From the ancient periods, fireplaces were used as not only a source of heat but also as a gathering place. Debates and discussions would take place all while sipping coffee or eating some sort of danish by the fireplace would often be a scene that would be popular. In wintertime, families would spend most of their days and evenings sitting around it. Today, there are those that want to mimic those time periods and purchase antique fireplaces. Fortunately for them, there are many companies that specialize in making fireplaces that look just like you were back in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

For many people when they think of a fireplace in earlier centuries, stone or brick comes to mind. But on the contrary, there were many places in the world that created fabulous fireplace scenes using marble and stone also. No matter what the type of material that is used, all of it can be put together to create a surreal picture of an antique fireplace. When purchasing a fireplace to match the type of house that you have, you may even have to decide which type of material that will go best in your house. For example, if you have a brick house, there are brick fireplaces that can be purchased, either freestanding or not, that will add a great mystique to the look that you already have. But if you have an old style Victorian mansion, then maybe marble or granite would be just right for the material. Using marble as the material for your fireplace mantel and to surround your fireplace would create a good accent for a Victorian or New England style house.

Fireplaces that are made to look antique do not have to be plainly decorated either. A lot of companies will even provide a specific design that is cut right on the fireplace and mantel itself, and you can even find places where you can custom design or make your own fireplace. In addition, fireplace accessories can be purchased that will give your fireplace and home an antique look as well. For example, large columns can be placed near the fireplace on either side, accenting the fire itself. In between the columns you may have antique andirons that flare up on either side of the fire. Andirons do not have to just be there for a specific purpose anymore; if anything, getting andirons that give your fireplace an antique look will show your fireplace off even more! Putting that mantel to use would provide a good way to add even more uniqueness as well. If you have an old collection of photographs or even a collection of old tea kettles, cups, or glasses would work too. Placing all of that in some kind of orderly fashion would draw attention to the fire and make for some interesting discussions by the fireplace as well.

No matter your interest in earlier centuries or not, having that type of style would add a great deal of your own personality to your house. You could impress your friends, family, and relatives by having an antique fireplace setting and entertain them while watching the greatness of the fire. Purchasing a Fireplace, an antique fireplace at that, will only add that special glow to your house and make it seem larger and create an even more homey feeling than what is already felt!

I am taking out a woodstove and want to put a Pellet Stove in its place. Can I run the 3" pipe up inside the existing chimney?

Yes, you can run the pellet pipe up the inside of the existing chimney so long as it is a Class A Chimney or masonry chimney. Since Wood Stoves require a Class A chimney, I assume that is what you have. If so, it is perfectly fine to do this. We have customer do this all of the time and it is approved by National Firecode NFPA 211.

The only exception to this would be if your local municipality specifically prohibits this, but I have yet to hear of a locality that does.

I have a relatively small house. The main heating source is Hydronic baseboards with an oil burning furnace. I would like to get a lp Fireplace. Can I get a ventless 20k btu unit installed into a recessed wall. Any info would be appreciated. I have also considered Pellet Stoves but the initial cost seems to be too great.

Chris,
You dont want ventless if you are starting from scratch you want direct vent. That is only slightly more efficient 89% or so as opposed to 99%, but you wont have the NO2 problems and air quality concerns a ventless log will get you into. Most installers wont touch a ventless install new anyway they will only service existing ones. There are some liabilities in health about them just google the ventless study done by U of IL champaign /Urbana.

I recently bought a home with a Pellet Stove but never used one before. I’m still waiting for my furniture to be delivered so I can’t stay overnight to watch it but don’t want the house to burn down. Can I leave it on overnight unattended until I get back in the morning?
It’s about three years old

Nope, as that can be potentially hazardous.

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/firepl/msg0204565921723.html?8

Our chimney is made with red bricks on the outside, concrete blocks on the inside, and two terracotta flues.

There is mortar making a ramped or domed surface to shed the water.

The mortar is all cracked now.

I understand there is a composite material that can be formed into a domed surface. Instead of cracking, it becomes a solid piece.

Anybody know what its called?

I have seen a patent about a mold for making a composite chimney crown, but I haven’t ever seen one on the market.

There are some coating and sealing materials like CrownCoat and CrownGuard that do about the same thing. These are good if the crown is made correctly and is basically structurally sound, but just cracked.

For a bit more damaged surfaces there are coating materials called CrownSeal and Defy’s Crown Repair that covers the existing cracking crown material and provides a 1/8 inch thick flexible, weatherproof surface.

If the crown is crumbling and breaking up into pieces then it should be replaced with a new, cast in place cement crown.

Common mortar like used between bricks is too soft to handle the weather and should not be used to form a chimney crown.

A proper chimney crown, or Chimney wash, should be constructed of a portland cement based mixture and cast or formed with a 3 inch per foot slope and provides an overhang, or drip edge, projecting beyond all sides of the chimney by a minimum of two inches with a kerf in the bottom of the overhang and metal flashing between the crown and the bricks below it. This drip edge directs the runoff from the crown away from the sides of the chimney, helping prevent erosion of the brick and mortar in the chimney’s vertical surfaces. There should be a gap between the flues and the crown that is filled with flexible, cement stable silicone caulk.

My husband and I bought a 50+ year old house a little over three years ago. We have a 200 square foot addition on the back that was built improperly by a previous owner. It has a beautiful brick fireplace in it, but the rest of the room’s structure is failing because of faulty construction. So we are hiring a contractor to tear the room down to the bare concrete slab, which used to be the patio (the room was never tied in to the original house, so not much will have to be done). We are thinking of saving the fireplace and hearth though, and use it as a freestanding Outdoor Fireplace since it is just too nice too destroy. I think that since we are losing value on our home by having to demo the room then maybe we can at least gain some by saving the big brick fireplace. I want to build a pergola around it and the patio to maximize our yard/patio potential (with an outdoor chandalier handing down from the pergola, maybe adding some flowers and vines growing up the top). Any advice or information on what to expect when making the Fireplace an outdoor one would be appreciated. Thanks!
*By the way, it is a wood-burning fireplace, with gas connection but the gas is capped off.

I think you can just tear down the badly built room and use the concrete slab as a patio once more. Without seeing this fireplace, it’s hard to say if it will need any changes. Probably not. My guess is that you can just use it as it is.

I’ve researched on the internet and it says that gas inserts are clean burning. However, we’ve been told that our chimney needs cleaned and that we need all sorts of things replaced. I’m guessing that "The Chimney Man" is just trying to make some holiday money! Snow job or life saving necessity?

only build up you will ever get in a gas furnase set up is light carbon sooting and dust. manufacturers of any furnce set up will tell you to have your chimney or other ventilation system cleaned at least once every five years . dont be foolish get it done creosote is not the only danger in a chimney, also birds and squirrles love to nest around vents so they can also introduce flammable debries into your system. just some thing to think about

I have a multifuel stove and current burning well seasoned hard wood, smokless fuel and non smokeless house coal. we are having maybe about 5 fires a week and from late afternoon into the night. how often should i get the Chimney swept?

Every year, especially if you burn WOOD because wood leaves a tar deposit inside the flu and can pose a fire risk if it is allowed to build up.

My Pellet Stove gets negtive pressure triggering the shutting off of the blowers and sending smoke into the house. What can be done?

Get a forced air fan…….its a fan that will turn on when called for. Who the heck installrd your stove anyways? Fire him/her!

I am looking to line my chimney and need to know how many metres of lining I need to buy.
I need to buy a Chimney liner to use with my wood burner, the width I have been told is 6" for my type of burner, but I have no idea of length required.

it must be at least 1 meter above the ridge of the roof if lineing your chimney best to use a builders vamiculite it will find its way into all the nocks and cranys and is a great insulation i am a english bricklayer for 20 years and now are made by the surveyors to use this stuff