Stone Chimney Construction Details

The brick industry association has three excellent pamphlets about fireplace and chimney design and construction.

Stone chimney construction details.

A masonry fireplace consists of a brick or stone firebox a brick or stone chimney and more often than not a wood mantel. Go to the nfpa website to review national fire code associated with chimneys. Addresses the design and construction of residential chimneys. These same recommendations are applicable to conventional fireplace construction when the provisions for the exterior air supply system are omitted.

The code is available online for free. However building a stone chimney is an excellent project for the experienced do it yourself homeowner. I recommend you read these three things. Chimney height and flue area are the two most critical factors in chimney desire.

19 residential fireplace design 19a residential fireplaces details and construction 19b residential chimney design. Check with local code to determine minimum requirements for all footings and reinforcements. Bricks concrete blocks or stone for the structure cement mortar a mix of one part portland cement one part hydrated lime and six parts builder s sand is recommended flashing precast chimney cap made of concrete or stone sheet metal and masonry tools such as a masonry trowel and level. The crown is located at the top of the chimney alongside the chimney cap and helps to protect the materials used within chimney from the weather.

It s a lot easier learning how to build a fireplace like this in new. Like ours not all chimneys have a cap but can be installed by a professional. Hiring a professional contractor to build a stone chimney or fireplace is expensive. Attractive stone is difficult to locate and gather and there is a large amount of intensive labor and skill required for quality construction.

Typically the reference used for local building codes is based upon the national fire protection agencies 211 standard for chimneys fireplaces vents and solid fuel burning appliances. This is the second in a series of. Consult your local construction codes when designing your chimney. Watch this short video to see properly sloped firebox brick.

The chimney should not support any other parts of adjacent structures unless specifically designed to do so. It is important to note that masonry chimney construction building code requirements often vary on a local basis depending on what your city requires. Bricks building codes chimneys draft flashing flues masonry mortar. Contains recommended details and construction techniques which when used to execute a proper design will yield a functional energy efficient fireplace.