What is a Masonry Fireplace?

A masonry fireplace is one that is built of fire brick and flue tiles inside the chimney cavity. It is the way most all fireplaces were built in the past, however, today many builders are using zero clearance fireplaces. These are metal boxes with double walled metal pipe up the chimney. They are much safer in that it greatly reduces the risk of fire from the build up of soot that can catch fire in the chimney causing the tile to crack and then the framing of the chimney catch. The zero clearance is also less expensive than a real masonry fireplace because the fire box does not require and foundation or footer to be built on. They can be built on the existing floor joists or you can canti lever the floor joists as much as 2 ft beyond the floor to create a chimney look. A real masonry fireplace in a ranch house with brick could cost as much as $5,000, whereas a built in firebox with siding on the exterior of the chimney might only run $2,000 or less. I have been a builder for over 15 ...  more

Masonry fireplaces are structures that are created with the use of materials such as brick, cement blocks, or natural stones. The construction of a masonry fireplace will include the use of some sort of binding agent that helps to hold the individual components of the fireplace together. Common in the creation of fireplaces throughout the world, the masonry fireplace continues to be included in the construction of new homes. Just about all forms of the traditional fireplace can be properly identified as a masonry fireplace. Depending on the design, the masonry material may include one or more types of materials. A masonry fireplace may be constructed mainly of bricks that have been cured and fired, but treated to a façade of stones that are fixed in place with the aid of cement or other binders. The stones may be smooth and uniform or be an eclectic mixture of shapes and sizes. In general, a masonry fireplace is created for the purpose of acting as a heat-generating source within the ...  more

Masonry fireplaces are structures that are created with the use of materials such as brick, cement blocks, or natural stones. The construction of a masonry fireplace will include the use of some sort of binding agent that helps to hold the individual components of the fireplace together. Common in the creation of fireplaces throughout the world, the masonry fireplace continues to be included in the construction of new homes. Just about all forms of the traditional fireplace can be properly identified as a masonry fireplace. Depending on the design, the masonry material may include one or more types of materials. A masonry fireplace may be constructed mainly of bricks that have been cured and fired, but treated to a façade of stones that are fixed in place with the aid of cement or other binders. The stones may be smooth and uniform or be an eclectic mixture of shapes and sizes. In general, a masonry fireplace is created for the purpose of acting as a heat-generating source within ...  more