Building Traditional Masonry Fireplace

[Jdsmitty10]

I lost my battle(i previously asked which to use between an insert or masonry fireplace) with the wife on what type of fireplace to put in our new home. I was pushing for a wood burning insert(zero clearance) of some sort for the better efficiency. She is dead set on a masonry one even know I tell her how inefficient they are. So for the fancy ambiance of a real fire we are going with a real chimney masonry fireplace.

I do want to add a blower and whatever else is needed to keep it as efficient as possible.

What all do I need or where is the best place to buy flu's, dampers, blower's etc for a masonry fireplace?

Save your comments on how you wouldn't go this route( I already tried to talk her out of it, but she doesn't like the firebox look of all the other options)

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Bad LP]

What style masonry fireplace? At least a Rumford radiates out more heat but the mason must know what he is doing.

In hindsight I'm glad my mason wasn't comfortable outside of his zone so I was stuck with traditional that in the end worked out for the best allowing a flush fitting insert.

 

[Jdsmitty10]

I am not sure on style or type( I am unfamiliar with different types or styles) but we want an arched opening with stone veneer and I would like to if possible add a blower to help radiate some of the heat to the room if possible.

 

[RickBlaine]

The arched opening will make it more difficult to fit a wood-burning stove or insert in there next year.

My cousin went through the same domestic disagreement that you did. He ended up getting an insert in an arched brick fireplace. When he has large holiday gatherings, the wife leaves the front doors open so it looks like a traditional open fireplace with zero efficiency- but you can feel radiant heat for about 5 feet. As soon as guests leave (and take all that body heat out of the room) the doors get shut and the blower fan goes on. Then the house gets heated- for free! He is an HVAC contractor and gets his wood delivered and stacked for free by a landscape sub-contractor he works with when people do "tear-downs" and re-build. Here in Chicago, sometimes the land is worth more than the house.

 

[Jags]

What all do I need or where is the best place to buy flu's, dampers, blower's etc for a masonry fireplace?

As far as I know, these items are sourced by the contractor doing the work. I wouldn't let just "any" mason do this build. Make sure the contractor knows what he is doing when it comes to clearances, etc.

 

[DougA]

You can buy cast iron doors with glass and make the open fireplace much more efficient, just as RickBlaine has explained. Have a look at masonry heaters. They are super efficient and very attractive. They are NOT what your wife wants but if you see how they combine traditional looks with great performance, you may get some ideas.

 

[mark cline]

This same argument has raged in our house hold for over 5 yrs. My wife wants a fireplace in our custom log home and I want a stove plumbed into a massive stone chimney . After we got our Mansfield last Dec. , this argument is over. The amount of fire viewing and the efficiency of the Mansfield has won her over. The Mansfield is in our existing home and will be moved to the loghome in a few years, when me move permanently.

 

[Jdsmitty10]

ya she won't budge. says she would rather not have a fireplace than have one with the looks of an insert lol. Oh well she is ok with my large 3 car garage I guess I will have to be ok with the real fireplace...

 

[peakbagger]

Maybe try to sell her on a Masonry Heater (Russian Fireplace)?

(broken link removed to http://tempcast.com/gallery/gallery01.html). Incredibly efficient and you still get to watch the fire. Once warmed up they stay warm for hours, plus the bread oven is usually a hit. The mason buys the internal parts, assembles them and then faces it with whatever the owner wants.

 

[Jdsmitty10]

thanks for the masonry heater suggestions but to me they look about the same as a zero clearance insert with the doors. She likes the open concept with a fire screen look.

 

[peakbagger]

Had to try