A warming fireplace is the dream of many homeowners. We’ll show you how to retrofit a fireplace and chimney in your home in three days!
From a purely visual point of view , stoves have changed little in recent years. However, technical development continues. Today’s furnaces are state-of-the-art incinerators.
In our example, it is the ambient air-independent supply of combustion air directly to the stove . This variant has the great advantage that you can enjoy the radiant heat of the stove without the usual drafts on the floor.
The required air reaches the stove directly through a branch in the exhaust gas pipe through the outer wall . A built-in fine dust filter is now standard, at least for brand manufacturers .
When making your choice, make sure that your new dream stove is suitable for continuous firing. That means you can heat with coal and briquettes . This is particularly useful if the stove is to remain in operation overnight.
Install a fireplace: You should clarify this beforehand
A site inspection with the chimney sweep before ordering your desired stove is an absolute must. Only the chimney sweep may carry out certain sovereign tasks. This also includes the acceptance of fireplaces. Simply enter the postcode and street and you will see the name and address of your chimney sweep.
- Clarify whether your existing chimney is suitable for connecting a stove or whether you need to install a new, separate chimney.
- The question of the combustion air supply is important . The Firing Ordinance stipulates that at least 4 cbm of room air must be available per kilowatt of heat output. In modern, sealed houses, this can be a problem because not enough air can flow in. Operating an extractor hood in the kitchen can also increase demand. A fresh air connection may then have to be planned.
- You should also discuss the exact location of your stove with the chimney sweep. He can explain the distances to the surrounding components . The decisive factor is whether these are combustible or non-combustible building materials.
- Last but not least, the chimney sweep can also give tips for choosing the right stove , especially when it comes to issues such as fine dust filters or the like.
Install fireplace: material
Once the basic questions have been clarified, you can order the fireplace of your choice. Our tip: stay with brand manufacturers!
Installing a chimney: the ceiling opening
Breaking through ceilings is a sweaty and dusty affair. The better you prepare the site, the less work you will have later when installing your fireplace.
Even a small ceiling duct creates a lot of dirt and dust. For this reason, you should not lay out a continuous piece of painter’s fleece directly below the opening, but preferably throughout the room.
Tape the 1m strips to both the wall and each other to keep them in place and expose valuable flooring. Cover furniture and radiators as well.
Installing a fireplace: Structure of the elements
Our shaft construction is almost as easy as assembling Lego bricks. However, the shaft must be precisely measured beforehand. The shaft elements consist of calcium silicate panels that are rebated at the top and bottom. Putting the shaft elements together is extremely easy. A mounting adhesive holds the stones securely together.
Plates or elements made of calcium silicate are dimensionally stable, pressure-resistant, non-combustible, open to diffusion and alkaline. In the case of our shaft, the fire protection aspect is particularly important. In addition, the panels are very easy to process.
Installing a fireplace: the next step is in the attic
The most complex part of shaft construction is certainly opening up the sloping roof. Here the shaft is built between two rafters.
Install the chimney: opening the roof
Opening the roof is not easy, because an airtight layer is often broken through here. You should therefore leave the connection to a professional to avoid damage from moisture.
Install chimney: connections
When the shaft is in place, you must cleanly close and rework the openings in the ceiling and roof. When filling, always work in two steps: the first is carried out with cement mortar, the second with a surface spatula.
Install fireplace: assembly
Setting up the stove is not rocket science and can be done by yourself. But the professionals are much faster.
Installing the chimney: Install the casing
In addition to a great look, the add-on elements also provide plenty of storage space.
Install fireplace: fireclay panels
A wood-burning stove is exposed to very high loads, especially in the combustion chamber, due to the high temperature differences.
Install the chimney: check by the chimney sweep
At the very end, the stove is accepted by the chimney sweep. It is essential for insurance reasons in particular.
Install fireplace: Remaining work
You still have to plan half a day for the final work on your new fireplace ambience.
Installing the chimney: commissioning
Handling a stove is not difficult. However, there are a few things you should definitely know about operation before you can enjoy the pleasant radiant heat in your living space.
