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Building a Rumford Fireplace

The Rumford fireplace is being built and Bob reviews the herringbone construction process being used. The Rumford fireplace uses a design which is approximately 200 years old. The fireplace is tall and shallow to reflect a lot of heat and has a streamlined throat between the firebox and the flue. Heat Stop Refractory Mortar is used to withstand the high temperatures generated in the firebox. This mortar conforms to building codes. Bob then reviews the construction elements of the fireplace.
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Building a Rumford Fireplace

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" So it's the Buckley rumford fireplace company that's -- and we'll talk about the precast elements Elizabeth firebox -- who work. John and Steve you're doing a great -- is hearing both -- yeah that's not easy you know first you lay them all down flat and do all the cuts right that's right right a lot easier. I'm all out on what his little bit on the floor over here they have put in yet yet the very top ones and so that's one of the critical thing yeah. He lay everything out down to the smallest pieces this stops what. And done. The only way to do that is with a water -- right that's right that's also a little bit about the theory behind this type of fireplace well rumford fireplaces are named for count -- The design is about 200 years old. And their -- feet tall and shallow to reflect a lot of heat. This. Throat is rounded or curved part that air comes in the face of the fireplace. Turns a quarter circle into the through the throat right the throat is the transition piece between the firebox and the flue right and it's kind of like an airplane wing want to keep that air flowing. In glamour fashion over there and shoots -- like carburetor. Novel -- smoke -- yet and in most fireplaces that don't have that -- a lot of heat that's generated from the firewood. Is lost right up to him that's right this -- provide keeping it streamlined we can make through. -- third of all this is a nice trick to -- what what type of brick are they using it well this is Whittaker Grier. -- Whittaker Grier they make -- an alliance Ohio and it's a dry press brick rather extruded. That stand the fire Britain's stance that means that rather than having the quickly. And it and a back and extruded through they press the press it into. Okay. Can you use Portland cement when your movie Firefox. Well you shouldn't because Portland cement degrades at about six or 800 degrees -- have a short life. And that can't stand -- this is for -- this -- Stoppard rectory border since high temperature mortar. If you're using fire brick you might -- or use an equally high temperature mortar to put together. OK very personal which would -- the other way that we can Cantonese. -- Wellesley Pope but what's the good of the chemical. Between Portland cement in this is that different kinds of cement binder called illuminate. Okay rather importance. Okay so this is probably in the way of code requirements. Yes some codes already require it new life easy. The you're active will all require. I -- he's doing away don't. The plumb lines at this point -- way yes that. And now we just have the last few courses to put together with the top of the box here floor to four feet tall. And that throat -- that throat fits right on top OK. The critical part of finishing off the herringbone. Is to get it all perfectly flat along the very top so that when we install."

" The precast throat we don't have to worry about it. Not fitting right. Now the the base for the whole chimney is essentially -- concrete that and the space underneath it which is walled in the perimeter with concrete block and then filled in with sand. Then you've got. All the rest of the shape if you will created out of solid half blocks like this and this. More or less creates the form of the rumford. "

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