Description

Craftsman Home Plans usually call for at leastone if not several fireplaces. In the design stages of planningyour new home - you will need to know the recommended measurementsfor chimney, flue and mantel.

In the construction of the masonry for any craftsman homefireplace or chimney it is important that the foundation start fromsolid ground and as far down as the lowest part of the foundationwall of the house itself.

All woodwork must be excluded from inside the chimney and thebeams should be framed around the brick work. A fireproof hearthshould be constructed with a distance of 12 inches or more from theface of the chimney wherever there is to be an open fireplace.

The best placement for the opening for the fireplace is in thecenter of the chimney. If a flue passes up on only one side thenbalance to the chimney can be made by running up studs on the otherside to give an equal width without a waste of brick work.

Designing The Flue

It is a safe rule to make the height of the fireplace ratherless than the width of the opening and the depth should be at leastone-half the height. The average size of fireplaces is made 30 in.wide, 30 in. high, 12 in. deep in the rough brickwork. To this isadded the mantel facing giving a depth of about 15 inches.

The smoke flue, in cross section, should be about 1/2 the areaof the fireplace opening. That would for the above mentioned size,give a cross section of about 75 sq. in. and for this the flue isusually built about 8in. x 8in.

The flue itself should be uniform in size from the throat offireplace to the extreme top of chimney and sharp turns andunnecessary bends should be avoided.

It is desirable to use terra cotta flue lining as they insure asmooth surface in the flue and also give protection againstpossibility of a spark going through an open joint of the firebrickwork.

The flue linings should be carried a little above the top of thechimney so as to permit a beveled shoulder of cement to run down tomeet the brick work. This also leaves a nice clean look to theexterior chimney top.

Make sure that the flue lining is sufficient so that you willhave eight inches of brick around the chimney. Around the openfireplaces there should be at least 12 inches of brick work, or 8inches of brick work with 4 inches of air space, between the fireand any woodwork.

What Is A Chimney Throat?

The space immediately above the fireplace is termed the "throat"and the sides of a chimney throat should run at an angle of about45 degrees starting at the sides of the fireplace and meeting theflue directly over the center of the fireplace.

The very best option is to build in an iron throat damper. Thishas the right shape to insure good draft and has the advantage thatthe damper can be closed when the fireplace is not in use or whenthe draft of the fire is too strong.

We often see plastering on the inside of a flue as the chimneyis being built. It does insure a smooth surface while the work isnew, but is not desirable because the plaster will eventuallyloosen and fall. When it drops out, it pulls some of the mortarfrom between the bricks and this will make the surface even rougherthan it would be if the brick work has not been plastered in thefirst place.

You must always take precautions to prevent any pulling onmortar between the brick - because loose or missing mortar makes itpossible for a spark to pass from the flue to the surroundingwoodwork. If you cannot get terra cotta flue linings, have eightinches of the brick work built, but not plastered inside.

Should You Use Wood For A Mantel?

Wood mantels if properly made can be used with entire safetywhere you have open fireplaces or regular open grates in yourCraftsman Style Home. In Colonial times when houses were heatedopen fireplaces, wood mantels were used almost exclusively andthere are many fine examples of these mantels still in existence,without any suggestion of wear or scorching.