*
Looking for any practical information on installation and functional level of a Rumford fireplace. Have reviewed the internet site and am very impressed by it’s concept. Planning to put a large fireplace in the middle of my home I’m building this spring. Any info on this would be helpful. Is this a project for a do-it-yourselfer??
Thanks
Levi
Replies
*
Levi, one of the back issues of FHB has an article on Rumford fireplaces. The usual suspect in this remains building codes, and building inspectors. Do your research, get plans, and be prepared.
The Rumford design works, is greatly efficient, and must be carefully executed. Good Luck.
*
Paul:
Masonry is not a trade that you “steal” in six months or a year. Fireplace work is probably the even more specialized for journeyman masons. I would have to say that just the sheer physical labor involved is way more than most “do it yourselfers” would be willing to provide. Having said that perhaps it is more a matter of time verses dollars. If you have the time, and inclination a rumford has many of the technical aspects of fireplace construction mapped out so to speak.
I’ve built well over a “thousand” or more fireplaces, range from California single “dingbats” to monster stone behemoths in Montana’s backcountry. The rumford is all that it’s site claims and probably a little more. They truly do work as describe on the web site. Jim Buckley is a man with a vision. That vision is being beamed across the world, in a grad fashion. Keep up the good work Jim.
If you can hire a mason that has built a Rumford you would be ahead of the curve in my estimation. Perhaps you could volunteer your labor to tend him or provide materials on site and keep a well stocked refrigerator, if you know what I mean. Or just remember the sign in the local mechanics garage, you know the one that said one price rate if he does the work, another higher rate if you watch him work, and still a much higher rate if you help him work. There is some truth to that adage. Don’t get me wrong, you will derive tremendous satisfaction from lighting a fire in your own hand made Rumford fireplace, I still get that feeling and I’ve been doing same for over 30 years, and it still works for me.
*
Good advice from Michael L. The web site he refers to is http://www.rumford.com
Good Luck,
Jerry
*Paul,My advice is to visit the Isokern site. It's a modular, masonry, rumford design fireplace in kit form that can be assembled by a determined, experienced novice (is that a contradiction?)I finished building mine last summer, it is actually a different manufacturer called Fire Rock(atlanta),essentially the same as the isokern but I wouldn't recommend them because of the problems I had with their technical help and service. Isokern was the originator of this concept anyway. It's shipped in puzzle pieces and glued together using thinset mortar, you'll need strong help, and scaffolding. I can offer some helpful advice and may save you some time building one of these if you decide to go this route. It'll be worth your time to check them out though.Bill
*We just built one of Jim Buckley's Rumfords and you couldn't find three guys much more novice at masonry than us. The creation of the fireplace was very simple, just like the instructions said and all the pieces fit together perfectly. If you can mix mortar and stack brick, you can do it. However, there are two very important qualiers: If you want a professional looking job, you should probably hire a professional. We think ours came out great, a little rustic maybe, but the owner/builder is proud and happy with it. Also, we haven't installed our roof tile yet so we haven't fired it up.Being our first masonry fireplace, I phoned Jim Buckley several times with questions from design to shipping. He was incredibly helpful, friendly, inspiring and followed through on everything. Looking forward to the first match...
*
Bill --
Thanks for the direction. I sent for more information on the Isokern. The idea of doing it myself is what I found most intriguing. Will look you up if I need more advice in the future.
I appreciate your willingness to help.
Graciously,
Paul
*teo -Wow, that's encouraging. Maybe I'll be able to do it after all. Will wait to see what the mason comes back with for a price.Thanks for the encouraging wordsLevi
*George - Will be careful to cross "t's" and dot "i's" with the inspectors up front. Thanks for the reinforcing opinion on the fireplace. Excited to get it in my house. Hope budget allows.Paul
*Michael - Yea, that's what I thought. This is a large fireplace as well. Spans 2 stories of a home with a 10/12 roof. Probably 30-35 feet tall. I sure do appreciate the encouragement on Rumfords. Am looking forward to getting it into my home. Don't suppose you want to come up here and build it for me. I don't think I'll be able to find a mason who has experience with them.Well see how it pans out.Thanks again.Paul
*Hi PaulI have just finished a new home for myself that incorporates two Rumfords, one in the living room and the other on the patio. We chose the Rumford because of our high (10 ft) ceilings-it gets away from the mouse-hole-in-the-baseboard look of a conventional. I put a 38" w/hearth in the LR and a 48" at the floor on the patio, both are fabulous. The mason that built them was not familiar with the design, but had no trouble working from the info supplied on the web. The only significant deviations were the use of the Superior Clay Products segmented throat pieces, for economy sake, and the absence of a damper on the patio.If you are intending to use a gas log inside the home, you might be aware of the existence of red colored firebrick, as well as the more common beige. My wife would be happier if I had been, as her decorating would have been complimented by the red. The construction is pretty straight forward, just give it enough time, you'll be happy with the outcome.best to youdcc
*
He Paul,
Sounds like you're trying to build my house! We too are building a Rum ford in our house. It too will be centrally located, rising up 30-35 feet up thou a 10/12 pitch roof. Our house will be a timber frame, and we were fortunate enough to dig up some stone while digging for the basement (wahoo!!), so that will be used to face the fireplace instead of the original brick plan. I won't be undertaking this effort because I'll have enough finish carpentry work to do. Just to give you an idea of cost, our was put at $4500, but that will now be a bit cheaper since I'm supplying the stone. Ours will be a 36 I 36 fireplace, with a wood storage compartment right next to it. The footprint will be 6.5' I 3'.
I've e-mailed Jim with several questions, and he's always responded promptly. Once finished, I hope to send him a photo so he can put it in his gallery on the web site.
Good Luck, Matt
*
Looking for any practical information on installation and functional level of a Rumford fireplace. Have reviewed the internet site and am very impressed by it's concept. Planning to put a large fireplace in the middle of my home I'm building this spring. Any info on this would be helpful. Is this a project for a do-it-yourselfer??
Thanks
Levi