We make a fireplace with our own hands

The fireplace is a unique element of the interior. In addition to its practical function, it also has a decorative function. A room with a fireplace takes on a homely and cozy, but at the same time noble look. It is pleasant to spend a family evening, a friendly meeting or a romantic date near it. And how well it fits into the New Year's decoration of the house is not even worth talking about. But in modern buildings, a fireplace is a rarity.

If it was not laid during the design of the house (and decorative - during the design of the interior design), it is not so difficult to fix it - we stock up on materials and make a fireplace with our own hands.

A classic fireplace with a room heating function is a heating device with an open hearth and a ventilation system for extracting smoke from the room. In fact, this is a modification of the first English fireplaces. In Tudor times, they literally looked like a bonfire in the middle of a room. The bonfire was placed on a small stone fire pit, and smoke came out through a thatched roof and empty window openings.

With the development of construction, the fireplace also changed, but its design did not become much more complicated. The “indoor fire” was moved from the center of the room to the wall, equipped with an open firebox, a smoke hood and a chimney. A little later, the back wall became inclined, and the side walls began to be made of reflective materials.

In this form, it functioned for many years, until the craving for aesthetics turned a simple stone furnace into pompous decorations made of brick, ceramics and metal.

Along with external changes, the design also diversified.

A fireplace with live fire consists of the following elements:

• Foundation... It is laid below the floor.
• Shantsy... This is a podium or firebox stand. It is equipped with blowers for supplying oxygen. And oxygen, as you know, is necessary for the combustion reaction. Also, trenches perform a protective function. They are carried forward beyond the perimeter of the firebox and prevent the floor from igniting from sparks or coal.
• Ash pan... Suitable for ash and ash.
• Under... A firebox is placed above the hearth and fuel is burned. It must be fireproof.
• Firebox or firebox... Actually, the space in which the fuel burns. It can be equipped with a grate - a grate on which firewood is placed. Such a device allows oxygen to flow from below and improves combustion.

• Cast iron door... Present in the construction of closed fireboxes. It is rarely used in modern interiors, but it has its advantages.
• Smoke circulation system... Heat rises in it and communicates with the room through the walls of the masonry.
• Chimneys... A pipe system that removes gaseous substances, soot, odor and smoke. They include various elements for catching sparks and directing heat fluxes in the correct direction.
• Portal or estuary... This structural element covers the outer part of the firebox and has an aesthetic function. May have a visor and a shelf on top. Should not exceed 3% of the area of ​​the room.
• Decorative elements.
• Fittings: doors, barbecue grills, grate, blower, sometimes oven.

After structural and external changes, the fireplace has not lost its function. It is still used for space heating, but as a source of heat it differs from district heating and space heaters in some peculiarities.

First of all, the decorative function of the fireplace is inseparable from its practical use. In a modern interior, the most primitive firebox design is no longer enough. There should be a zest in it, something that will facilitate its integration into the design of the room and attract the eye to it.

The second distinctive feature is the distribution area of ​​fireplaces. These are regions with a humid climate, where severe frosts do not rage. The hearth of a fireplace stove is large; it absorbs significant volumes of air during fuel combustion. This promotes efficient air exchange. Cold and humid air quickly warms up, the room dries out.

It is better to limit yourself to an electric option, a bio fireplace or a fireplace with a closed firebox. By opening and closing the door, you can regulate the indoor climate.

In third place is the efficiency of the heating system. It depends on the fuel used. The source of heating in a fireplace stove is radiant heat. At the same time, firewood gives off 25-30% of the heat, various types of coal and peat - from 50 to 60%.

The positive points are compelling enough to make the effort and start making a fireplace yourself.

Advantages of traditional open and closed fireplaces:

• The system heats up the air quickly... An open fire gives off heat directly to the room, this is an indisputable plus for country houses of irregular residence and cottages with a cold lower floor. Actual use in the country.
• The fireplace is indispensable in rooms with high humidity... These can be the first floors of suburban brick houses, cottages in regions with constant precipitation and nebula. Due to the rapid air circulation, unnecessary moisture evaporates, the room becomes not only warm, but also dry.
• Can serve a culinary function... Fireplaces are often equipped with barbecue or skewer holders, a grill, and sometimes ovens.
• Gives the room a special atmosphere of coziness, symbolizes the hearth.

• Playing the role of the unusual element design.
• Decorative fireplace easy to fold by yourself.
• Does not depend on electricity... Power outages do not affect it in any way, unlike dependent heating systems.
• Can be used at any time of the year... For example, in cool summer or early autumn, when it is too early to use another type of heating.
• With a closed firebox it is possible to adjust the burning rate... Its efficiency is higher than that of an open one.
• Fireplace with closed hearth, gas and water circuit can heat from 1 room to the entire floor... A corner fireplace can work for two rooms. But their device requires the participation of professionals and will cost a significant amount. Such systems should be laid immediately in the process of building a house. They are not available for apartments.

It is impossible not to mention the significant disadvantages:

• Projects of modern and typical houses do not imply a fireplace. To install it, you will need a house diagram, a detailed drawing, professional participation. Permits to build an open or closed solid fuel fireplace is a separate complex topic.
• Laying a working fireplace is a troublesome, dusty and time-consuming process. Ideally, it requires the skilled help of a stove-maker.
• The fireplace cannot become the main source of heat in the house, since the structure does not have the ability to accumulate this heat. The fireplace heats up while it is working. As soon as the fuel burns out, it begins to cool down.If we are not talking about a cottage or a summer residence, but about an apartment in an apartment building, a traditional fireplace with live fire is completely impossible to organize. Here its function is purely aesthetic.

• Low efficiency with high fuel consumption. This increases the financial cost of maintaining the fireplace.
• Limited range of a traditional open hearth fireplace. The fireplace in the center of the room and against the wall heats only one room. In this case, the heat is distributed unevenly.
• Requires maintenance (chimney cleaning).
• The high cost of bookmarking and arrangement.

Not in all rooms it is possible to equip a traditional solid fuel fireplace stove, therefore, alternative options have appeared. These are gas and electric fireplaces. They also have their pros and cons.

Among its advantages are such capabilities as high efficiency and speed of work, the ability to adjust the speed and intensity of combustion, safety, quiet operation and high speed of warming up the room. In addition, there is no need to procure and store fuel, and gas is cheaper than firewood at cost. They can heat the whole floor.

The disadvantages of such a fireplace are obvious: complex installation of the gas system, lack of charm and aesthetics of real fire, large dimensions and weight.

New generation fireplaces are powered by electricity.

They have all the advantages of modern technologies:

• installation does not require the involvement of specialists; it is done by hand;
• simple and intuitive mechanical and remote control;
• adjustable level of heat intensity;

• can be suspended, angular, non-trivial shape and configuration;
• there is no need to lay a chimney, make a foundation and think about fire safety;
• works silently, without smoke and soot;
• has a low weight;
• the flame looks realistic.

There are relatively few downsides: the lack of comfort and crackling wood, typical of a traditional fireplace, high energy consumption, the ability to heat only one room, dependence on electricity.

All modern fireplaces are divided into several types according to four criteria. Conventional criteria: type of fuel, type of construction, type of installation, purpose.

There is another classification - at the place of origin. It is customary to distinguish English, French, Estonian, Finnish, German, Russian fireplaces in it.... Their internal structure has slight differences, so this classification is important only for the external appearance of the fireplace. What is noteworthy is that the Russian fireplace has a relatively small size and is called a fire chamber.

By type of fuel, fireplaces are:

• Solid fuel (heat is obtained in the process of burning wood, peat or coal). These include traditional open hearth fireplaces, fireplace stoves and closed hearth appliances. The first type has the lowest efficiency - up to 25%, the rest - up to 80%.
• Air Heated Fireplace... This is a type of solid fuel devices that operate on a closed firebox. Its design includes a convection system for air currents to increase efficiency and efficiency.
• Liquid fuel... Such types are called eco-fireplace or bio-fireplace. Sometimes the name "alcohol" is found. This is due to the fact that they use liquid combustible materials of natural origin, for example, bioethanol or ethyl alcohol. During combustion, no smoke and soot are released into the air. They can be used both in the house and in the apartment. They are the simplest in the way they are arranged. No dirt, dust, smoke, smell, just pure warmth. Bioethanol has the highest efficiency - from 80%. The flame is maintained due to the reaction with oxygen, there is no need to supply it additionally and install ventilation.

• Gas (according to the principle of operation, they resemble gas stoves). They are as economical as possible to maintain.
• With a water circuit (similar to district heating). They are very difficult to arrange, but cover the maximum area for heating.
• Electrical (similar to heaters). Unlike heaters, they are deprived of mobility, but aesthetic in appearance. The heating radius is small, the energy consumption is large.

The classification according to the installation method depends on the location of the heating device inside the room. There are few options: island (in the center of the room), built-in (recessed walls), wall-mounted, corner.

An island fireplace, as a rule, becomes the centerpiece of a design composition. The entire interior is built around it. The element is certainly beautiful, but ineffective. Electric and eco-fireplaces are more often island.

The perimeter of the base can be fenced with glass or lattice. The second option requires special safety measures. A flue gas collector and a chimney are located above the base.

A base with a protective fence can be one-sided (when the fire is visible only from one side, the rest of the walls are "deaf"), two-sided (view from several sides, often opposite), three-sided, viewed from any point.

Built-in fireplaces are either "recessed" into a thick wall or built into a column. The entire constructive part is completely hidden... This saves space and gives the fireplace an aesthetic appearance. A common type of built-in fireplace is a cassette fireplace with a closed firebox. The firebox is closed with a glass door so that the device does not lose its aesthetic function.

A built-in fireplace is good when laid down immediately when planning a house.... Otherwise, it runs the risk of becoming the most laborious to manufacture, since you will have to cut through the necessary niche in the wall.

Wall-mounted fireplaces protrude completely into the room... This limits the scope of their use to rooms of medium and large sizes. This species also has its advantages compared to others. This is the ability to install it at any time, even after the completion of the construction of the house, and design variability. Nothing limits the methods of decoration and decoration.

Corner fireplaces are not widespread in a modern interior. Now they can be found only in the houses of the old fund and apartment-type museums. Meanwhile, this is one of the most practical types, since its location allows two adjacent rooms to be heated at once. And the placement method significantly saves usable space in the room. Design thought is also not limited to location.

Due to the large dimensions and weight of solid fuel and gas structures, they cannot be used in a position torn off from the foundation. The water circuit is also not suitable. There are only two varieties left - alcohol and electric.

They are lightweight, and the absence of a chimney makes it possible to place them absolutely anywhere. He often takes a central or wall-mounted position., since its compactness and design features are conducive to this. In shape, such a fireplace can be rectangular, oval, round, and square, and whatever the design idea wishes.

By design, there are two types of devices: functional and decorative.

Functional ones include fireplaces for additional heating of the room, devices with a culinary function. They are relevant for a country house, country cottage, attic floors of an apartment building. Electric and alcohol - for apartments with a cold ground floor.

It is customary to rank as decorative:

• Pseudo-cumin, which has only a mouth with a non-working firebox. It equips itself solely to maintain the design in a certain style.Often this is a back-to-wall or corner construction with the most realistic arrangement. It is not mobile, it is used in apartments and warm cottages, but not in a cold dacha.
• False fireplace... It differs from pseudo-fireplace in that the construction is temporary. It is mobile and custom made. For example, to decorate the living room for the New Year, for a thematic family photo shoot. In fact, these are simple decorations made of wood, chipboard, plywood, plastic and other materials at hand. These include even handcrafted materials for children's dolls or a puppet show at home or in the theater.

The classification of fireplaces by design is very diverse and requires detailed consideration.

The architectural and artistic value of the fireplace in the interior is often more important than its functional purpose. Such an element of decor can turn a laconic or unrecognizable at first glance style of an interior into an exact correspondence with the concept, add zest to it. At the same time, the variety of styles is great - from unchanging classics to techno.

Classicism is synonymous with specularity, clear proportions and lines. He refers to the first versions of fireplaces, by the time when they were already firmly established in the houses of different segments of the population and became widespread. The materials of the internal arrangement must be chosen based on the peculiarities of the functioning of the fireplace, but for the external decoration of the portal, solid and natural products are shown. The more expensive and better they look, the better they fit into the classic framework..

Real classics are not made from fake and cheap materials. At least outwardly, they should look expensive. It is important to make the mouth of solid wood, marble, stone... He is characterized by massiveness. The upper part of the portal is so wide that it serves as a finished shelf. Lamps, watches, figurines, ornaments will be placed on it.

It's important not to overdo it. The abundance of decorative elements at the mouth of the fireplace is no longer included in the concept of the classic direction... This is the prerogative of pompous styles in the spirit of Baroque, Rococo and Romanticism. They are often referred to the group of classical styles, but it would be more correct to single them out into the group of historical trends. In this case, the classic acts as an independent offshoot.

Its typical representatives are English and Victorian styles. The "highest point" of the development of the classics is the Empire style.

Baroque and Rococo take place in some modern interiors, but they have already lost their former solemnity and splendor. Palace interiors are too difficult to transfer to the conditions of standard apartments and small cottages. White and gold colors and complex decorative elements look too pretentious and inappropriate in everyday life... Their relevance remains only for premises with a large area.

Its arrangement is decoration, snagging to achieve the desired atmosphere in the setting.

It can be safely called a separate art form. Fireplaces in Russian style try to look like tiled stoves, and a tiled stove is the main decoration in the house. This is an abundance of relief patterns and colorful designs. The motives for the plots are nature, flowers and fruits, myths and legends, fairy tales, handicrafts (lace, wood painting).

The tiles themselves are small tiles, the predecessors of tiles. They are made from porcelain, earthenware and clay. The tiles are repeatedly fired and covered with transparent enamel and gold-containing paints.

It becomes the central element in the interior, everything else adjusts to it. At the same time, the location is widespread angular and wall-mounted. To maintain a sense of authenticity, it is better to choose a solid fuel or gas fireplace with a closed firebox in the Russian style.. An electric screen is also suitable. with high-quality imitation of burning firewood.

This style has three dominant directions: style "a la rus" (common in Europe, depicts the vision of Russian interiors in wealthy houses by foreigners), "antique" (interpretation of old interiors using modern materials), Russian terem (variations on the theme urban Russian style).

This trend is identified with simple, solid, but primitive rustic interiors. It is characterized by the use of natural stone of rough processing, the absence of sophisticated decoration of the portal. A characteristic feature is an open firebox. Such a fireplace should be wood-burning, with a living fire, crackling wood and the smell of wood.

For interiors, which are alien to the emphasized naturalistic rustic, there are its offshoots. They are more accurate and allow decorative elements made of metal, wood, closed firebox, electric screens. These include country, Scandinavian style, Provence, chalets. All directions supporting the use of natural materials in decoration.

This name unites many directions, which have one characteristic feature - the renewal of art. Heavy beauty and pretentiousness fade into the background.

An Art Nouveau (or Art Nouveau, Art Nouveau, Liberty) fireplace can retain eclectic features and decor, but its number is kept to a minimum. The combination of different materials begins to be practiced. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Art Nouveau became a prerequisite for all modern styles.

A collective name for different directions. There is a rough industrial loft, a kind of contemporary, and austere constructivism, and metallized hi-tech with its closest relative, techno. Distinctive features of modern fireplaces: an abundance of glass, iron, chrome and mirror surfaces, laconic forms, small size. Geometric shapes predominate.

There is no decorative frame in the form of a figured portal, it merges with the wall... Biofireplaces that do not require the organization of a chimney are relevant.

Decorating fireplaces are common. Such fireplaces are made of materials that are easy to process, such as polyurethane foam and fiberboard. For a 3-D effect, materials with a large sheet thickness are used. They serve as New Year's decoration in the living room, bedroom, photo studio. On an ongoing basis, such a fireplace is difficult to make quality. It looks fake and too cheap.

The set of tools, materials and accessories for creating a fireplace varies depending on its type. The process of making a real fireplace with a working firebox is the most time consuming and complex. The easiest way is to make a false fireplace as a decoration.

For the manufacture of a working fireplace for solid fuel, gas or a water circuit, the list of necessary things begins not at all with the choice of materials, but with a more important and complex thing - paperwork. In theory, a fireplace belongs to fire hazardous elements, especially with an open firebox. That's why before sitting in an armchair and listening to the cozy crackling of firewood in the fireplace, you will have to spend from 3 months to six months on upholstering the thresholds of various authorities and obtaining permission.

These are pre-revolutionary buildings in which there is a channel separate from the ventilation for extracting smoke. Also, in a private house, you can obtain a building permit in compliance with safety regulations. At the same time, in the documents, in no case it is impossible to indicate a fireplace with an open hearth as such.This is prohibited by building codes.. But it is quite possible to arrange it as a transfer of the heating system.... Without specification, it will be considered a stove with a closed firebox, and its construction has not yet been prohibited.

The procedure for registration begins with the development of a project, and it is carried out by an instance that has a license for such an activity. The next step is to assess the operational state of the dwelling. The main thing in it is the working order of the chimney and its revision no later than six months from the creation of the project.

After the assessment with the project, you need to visit the licensed offices of the Ministry of Emergencies. This institution must put its visa on the project. If she's not there, the project is sent for revision until it meets all fire safety requirements.

In addition to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, it is necessary to obtain permission from the fire department. After that, work can begin. Upon completion, they will be accepted by a special commission, and the changes made will be recorded on the plan of the house.

Directly for construction you will need:

• Foundation grout and fittings... With a large weight of the entire structure, the foundation must be reinforced with a steel lattice so that cracks do not go.
• Two sheets of iron 15mm thick... One is laid directly on the foundation, the second is placed on top of the waterproofing with an offset of 100-150cm.
• Two sheets of roofing material... They serve as insulation between galvanized steel sheets.
• Brick... Regardless of the front finish of the fireplace, its hearth is laid out of red ceramic bricks. It can also be used to trim the chimney along the inner contour. Particular attention should be paid to the "undercut" - bricks, fitted to a non-standard shape and size. The material should be free of cracks, defects, burnt dark areas. It is sufficiently resistant to fire and will last for many years.

• Fireclay plates... They are laid out under the firebox. The material is fireproof and designed specifically for stoves and fireplaces.
• Clay-sand mixture for masonry... It is allowed to use only clean building clay and alluvial river sand. The proportions of the components of the mixture are 3 parts of sand to 1 part of clay. Cement and alabaster mortars are not suitable. The masonry will not hold. Together with the container for the solution, you need to purchase a construction mixer, a mortar shovel, a trowel and a rule.
• Also needed: smooth even boards for formwork, asbestos cord, grinder for adjusting bricks to size, drawing and measuring tools, plumb line and level, trowel, construction stapler, shovels, hammer with an iron nozzle and with a rubber one (for leveling masonry).
• Additional elements: grate, ventilation pipes and grates, ash pan for ash in the ash pan, protective screen against sparks and embers, poker and decorative elements. In a simple design, this is a fireplace portal or mouth.

Electro-foci are installed according to a simplified scheme. Since they do not require a chimney and pose no more threat than a conventional heater, no permission is required. Bypassing the paperwork, you can immediately start arranging the fireplace.

To install it, you will need a frame made of a metal profile, sheets for sheathing, finishing materials for seams, material for decorative finishing and related little things in the form of screws and fasteners to connect the frame to the wall. You will also need cutting tools, a drill or screwdriver, measuring and drawing accessories.

For false fireplaces, drawing materials are needed, cutting tools to cut out parts, fasteners in the form of screws or liquid nails, paints, stabilizing elements (so that the structure does not fall over), decor.

The manufacturing technology of the fireplace depends on its type. Trompe l'oeil fireplaces are easy to manufacture. The most difficult thing is to build a real, working fireplace with an open hearth. We do not consider options with gas heating and a water circuit at all, since the intervention of specialists is required for their arrangement... Even the training video is not an assistant in this. Incorrectly connected gas equipment or a boiler can cause serious damage to the house and even pose a threat to the life and health of its inhabitants.

Before starting installation work, it is important to carry out several preparatory procedures. As a rule, this is paperwork, calculating the size of the fireplace, choosing the materials from which the "body" of the fireplace and its mouth will be made, choosing the shape of the portal, the colors of the exterior finish and decorative design.

Calculation of the dimensions of the firebox is the most important design stage. It is carried out in relation to the dimensions of the heated room. All fireplaces can be conditionally divided into mini, medium and large. Mini fireplaces are designed for rooms of 10-12 square meters. A small fireplace will have a firebox 400-420 mm wide, 420 mm high, 300-320 mm deep. These are the dimensions typical for the fire-place. The firebox shapes are narrow and elongated or square.

Another type of small fireplaces is designed for rooms with an area of ​​13.5-15 sq. m.The width of the furnace is 450-500 mm, the height is 450-490 mm, the depth is 320.

The height of the smoke box for small fireplaces is 570-600 mm.

Medium-sized rooms of 18-25 squares need fireplaces with a portal size of 600-700 mm. Recommended height - 560-630, depth - 320-350. The optimal height of the smoke box is 630-660 mm. The shape of the firebox for such a fireplace is square or rectangular, with a longer side horizontally.

For very spacious rooms of 30-40 squares in area, a fireplace with WxHxD parameters equal to 800-900 mm x 700-770 x 400-420 mm is required. The smoke collector is at least 700-800 mm in height.

More accurate calculations are made using the formula. So, to determine the size of the firebox, you need to divide the total area of ​​the room by 50. In this case depth in relation to height has a ratio of 2: 3... A too deep firebox reduces the already not very efficient heat transfer when burning fuel. All the heat will go out with the smoke into the street. A small firebox, on the other hand, will lead to the fact that some of the smoke and soot will settle in the room.

It is important to calculate the dimensions of the chimney. Its width should be at least one tenth of the width of the firebox. For a round pipe, these are the dimensions of the diameter.

The firebox and chimney are almost always made of the same material - red ceramic bricks. The brick is hollow and solid. A solid one is more suitable for a fireplace. It can withstand high temperatures, does not crack, has no pores. A concrete or cement mixture is needed for the foundation. Concrete is cheaper, cement is more practical... If cement, then 300 marks.

Before arranging the hearth, galvanized metal sheets and an interlayer of waterproofing and thermal insulation are laid. The base of the firebox can be additionally protected from cracking with fireclay plates. Refractory bricks are also suitable.

For example, roofing. In order for it to fulfill its function, it is necessary to lay it on mastic. The fireplace requires bituminous or tar mastic. Inside the chimney itself, metal pipes are used.

The brickwork must be of a solid, solid and smooth construction. For "adhesion" of bricks, mortars of minerals, water and aggregate are used. Natural minerals are various types of clay, lime, cement and gypsum. A clay base is considered optimal. The role of the aggregate is played by high-quality fine sand. In conditions of constant exposure to high temperatures, mountain sand has proven itself better.

Portal finishing is more variable.There is no heat load at the mouth, there is no direct effect of fire, so the choice of materials is wide enough.

The main criterion here is no longer resistance to fire, but susceptibility to processing and compliance with the design idea.

For the manufacture of the portal are used:

• Marble... The marble portal looks expensive, elegant, but not too pretentious. It is appropriate in classic interiors in combination with other elements of the luxury segment. A marble fireplace next to plain wallpaper or cheap flooring will look out of place.
• Granite... An imposing, massive granite portal will fit well into classics, gothic and Scandinavian interiors. As a marble product, it requires a suitable environment, but is more suitable for dark colored rooms.

• Tiles... The most complex and expensive, but at the same time the most spectacular decor. With its help, fireplaces are embodied in the Russian style, as well as ethno-fireplaces. Earthenware or ceramic tiles can be ordered ready-made and according to an individual design. The tiled mosaic will consist of a limited number of module parts. You cannot damage them, you cannot buy spare ones in a hardware store like cracked tiles. For finishing, you will need special tools and binders. It is better to entrust such a responsible event to professionals.
• Ceramics... Having experience with finishing materials, you can adapt ordinary ceramic tiles as tile modules. The event is difficult, but the result is worth it.
• A natural stone... Stone finishing is the prerogative of such styles as rustic, country, chalet. It is an alternative to red brick that fits perfectly into the atmosphere of a country house.
• Fake diamond... It performs functions similar to its natural counterpart in design, but costs less.

• Facing brick... It is a material for external finishing of the portal, which has a different color, texture and texture. The assortment is large, up to bricks with a pearlescent sheen.
• Wood... The wooden portal is laconic and dignified. Dark wood of valuable species is mainly used. Wood is appropriate in many interiors, from classic to Provence.
• Galvanized profile... Rough metal finishes are typical for Scandinavian-style rooms. She also wears industrial features, so it will organically fit into a loft living room or studio. Beautiful forging, voluminous metal parts and grates are integral elements of a Victorian fireplace.

• Gypsum... The plaster mouth is used when the fireplace portal should look like high-quality stucco molding. Real stucco molding will cost a lot, but a gypsum analog is available even with a small budget. The decor can be both in the classic style, and more complex, for example, in the spirit of the Baroque.
• Parquet board... It is used for finishing small fireplaces. A wide and high portal, which has a shelf on top, is already difficult to trim with narrow lamellas.
• Natural wood derivatives... A beautiful carved portal can be made with your own hands and from budget materials. These include all types of plywood, chipboard without lamination, fiberboard, OSB and MDF. All these materials are sheet materials, have a sufficiently large width and length to make a portal from a single piece, and are easy to process.

The portal for the electric fireplace is made in the form of a frame from a metal profile and corners. The frame is sheathed with plasterboard sheets. Screws are used as fasteners.

As for false fireplaces, their portals are made of different materials in accordance with the idea. Volumetric portals look more spectacular from thick, "swollen" materialssuch as foam or polyurethane.A rigid mouth can be built from the same derivatives of wood as for a working fireplace, as well as from timber and planks. Plasterboard and scrap materials are actively used. Old furniture can be of great service.

For decoration - brushes, paints, self-adhesive foil, finishing primer. The rest of the elements are optional. The mouth of the fireplace can be silver, gold or mother-of-pearl, have three-dimensional details and depict natural marble.

The location of the fireplace in the room (in the center, in the corner or against the wall) determines the amount of building materials. Form also matters. Both the shape of the furnace and the shape of the portal may differ. So, it is more difficult to lay out a round fireplace than a square one.

The firebox itself inside is square, rectangular, pencil case, semicircular and round.

Modern fireplaces are also oval and triangular in shape. The smaller the fireplace, the easier it is to choose the size... Large fireboxes impose some restrictions. The best option is a vertically elongated rectangle.

The shape of the external finishing of the portal is a purely aesthetic question. It is most often in the form of an arch with a shelf on top, a curly edge, and carved decor. The arch can be rounded or elongated upward. Arches that protrude forward in a semicircle look interesting.

The color palette is determined by the type of finishing materials and is usually limited to natural colors.

Gypsum is classically white. It goes well with golden decor.

Marble can be monochromatic (white, black, brown, gray, beige) or bicolor (a combination of different shades with white, black and gray). It is extremely rare to find a green, pinkish, bluish stone with colored veins of the same shade. Natural marble is chosen in gray and brown tones, less often - milky.

Facing bricks are presented on the market in a varied palette, but a limited number of colors are used: terracotta, brown, black, white, gray, chocolate, ivory. It is also presented in combined versions and with pearlescent coating.

Popular light shades, brushed (aged) dark wood, natural dark wood. The most demanded shades of nut, teak, wenge.

Tile decoration is not limited in the palette. A riot of bright blue, red, yellow and other colors is available for this type of finish.

Stages of manufacturing a fireplace with a working firebox:

• Drawing development, calculation of the amount of materials.
• Purchase of materials and tools, work uniforms. During the work, you will need a respirator and goggles, since laying a chimney in the wall (ceiling) is dusty and dirty.
• Preparatory work... At this stage, a pit for the fireplace is dug (hollowed out in the old foundation), filled with crushed stone-sand mixture. A waterproofing material is laid on top of the crushed stone, and the foundation is poured on it. It is reinforced with a metal mesh. The drying time of the cement mortar is 20-30 days.
• Dilution of the solution... This is a lengthy procedure, since the clay should be soaked within 2-3 days. Then sand is poured into the clay solution. For 8 parts of clay, 8 parts of sand and 1 part of water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed with a construction mixer until the consistency of sour cream.

• Fireplace masonry... The first two rows are laid out without features, with a gap of 5 millimeters. This is the base of the fireplace. The third row is the bottom of the firebox. It needs to be laid out with fireclay plates, placed on the edge. It is impossible to alternate with other material. The grate is also installed here. It is important to take into account that iron expands more strongly than brick when heated, therefore, temperature gaps are needed. The fourth row is the beginning of the formation of the combustion chamber.

Until the eighth without features, and from it the formation of the inclination of the back wall forward begins. The tilt forms a "mirror" to reduce heat loss. Rows 9-15 form an arch, 15-18 - "chimney tooth". From 19 to 20, a channel for the removal of smoke masses is formed. With 23, the bend expands, contact is formed with the roof (wall, if the house is higher than 1 floor). The chimney is led out and protected by an "umbrella" from precipitation.

• Installing a weather vane.
• Sealing fireplace seams cement mortar. After that, the structure should dry out a little.
• Decorative finishing... Before starting it, the solution in the masonry must dry completely.

Making an electrically heated fireplace easier... At the first stage, a frame of the desired shape is assembled from a metal profile, the base of the frame is sheathed with a material resistant to high temperatures. At the second stage, the rest of the structure is covered with plasterboard. On the third, the seams are smoothed with putty. The fourth is decorative trim. Fifth - mounting the frame to the wall. The sixth is the installation of an electric fireplace in an impromptu firebox.

False fireplace for a New Year's photo shoot and decorations can be made from wooden slats, sheathed with fiberboard or drywall, plywood from old furniture. It is not attached to the wall, so that after the holidays it would be easy to remove it without damaging the wall decoration.

Little tricks to create the perfect fireplace:

• It's worth starting with a sketch. This will give a visual idea of ​​how the fireplace will look in the interior.
• The fireplace is located at a distance from doors, windows and heaters.
• The decoration of the fireplace should be in harmony with the style of the interior or set the tone for it.
• Before starting the construction of a solid fuel fireplace, it is recommended to protect all surfaces as much as possible from the ingress of cement dust, and take the furniture to another room.

• Numbered bricks are quicker and easier to lay.
• The brick should not be hollow.
• It is not recommended to build a hearth in the off-season and during the cold season.
• A solid fuel fireplace requires maintenance and periodic cleaning of the chimney.
• The best option for an apartment is alcohol fuel.

The beauty of a homemade fireplace is determined by its location and type of finish. A win-win option is a concrete or marble portal. The wood finish looks expensive and retains its presentable appearance for a long time.

In a private house, a fireplace with a country or rustic stone finish, as well as a "semi-antique" Russian style and a tiled finish, organically fits. An electric or eco-fireplace of a non-trivial shape with metal and tempered glass finishes is appropriate in the interior of a modern apartment.

For information on how to independently make the installation of a decorative fireplace, see the next video.