Install a New Fireplace, Stone or Brick? Where Would We Begin?

Hi all,

My wife and I would like to install a real, masonry constructed, wood burning fireplace and chimney at our home. We aren't really sure how to go about it, and would appreciate any help. We initially wanted both the chimney and fireplace to be constructed of fieldstone, but I guess this is really expensive nowadays. We had a mason come over last weekend and he said that he could put in a stone fireplace with a brick chimney that would be around our budget ($8-$10k). A new chimney would involve removing a concrete sidewalk next to the house where the fireplace would go, and it would require some support coming up from the basement.

I went to a building supply store yesterday and found some Belden Homestead brick that would look nice for the chimney. It is $.63 cents per brick. The mason said I would need about 1,500 of them. I am stumped as to what to get for the stone fireplace, though. We do know that we don't want fake stone, but the guy at the building supply company said that natural, 3"-6" full (round) stone might be too heavy to support a fireplace. They do sell a type of real stone called natural thin veneer from a company called Rolling Rock in PA. It seems to be about 2" thick. I was wondering if this stone is only used to cover the exterior wall of the fireplace, or would you use this stone for the whole masonry of the fireplace? If this thin veneer stone is mostly just for appearances, could we maybe use it to cover the outside chimney, or would this take a lot of time for the mason?

I was also wondering if you would use firebrick for the fireplace, or should we install a heatilator? Does one type of fireplace last longer than the other? None of the building supply or fireplace stores in our area sell the metal inserts (heatilators) for fireplaces anymore.

Also, do we need an air vent or something inside the fireplace? Sorry for all the questions and a long first post, but we are desperate for advice. Thank you for your help.

Hi begreen,

Thank you for your help. We wish to install the fireplace mostly for ambiance, but also to take the edge off the cold days of winter. My wife and I both grew up in upstate New York in homes that had wood burning fireplaces going almost every weekend from fall through spring. We moved into our new home a couple months ago and decided we want a real mason built fireplace. The more I read about thin stone veneer, I'm thinking that maybe we could have the mason put in a brick or concrete fireplace and chimney and then place the veneer over the top of them. I am not sure if this would work, though. Do you know if firebrick will last longer than a heatilator or insert? I tried to find a company that sells heatilators in Syracuse, but the building supply shops and fireplace stores don't carry them. It is kind of ironic, since the Heatilator company actually used to be based in Syracuse years ago.

Hi Jeremy,

Sounds like you have a really nice home. Can you keep the doors open on ZC fireplaces while burning wood, or do they have to be closed? Also, can you build a mason type of chimney to go with them? Also, do you know how long they last?

Even though it is pricey, we would like to have a traditional, mason built fireplace in our home as opposed to the new prefabs. We are not looking to heat our house with the fireplace. It would more or less be something we would enjoy on the cold weekends when we are at home in our living room or entertaining guests. I have had a mason look at our house, and he quoted me a price between $8-$10k with materials and labor. This would include tearing out the cement sidewalk outside, adding footers and cement in the basement, a fieldstone fireplace and a two story brick chimney. I am not sure if we should just use firebrick to line the inside of the firebox or if we should add a heatilator lining. I know a heatilator would give off more heat, but I am concerned that it would not last as long. Plus, I do not know how much work/expense is involved in removing a heatilator as opposed to replacing the firebricks when their time is done. The heatilator in my parents' home is 35+ years old and still in nice shape, but my brother's is only five years old and it already has a crack in it. He had it inspected and the person said that it is fine, though. Since we are not really looking to get a lot of heat from our fireplace, perhaps we should forego the heatilator lining? What do you all think?

Ok. I will forget about the Heatilator lining. The Rumford fireplace sounds interesting. I will have to look into it some more.

Hi all,

Our wood burning, masonry fireplace has been built. It was just finished yesterday, and I thought I'd share a picture. We used natural field stone for the fireplace and red brick for the outside chimney. I am in the process of ordering custom doors for it. Then we will just need to get some cords of wood. Thanks again to everyone for your help and advice.