing a fireplace insert on your own does not pose great difficulties and can be done by almost anyone. It is important to decide what functions it will perform, and, based on this, buy its appropriate form.