DIY brick fireplace - instructions

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[toc] A heating system is simply necessary to provide a comfortable microclimate to the premises of a private country house or dacha. A fireplace is an interior item that also affects the microclimate in the house or country house. Recently, a fireplace has become an increasingly popular addition to home comfort, gradually moving from country houses to apartments in large cities.

DIY plasterboard fireplace

There is a simple explanation for such an urbanization of fireplaces, since a decorative fireplace is able to create an atmosphere of comfort and at the same time perfectly cope with the role of a heating source. Despite the practical impossibility of installing a fireplace in an apartment, getting a fireplace is quite simple, and this possibility is achieved thanks to drywall and some other materials and tools.

Advantages of a plasterboard fireplace

Drywall is one of the most popular environmentally friendly materials, which is actively used in the construction of partitions, walls, mezzanines, shelves and, of course, fireplaces. It has practically no drawbacks, except that it needs decoration, and even this can rather be considered an advantage.

A decorative false fireplace is a structure made of a metal profile, which is covered with plasterboard.

A plasterboard fireplace has a number of advantages and disadvantages:

low cost compared to stone fireplaces;
the ability to manufacture structures of various shapes and install them even in the smallest spaces;
simplicity and accessibility of installation - even the most inexperienced builder can make a fireplace from plasterboard;
a false fireplace made of plasterboard can perform several functions at once - used as shelves for books, stands for dishes and other purposes, depending on your imagination;
Since false fireplaces do not have an open source of fire, they are absolutely safe to use. Therefore, if you have small children, you do not have to fear for their life and health;
there is no danger of damage to the furniture or floor next to the fireplace from falling hot coals.

You can see in the photo what a fireplace made of plasterboard can look like.

Fireplace projects

Nowadays, there are the following projects, differing in their design:

Closed fireplaces. In order to install them, you will need a minimum of space in the room. This is a big plus compared to other types. It is worth understanding that closed brick fireplaces should be installed at the moment when the house is being built.
Semi-open fireplace buildings. These designs are a balance between open and closed views. Such fireplaces are attached to the wall or placed inside it. You can build semi-open devices in a fully built house.
Open fireplaces. This option is most suitable for rooms with a small area. They should be installed in the central part of the room so that they distribute heat in all directions.
Corner fireplace made of brick. This device is used to heat adjacent rooms.

Building materials for the construction of the structure:

Red brick;
clay;
cement;
rubble stone;
sand;
crushed stone

Types of plasterboard fireplaces

Decorative fireplaces made of plasterboard can be divided into 3 types:

conditional - have portals protruding from the wall, in the firebox of which an electric fireplace can be placed;
reliable - fireplaces that practically do not differ from stone fireplaces in size and appearance. You can place bio-fireplace burners in the firebox - complete copies of a real fireplace;
symbolic - they have nothing to do with real fireplaces, since they are made in the form of decoration, they do not have portals.

Types and methods of placing false fireplaces made of plasterboard indoors

It is not easy to distinguish a false fireplace from a real one by its appearance: its decoration can be completely replicated in stone or brickwork. Inside the firebox of such a fireplace you can place a row of massive candles or an electronic photo frame with imitation fire.

Plasma screens look very impressive inside such false fireplaces, transmitting the image of a living flame and the sound of crackling logs from any gadget via a wireless network.

A false fireplace is an excellent solution for apartments and families with small children or pets. In addition, they can be of several types, including those that function as a home heater.

Types of decorative fireplaces:

Conventional false fireplace - those in which the portal necessarily protrudes beyond the wall and has a finished firebox. It will heat using electricity, but will not allow you to get burned or cause a fire from smoldering coals.
A reliable false fireplace must be created from fire-resistant materials. This is fireproof plasterboard, and the internal lining of the firebox. They can be used to mount a standard electric fireplace, and one that runs on biofuel. In this case, a purchased bio-fireplace is built into the plasterboard structure.
The symbolic fireplace has no heating function at all. It acts purely as a decorative element of the interior; in essence, it is a three-dimensional painting depicting a fireplace. However, you can make the mantelpiece in such a symbolic fireplace spectacular, and then place decorative elements on it or make it a stand for a plasma TV screen.

You should choose the size and location of the fireplace in your apartment wisely. A small design with a photo frame inside will be lost in a spacious room, but would be appropriate in a study or library. You can also consider the option of a corner or even wall-mounted fireplace. In a large living room, it is better to place it in the middle of the wall, creating the center of the interior composition.

Decor of false fireplace portals

False fireplaces made of plasterboard are remarkable for their versatility. They can be used to imitate real fire, or you can not hide the props and even focus on it, it all depends on the style.

Portal decor options:

Materials for creating a false fireplace

Making an artificial fireplace with your own hands is not such a difficult task. Naturally, it will only carry an aesthetic load, complementing your interior and adding a touch of classic nobility to it. First you need to decide what will become the basis of your decorative hearth. There are several options.

Polyurethane. If you want quick results, consider polyurethane. Ready-made portals are presented on the market in a pleasant variety. It will be easy for you to choose the size and style you want. If desired, you can build an electric fireplace into it to give some realism to the structure.

To create an imitation of a hearth, you need to purchase a polyurethane portal, contact adhesive, putty and any finishing materials for decoration.
Old furniture. Some craftsmen use any available material for their design solutions, transforming it beyond recognition. For example, you can make a false fireplace with your own hands even from old furniture. An old-style sideboard or cabinet that has already served all its due dates can get a second life with a non-standard approach. To do this, you may need a jigsaw, a sanding machine, plywood, putty, acrylic paint, a screwdriver and any decorative finishing materials.
Drywall. Creating a false fireplace from plasterboard is the most common option. It is cheap, pliable and easy to work with. It is suitable for designing and creating the most incredible structures, so here your imagination is not limited by any limits. With some experience working with this material, you can use it to build a beautiful hearth for any interior style. A fake fireplace created by yourself will bring special comfort to your home. We will consider this option in more detail.

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DIY plasterboard fireplace

Before you start building a fireplace, you need to prepare:

First of all, choose the room and place where you will install the fireplace. This could be a bedroom, a guest room or a kitchen. If you have small rooms, then corner fireplaces made of plasterboard will be the best option.
After choosing a location, you will need to make a drawing and sketch of the planned fireplace. If you doubt your design abilities, you can invite a specialist for these purposes. He will tell you in what style it is better to make the design so that it looks good in your interior.
Builders recommend making a model of the upcoming structure in order to correctly calculate the amount of building material. The material for the layout can be ordinary cardboard, and ordinary PVA will be suitable as glue, and in some cases even adhesive tape will be enough. You can attach the model to the walls to see how the fireplace will look in the future. Take the time to create a layout, this will help you save time and money.
Well, of course, for construction you will need materials and tools with which you will work:

plasterboard sheets. If you plan to decorate the fireplace with ceramic tiles, then it is better to take moisture-resistant plasterboard. The dimensions of the sheets and their quantity depend on the size of the fireplace itself;
metal profile from which you will make the frame of the structure: guide (28x27mm) and rack (60x27mm);
metal screws (length 14-16 mm), which will be needed to connect the parts of the frame;
self-tapping screws with a countersunk head for fastening sheets of drywall to a metal structure;
screwdriver;
electric drill and hammer drill for working with concrete walls;
electric jigsaw;
hacksaw;
Bulgarian;
metal scissors;
sharp construction knife;
construction level;
roulette;
square;
dowels;
abrasive sandpaper;
putty for drywall;
sheets of foil or aluminum;
decorating material.

Preparing the base for the fireplace

Before you begin installing the frame for the fireplace, you need to prepare the base for it:

The best base would be a concrete pad. Its dimensions should be 20-25 cm larger than the fireplace itself, and its height should be at least 20 cm.
Despite the fact that an open fire is not used in a plasterboard fireplace, the walls around it still need to be protected, since they can also heat up from ordinary candles. The best insulating material would be asbestos or aerated concrete. If your fireplace is decorative, protection will not be needed.

How to make a fireplace from foam plastic for the New Year

A New Year's fireplace made of polystyrene foam is an excellent DIY decor; it looks impressive, is simple and inexpensive to make. For the construction of the structure, strips that remain from factory packaging or insulation of wall surfaces are suitable, if such work was carried out previously. Additionally, all materials, tools, and accessories for work are immediately prepared. It is advisable to use toothpicks and edging. In addition to a sharp knife and scissors, you need a spatula for priming and brushes. This set is enough to prepare a festive decorative design.

Important! The best decoration for a New Year's fireplace made of polystyrene foam is small souvenirs, candles, ribbons, tinsel, balls.

Stages of work:

Cut out rectangles 60*40 cm and 40*20 cm, they are needed for equipping the side surfaces. Since polystyrene foam does not adhere well even to PVA glue, additionally, in order to increase their reliability, the joints are fixed with toothpicks: one to four pieces. The side parts are pinned to a large rectangle; the joint areas are pre-coated with glue.
From the inside of the fireplace, they make a marking of the firebox from polystyrene foam, then cut it out with a sharp knife. The thinner the blade, the more accurate the cut will be.
Use toothpicks and glue to secure the back side of the fireplace, along the bottom and top, using masking tape, and secure other parts. Prime the frame, let it dry for 12 hours, if necessary, apply the primer again, dry the layer again, sand the coating with fine sandpaper.
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Wet the braid for decorating the firebox using PVA glue, carefully fasten it along the cut of the firebox, and at the same time prime the surface. It takes at least 2 hours to dry. Glue small ornaments coated with gold paint into the corners of the foam fireplace.
The lid, which serves as a shelf, must be larger than the main structure; it is fixed on top of the finished box. To decorate a fireplace made of polystyrene foam for the New Year, you need to prime the narrow side surfaces, coat them with a gold compound, and treat the firebox sections in a similar manner.

The base is usually left open, but can be exposed on stiff cardboard if desired. Mother-of-pearl with a golden tint is applied to the relief parts of the cut of the fireplace insert and ribs. The composition is allowed to dry, then wiped with a soft cloth so that the paint gets into the recesses and highlights a beautiful relief. On the ribs, the coating appears to be light wear that has developed over time.

Important! Decoupage looks harmonious on the front parts of the fireplace made of foam plastic. Snowflakes are cut out of napkins, glued onto PVA, and coated with acrylic-based varnish.

New Year's decor is usually made from small toys, boots, chains, and they are hung in the firebox area. Fix decorations on colored stationery nails - this is an affordable, simple, beautiful option. The cones are painted gold, so the result will be more elegant and spectacular. You can put them in a basket. You need to put candles of different shapes and sizes in the improvised firebox. Boxes, toys, and candies are laid out on the mantelpieces.

Fireplace installation

So, you can start installing the fireplace. First we assemble the metal frame:

If you plan to place the fireplace not very close to the corners, you can mount the frame directly to the wall.
Apply the necessary markings to the walls and floor.
Then proceed to attaching the profiles that you have cut to the required dimensions - attach the profile to the wall and drill shallow marking holes in several places with a drill.
Remove the profile and drill holes at the marks to the required depth so that the dowels fit into them. In concrete walls, holes are drilled with a hammer drill, and a drill can handle brick walls. Check the horizontal and vertical alignment of the frame with a building level.
According to your drawing, attach the cut lines of the metal profile to those already attached to the wall.
If the place for the fireplace is chosen near a corner or the fireplace is corner, then the frame will have to be assembled completely, and then mounted in place.

When the metal frame is ready, it can be sheathed with plasterboard:

Sheets of material are drawn and cut to the required size using a grinder and attached to the profile with self-tapping screws.
All joints of plasterboard sheets must be reinforced with metal profiles using self-tapping screws.
To strengthen the structure, profile lines are inserted every 30-40 cm, which are also attached to self-tapping screws.
All seams are puttied after they are treated with abrasive sandpaper.
The firebox area is insulated with foil or aluminum sheets.

The decorative fireplace in which you plan to install candles should have a chimney, just like a real fireplace. The chimney pipe is made double - one pipe goes into the other. For safety reasons, a damper is required. But, if the space in the room allows you, you can make a chimney just for beauty and greater resemblance to a real fireplace.

Construction of a fireplace

First you need to mark the outline of the fireplace on the wall.

In the process of laying out the firebox, you need to use refractory bricks. After all the preparatory work, you can proceed to the installation of the side and rear walls of the fireplace. Their thickness should be 20 cm. First, corner bricks are laid out, the horizontalness of the wall is checked with a building level. Next, the outer row is built, and then the middle is laid out.

You should know that the laying of a brick fireplace must be carried out sequentially, each new row must be laid out after the installation of the previous one has been completed.

Fireplace decoration

Now that the fireplace design is ready, you can move on to the most important part - the decor. For this, different materials are used depending on capabilities and taste preferences. This can be self-adhesive film, paint, tiles, plaster, plaster and even forging elements. You can combine several types of finishing materials at once. Decorative stone looks very good in combination with metal forging. The most important thing in choosing decor is harmony with the overall interior of the apartment or house.

Pasting with film:

Covering a plasterboard fireplace with film is the most budget-friendly and simplest method of decoration, which does not require special surface preparation.
Lay out the film according to the size of the fireplace and cut it with scissors.
Apply the film to the drywall and smooth it using a piece of cloth.
The film lasts quite a long time, although over time it still begins to peel off at the corners. In this case, the film can be replaced with a new one or the fireplace can be decorated with another material.

Fireplace painting:

If you decide to paint the fireplace, you need to prepare the surface well, putty the seams and screw heads, since any paint reveals all the irregularities.
After puttying, the surface is thoroughly rubbed with sandpaper.
After the putty has completely dried, you need to apply a primer to improve the adhesion of the paint to the surface. A primer with pigments is suitable for this; it helps to avoid gaps and is applied very smoothly.
4 hours after priming, you can begin painting directly. Choose water-based paint; it is most suitable for drywall, dries quickly and lays perfectly flat.
The surface is prepared for wallpapering in the same way.
For work, choose a roller instead of brushes, then you will not have to apply more than 2 layers of paint.
Dilute the first layer of paint with water 1:2, and the second does not need to be diluted.

Construction of a brick fireplace, preparation of drawings and stove design, photo

For country houses, fireplace designs made from brick are most often chosen. Brick is fire-resistant, strong and durable. Thanks to these qualities, it is ideally suited as a construction material. You can make any of the known shapes of a home from brick, and using finishing materials and decorative elements, you can give it any style.

The basic structure of a fireplace is as follows: a combustion chamber (firebox), a smoke chamber and a chimney. Each of the component parts performs its own function and must meet certain requirements and proportions. Fuel combustion occurs in the combustion chamber. The smoke chamber is designed to collect combustion gases and then discharge them to the street through the chimney.

To ensure the required degree of heating, the size of the firebox of a brick fireplace should be related to the area of the room as 1:50, while the ratio of height to width should be 2:3. The ratio of the depth of the firebox to its height can be in the range from 1:2 to 2:3.

Creation of the required level of draft is carried out provided that the cross-sectional area of the chimney is 8 times less than the area of the firebox. Under certain conditions, this ratio can reach up to 15.

Before building a brick fireplace, it is necessary to calculate the foundation and build it correctly. The fireplace foundation must be independent of the foundation of the house and at the same time have the same depth as it. When laying the foundation, it is necessary to provide high-quality waterproofing. The top of the base should be approximately 6-7 cm below the floor level.

When developing drawings of brick fireplaces with your own hands, special attention must be paid to fire safety. To do this, the bottom cut of the firebox must be at least 30 cm above the floor level. The cornice separating the combustion part from the smoke chamber is also of great importance in this regard. Its main function is to prevent sparks and soot from flying beyond its limit. At the same time, the cornice is one of the main decorative elements that influence the appearance of the fireplace.

Imitation stone

A fireplace decorated with natural stone looks very beautiful. But this finish is not suitable for drywall, since the stone is very heavy. It can be replaced with tiles or artificial stone, as well as their imitation. Imitation stone is by far the most popular type of decor:

Treat the surface of the drywall - remove dust and pieces of putty.
Plaster the surface and create a shape of bricks of different sizes on it.
Using a brush, round the bricks so that they look like a masonry of uneven stones.
After the plaster has completely dried, cover the surface with a special acrylic glaze paint of the color you need.
Use gray azure paint to paint the areas that imitate cement masonry.

Ceramic tile cladding:

Before tiling with ceramic tiles, the surface is prepared in the same way as in the case of imitation stone.
The tiles are laid with a special glue, which can be purchased at a hardware store.
A day after laying, it will be possible to seal the seams between the tiles.

To give the fireplace a complete look, the decor is complemented with baguettes, baseboards, pilasters, moldings, columns, stucco molding, forging and other elements. To make a decorative fireplace more similar to a natural one, you can decorate it with some accessories: a metal grate, a tempered glass door, a fireplace set with a poker, a firewood rack. Above the fireplace you can hang a shelf for books, candles, family photos or your favorite figurines. All this will give more comfort and warmth.

Now that you know how to make a fireplace from plasterboard with your own hands, you can safely get to work.