outdoor fireplace liner
#1
06-18-12, 09:08 AM
outdoor fireplace liner
I would like to build an outdoor fireplace but am looking for a way to reduce the cost of the fire brick lining. I have several slabs of marble that are two feet by three and a half feet and two inches thick. Would this marble be an acceptable alternative to fire brick? Thanks for any advice.
#2
06-18-12, 04:57 PM
Welcome to the forums! No, marble will shatter with the first hot fire. Why don't you want to do it right the first time? Either have someone fabricate a 1/4" $teel fire ring to set inside your outer stone, or do the fire brick.
#3
06-18-12, 10:37 PM
Member
Saving nickels to spend dollars later, correcting the mistakes, never made sense to me. But heck, what do I know (after 40+ years of building things to last)?
#4
06-19-12, 07:53 AM
I do want to do it right the first time and I don't want to spend dollars to correct mistakes. That's the reason I logged on here to ask a question. At the same time if I have material on hand that would work well, although perhaps a departure from the more common path, I see no reason to spend money on other materials. There is often more than one way of doing something.
I have seen other research that would indicate marble to be very similar to concrete and fire brick in density and energy convection properties. I was simply wondering if anyone had actual experience with using the material in this type of application. And the application is a fireplace, not a fire ring into which I could install a 1/4" steel ring.
Thank you for your opinions, however judgmental they might be.
I have seen other research that would indicate marble to be very similar to concrete and fire brick in density and energy convection properties. I was simply wondering if anyone had actual experience with using the material in this type of application. And the application is a fireplace, not a fire ring into which I could install a 1/4" steel ring.
Thank you for your opinions, however judgmental they might be.
#5
06-19-12, 01:50 PM
You gotta figure, we do this stuff every day, and see what can happen when people cut corners, use inferior materials, and just don't do it right. Then we have to come in, charge an outlandish price to correct errors that didn't need to be made. OK, with that said, we'll continue.
My mistake in misreading your post saying "fireplace", as most we see are actually fire pits for outdoor use. I don't think lining the fireplace with marble will be a good idea even though it is a tight bonded stone. I fear it won't dissipate heat fast enough, as a pourous brick would and would shatter should the fire get too hot. I have faced an outdoor fireplace with marble and it looks great.
My mistake in misreading your post saying "fireplace", as most we see are actually fire pits for outdoor use. I don't think lining the fireplace with marble will be a good idea even though it is a tight bonded stone. I fear it won't dissipate heat fast enough, as a pourous brick would and would shatter should the fire get too hot. I have faced an outdoor fireplace with marble and it looks great.
#6
06-20-12, 05:35 AM
Chandler is correct; marble is OK for the facing of a fireplace, but not actually lining the interior. It calcines in the heat and rapidly breaks down. Use firebrick jointed in proprietory fire cement.
