6 weeks to an outdoor fireplace, here we go...

pwgsx

Nice work

Double

Laid out the pattern on the arch form...

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Doing things almost the right way...

Double

Arch is set and the toppers for the side fireboxes are set as well. I ended up using angle iron to support the front edge of the side boxes. This arch is the second attempt; for the first try I tried to remove the form immediately after while the mortar was still maleable. I read on a couple structural masonry sites that this would help to make a stronger bonder across the arch. Maybe this is practical for a master mason, but I failed horribly and knocked a couple bricks loose taking the form down, which caused total arch collapse. Hoping that a day or two to cure will give the strength required.

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jomama45

Two things:

- I just noticed something that looks strange in picture #2 of post #46. You'll need to cap those open cores off of the block behind the firebrick. I've always shifted the smoke chamber to the front to create the ledge/shelf at the front, as I think it just generally performs better and smokes less out the face. Honestly, not as big of a deal on an outdoor FP, but you certainly don't want to leave those block open in that situation......

- I would lay the arch, as well as a few courses above it, allow it to set at least overnight, and you shouldn't have any issue. It's probably too late, but I would recommend minimizing the amount of mortar you use on the bottom side of the arch brick, as you can't tool the joints the next day when they're set. It's easier to simply fill & tool the missing joints the next day rather than chip/grind out the mortar and them have to fill and tool anyways.

Otherwise, keep up the good work.........

Double

Two good points...

Those openings were all capped right after that picture so I've got that one knocked out.

Arch worked very well when I let it set up overnight, and I did exactly what you noted and simply used a little less mortar than normal and pointed it later.

Todays progress...got the pattern inset above the arch, laid some of the mantel, filled in brick to the mantel level, hope to finish it up tomorrow except for some detail work around the inset pattern and some pointing

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Doing things almost the right way...

Double

More progress, in the home stretch now, hope to finish it up tonight/tomorrow night...

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Doing things almost the right way...

hammerlane

Taking into account location = Texas
Taking into account the month = June
Taking into account the weather = Hot

And outdoor fireplace gets priority over a pergola.

All I can say is ??????????????????

To each their own. And enjoy as it does look nice.

pwgsx

Im sure he wants to finish it before the fall. Nothing like starting a project and moving on to another just bc its "HOT".

Looks good man, I wish I had made my own fire box instead of the drop in I used but I was in a hurry. Nice job!!!

Sephora

Looks great!!!

Double

Got the last firebrick laid last night, and I'm almost up to the chimney cap, how about votes on the top pattern?

I like some of these...







but a little to dramatic maybe.

Im thinking a single row of brick end hanging out, topped with a single surround of 3/4 vertical brick, sort of a combo of these two here...



This second picture illustrates the idea, but there would be no more rows above the vertical row...



And of course there will be no real "cap" on the top, it will be fully open


Thoughts?

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pwgsx

i like the knot pic, think you can pull that off? I would just do the second to last pic, simple and looks nice. Are you doing a metal wind cap? You may get downdrafts depending on the wind direction when you have your fire.

Double

I wasn't planning on doing anything on the top, but that being said, it is often VERY windy here, so maybe it is something to consider.

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Double

Getting dark to early even with my headlight on...didn't quite get everything finished, maybe this evening, but pretty close. Just need to trim out around the firebox and pattern detail, and lay the chimney detail row, then time for fire...

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Doing things almost the right way...

Double

Finished, first fire last night!

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Doing things almost the right way...

no1hustler

Looks great, but talk about a wimpy fire! :p