How to Build a Brick Fireplace - Part 5 of 5 (HowToLou.com)

[JeepCrazyMe]

Superb! Great explanation, very well done. The fireplace/grill looks awesome!

[Lepoc]

It looks great! What's the concern that the fire runs back throught the starter pipe to the propane tank?

[LouTube222]

@Lepoc - I made it just like the "professional" starter pipe that was in my indoor fireplace. Think about a propane torch. What keeps the fire from running into the bottle? My guess is that the pressurized gas keeps the fire out of the pipe. Also, fire needs oxygen to burn, and there is none in the pipe. Its full of just gas. My best guesses. -Lou

[DanBovinich]

Hi Lou, you said in this video to "Not add the acid to the water or it will blow up in your face" (or something similar to this.) You have it backwards, you always add the acid last. You never add water to the acid, as that will overheat and possibly get hot enough to boil/explode sending the acid in a plume. I'm sorry if someone may have pointed this out previously, as I don't have time to read the hundreds of comments.

[LouTube222]

@DanBovinich - Thank you for that correction. You are quite right. I said it backwards. Everyone, please remember AA = Add Acid. Don't add water. I am sorry I said it the wrong way in the video. -Lou

[EndoMetalSkeleton]

very very nice end result,

muriatic acid, does that work on paint removal on bricks?

thanks

[LouTube222]

@EndoMetalSkeleton - I don't know too much about acid, but my guess is that it would not work on paint. When the acid hit mortar, it fizzed. When it hit the painted deck, it just sat there quietly. I would bet you would have to sand blast paint off. -Lou

[sebasamy13]

I wish you would off turn on the grill.Any idea where can I buy the refactory mortor?I would like to build a wall around my boiler in the basement.And after I saw your video I would like to use firebricks.

[LouTube222]

@sebasamy13 - Sorry I never turned on the grill. It is just a plain gas grill that you can see anywhere. Firebricks are needed only if you are putting fire right next to them. I bet you could put regular bricks around your boiler if you leave at least a few inches of air space. Fire bricks are expensive. If you still want to do it, Google "Heat Stop Refractory Mortar". They sell it on line and list local distributors too. This stuff is also expensive. Good Luck, whatever you chose to do.

[crwcwwmommy]

Awesome Job!!! Thanks for the videos. Makes me optimistic that we can do it too. You mentioned you added another 5 courses of brick, does that mean you added another flue tube as well? When all said and done what is the height of your finished masterpiece? Thanks again.

[LouTube222]

@crwcwwmommy - This was my first time ever laying brick. You CAN do this. Flue tubes come in 2 foot sections. I used two in total. When I extended the chimney up by 5 courses, I used refractory (fireproof) mortar to "glue" on a piece of scrap tube I had previously cut off. The fireplace is is 9 ft tall. I put all the dimensions and more pictures at HowToLou.com.

[1LSUredneck]

Great job Lou. I am well into my own project and documenting it for a video. The question I have, is the amount of heat you get from the square box design. I am close to the point where my arch is going in and want to set the firebrick in first. I thought of angling the sides and curve the top back wall to radiate the heat better. This would take away some space though. My fireplace looks great, but also want it to function. Can you sit a comfortable distance away and still feel the heat? Thanks

[LouTube222]

@1LSUredneck - I thought about angling my walls too, but opted to go square to maximize the firebox space. I am glad I did. It gets PLENTY hot in front of the fire. If you have lots of room, angling is better, but if you don't, it might not be worth it. Keeping your firebox as shallow as possible, gives more heat. Mine is only 27 inches deep. Here is a thought for you. Build it square, and add angled bricks later if it is not hot enough. I think it will be. -Lou

[1LSUredneck]

@LouTube222 Thanks for the reply. Did you mean 17 inches deep or is it really 27 inches deep. I sort of modeled mine from a standard indoor fireplace. My interior dimensions with the firebrick in place will be 17 inches deep by 25 inches wide. This will give me ample room for the grate that will sit above the gas starter kit with an on and off valve. Should not have any problems getting some nice warmth.

[LouTube222]

@1LSUredneck - Sorry, yes I did mean 17 inches, not 27. That is the depth of the firebrick in the firebox. There is another 3.5 inches of house brick in front of that. Sounds like yours is much like mine.

[phyto61]

Great job! One important point, however. You say "do not put in the water first and then the acid", but that is exactly what you should do to avoid a violent reaction. Put the water in the bucket and then add the acid slowly.

[LouTube222]

@phyto61 - Thank you for that correction. You are quite right. I said it backwards. Everyone, please remember AA = Add Acid.  Don't add water. I am sorry I said it the wrong way in the video. -Lou

[sugerbear520]

looks good

[MonaBella77]

Great job!!! Looks awesome. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so thoroughly. 

[iulian28ti]

amazinG!

[dcarneypa]

Thanks for taking the time to share this!  I am encouraged and motivated to try! Honestly - great job!

[chainedtoaradiator]

Acid ruins mortar mate! Dont be messy then you would not need it!

[123oskam]

Well i wana rip on u for even trying to build this with no bricklaying experience but can't turned out perty good just let the joints dry next time and the string / line goes on the front of the brick you don't see the back of the brick. But all in all good job bud!

ps don't use a margin trowel to lay brick lol

[mariokart1000]

Loved the video. I have been a professional bricklayer for 20 years and thought

the way you explained and demonstrated the process was valuable. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

[LouTube222]

@mariokart1000 - Thank you. That means a lot coming from a brick layer.  -Lou

[1203mlb]

great job... and great teacher ... thank for sharing....

[firewoodguy2009]

how much does it cost to make a brick out side fireplace

[LouTube222]

@firewoodguy2009 - I did not keep track of the cost, but figure 1,300 bricks, 100 concrete blocks, 50 bags of mortar, 50 firebricks, 2 chimney flue tubes, 1 lintel, 1 slate mantle, and two small slate tops for the grill sides. Get prices at a stone shop. That stainless Weber Genesis ran me $900 (ouch). You can get the non-stainless, which are still VERY nice, for $600. Don't use a cheap grill. You want it to last in those bricks.

[sopark434]

\nice job, I want to build one next summer.

[AmethystMist]

Wonderful Job, looks great ! ! TY for these video's. I want a cinder block outdoor fireplace/grill, with deck. Thanks to you, now I know I won't have to hire someone to do it for me. I can have exactly what I want.

[AmethystMist]

TY for these video's. I want a cinder block outdoor fireplace/grill, with deck. Thanks to you, now I know I won't have to hire someone to do it for me. I can have exactly what I want.

[jccoots2]

Very nice. Post something on the net and you will get picked to death by the vultures. As a Mason by trade for 13 years I understand what it takes to do a project like that. Anyone that would riddecull you, are purely immature. Sure you did things different, but what a great fireplace it turned out to be. Also, what a great honor to have completed such a large project with your son. Way to go!

[joelebailey]

Very well done Lou. Thanks again for posting such an informative video for all of us do it yourselfers! There are hardly any videos like these on youtube, and you did a great job of explaining everything as you went along. You have challenged/inspired me to give it a go! Thanks again for taking the time to share this project with us. It turned out VERY well.

[LouTube222]

Thanks. I should have used a guard, but I doubt a smooth diamond blade would get through sneakers very fast. Line blocks would have saved time, yes. -Lou

[badbrick101]

Well, I have to give you credit for this project. You must have a lot of patience. I am impressed at your creativity when presented with small problems. String line for instance. They have small line blocks at the builder's store that you can wrap the string around and simply hook onto the wood storey post! Not an easy job to tackle as your first bricklaying job. Sorry though, I cringed when you fired up the angle grinder with sneakers and no guard on it!

[MacDaddy635]

Absoulutely majestic! U r a pro yeah?

[LouTube222]

The gas starter pipe has been there two years so far.

[LouTube222]

The fire starter gas pipe still works. It is rusty, but blends right in to the red firebrick. If it ever rusts through, I will replace it for $10. You can also buy cast iron fire starters that won't rust, but you still need to connect with iron gas pipe and they cost more money. I should have worn rubber gloves. I just kept my hands on the brush handle and I was fine, but I was just lucky. You should wear gloves AND make sure to have the water hose handy to rinse. -Lou

[astroboy800]

good job!

[krzlaostha]

dude this is awsome!!! u got skills brotha

[LouTube222]

Halwasah - cool to see a post from SA. Thanks for the like. You are right about the gloves. My mix was pretty weak and I must not have gotten any on my hands, but gloves would be safer.  -Lou

[halwasah]

very very professional

I saw all of your five parts

Only : U should use gloves while swaping acid.

My best Regard from Saudi Arabia

[jchaconbros]

awesome Job!! it looks very professional. I was hoping you would show it all the way from start to finish and you did. I will start on a project like this soon. Thank for the great tips.

[LouTube222]

Menace2.., The double brick wall keeps the fireplace heat away from the tanks. Grill heat rises up away from the tanks. They stay cool. -Lou

[menace2merrylandsz]

nice work

is there a risk that the fire would catch to the gas tanks ?

[nighthawk5556]

Excellent job. Thanks for the vid

[geraldnaruto]

loved the video, although im not planing on building one i really enjoyed learning.

Thanks :PPP

[sshemilla]

ok, i watched all the videos , and i have to say that i have learned more than i could have by trying to do this without them. your very detailed and descriptive. top marks to you. and thanks so much < now to im off to build my own.

[LouTube222]

Thanks to all for the likes! I had no bricklaying experience before this project. I actually took out my fist few rows with a sledge hammer and started over when I learned you need to use string. I'm sure it took me much longer than the pros, but I learned a lot and was able to share it in these videos. I will have to tame a picture of the back and post it. Lou

[theitaliankid80]

Good Job bro,looks great,bet it burns hot

[wolfridah]

I watched the entire series all the way through and that's impressive...seriously! You never showed the back of the fireplace. Did you have previous bricklaying experience? I admire your resourcefulness and I like the way you wrapped it all up and pointed out the the areas that required forethought. That fireplace is too clean!! Bravo, Sir!

[LouTube222]

A few people have been asking for dimensions. Here they are in inches. The fireplace is 52 wide by 27 deep and 46 up to the mantle. The mantle juts back 8. The chimney slope starts 16 above the mantle and continues up 20. The top straight part of the chimney is 28 in tall. The fireplace opening is 29 wide by 29 height in the center. The grill side is 58 wide by 35 tall by 26 deep. The grill is 27 wide and centered. The brick area in front of the whole thing is 12 deep. - Lou

[LouTube222]

Arteolike - I used a standard bag of mortar from the hardware store. There was no color choice. The acid wash made it whiter. -Lou

[Arteolike]

What mortar did you use, Yours is so white?

[sosbmxxx]

Turned out really nice man. Thanks for taking the time to make the video. It was very helpful

[cndbrn791]

you should have worn gloves and a mask with that acid just to be safe well done!

[LouTube222]

cndbrn791 - Good point, especially eye protection.

[cevod123]

very nice.



[bordens47]

I love it! About how much did that cost to do?

[LouTube222]

I am sorry that I don't have a good idea of the cost. I was given the bricks free, and bought other stuff as I went. I knew I was saving a lot of money, doing it myself, but never added up the cost of the materials. It took about 1,300 bricks, 150 concrete blocks, 75 firebricks, and 50 bags of mortar. That Weber Genesis grill was $900. I remember that clearly. Ouch, but I wanted a grill that would last forever. I think the mantle and small countertops came to about $200 total.

[sequiaonda78]

Thank you, I watched the entire series and I liked it, very much... Great job and very easy to understand I love also to build and do some update to my home. I built a brick sink in my back yard this summer, but I will build a brick fireplace soon. So this is going to be very helpful. Thanks a lot Lou, and to your hardworking son. Greeting from Sonora, Mexico.

[ScienceRyan]

Did you incorporate a smoke shelf? I thought it was necessary to provide a good draft.

[LouTube222]

No, although I never mentioned it in the series, there is a smoke chamber built into the top of the firebox. I simply made the firebox taller than the front opening of the fireplace, so that smoke could gather inside and be funneled up the chimney. The main purpose of a smoke shelf, as I understand it, is to collect rain water and debis and prevent it from coming inside. As this is an outdoor fireplace, I did not see the need for it. The fireplace does draw well.

[rokudaime41]

nto helping



[boloco12]

I f*kn love it, grasias muchas grasias thank you very much !!!!!!!

[turkayas]

great work! Thanks for all the information mate.

[foesrdr]

Lou, Wow, that was a great series of videos. You helped me decide to am start my project now. Did you start your bottom row of fire bricks on top of concrete blocks to get the fire bricks level with the regular bricks? Thanks,

Bill

[LouTube222]

Bill - Thanks and yes I built up the bottom of the firebox with concrete blocks and laid the fire bricks on top. - Lou

[Chroniclogical420]

it wont eat the brics it will turn the morter in the joints black if left on to long

[bonanzatime]

Hey Lou! Just a thought, did you provide any ventilation under the grill where your GAS TANKS are stored? .. When you were showing, I didn't see any daylight; made me wonder. Even if it's natural gas you should have at least a little ventilation. And if it's propane, you better have ventilation TOP and BOTTOM.

Just looking out for ya, Lou. Don't want your work of art to turn into just a great looking huge clay BOMB. Be careful this 4th of July.

[LouTube222]

This is something I honestly did not think about. Fortunately, the stainless steel doors have about a quarter-inch gap at the bottom. Since propane is heavier than air, any propane leaks should flow out and not build up. Good observation. Thanks. - Lou

[dslynx]

Wow.. for all the "pros" making comments, it looks like a professional job to me! Not only is this series very informative.. but it also shows you how much work this stuff is.. so, you can choose to do it yourself, or understand why it cost so much to hire someone. Great job!

[bonanzatime]

I admire your spirit, Lou. .. You don't know what you're doing but you got it done (with class).

Now I can't wait for the brain surgery class. :) (just kidding)

[Rspringscabin]

Best video Ive seen. I would love for mine to come out that way.

[BaberJacks]

thats awsome. now i wanna build one. looks good as.

[mrleemrlee18]

although yu did not know alot about bricklaying u did a real good job bricklaying is all about appearence and it looks great. in future buy a marshall town brick trowel and jointer and get a stabilla level you can also get some profile boards so you will never have to make your own but they can be exspensive. but you should be proud of yourself it looks great

[sappstuf]

Wao!! I been looking for ideas like this, I'm about to do my fireplace and We wanted to do it our self

[italia4356]

Hey Lou, just curious about how many bricks did you use? Thanks. I'm trying to figure out about how much I would need to build just the fireplace.

[LouTube222]

I used about 1,300 bricks, 150 concrete blocks, and 75 firebricks.

[italia4356]

Beautiful! Great job Lou I watched the whole thing. I want to build a fireplace inside of a garage that I'm living in. You given me some inspiration. Thanks for the video.

[ringofpower]

Hey Lou. great job well done

[jjrants]

Hey Lou. I have to say, i've looked at ALOT of videos on brick work, masonry, ... even on different ways to pour concrete footings. Yours is hands down the best!! Not only are your teachings informative, but extremely inspirational.

I hope you treated yourself to cooking a couple of fat rib-eyes on your grill and a cold six pack after all that work!

I do have one critique though....you need a website at the end of your videos so we can check out more of your projects.

Kudos and great job!!

[LouTube222]

JJ, Thanks for your kind words. When I do projects, I look for videos to help me learn how to tackle them. When I don't find what I need on the web, I learn the hard way, and then make the video I wish would have been there for me. I have a Google video entitled "How to install a hardwood floor".

[MrDShear]

excellent series of videos and great job on the fireplace, your video inspired me to build my own. I am just completing it. I also searched and found nothing.

[85bmw528eguy]

Good series of videos. I have thought about having someone build a brick fireplace next to a double wide modular home but I don't know how you could do it affordably and safely. I really don't want a woodburning stove. This would be for a secondary source of heat in the event of power failure. Anyone ever done this?

[LouTube222]

I originally planned to install a loop of stainless steel tubing inside the chimney to heat water for the hot tub, but I hardly ever use it. You could do this with a battery-powered circulator pump to a radiator inside the home. Make sure to include a pop off valve in the system. If you don't dissipate the heat fast enough, the water could turn to steam and your plumbing would explode.

A kerosene or propane heater would be a much cheaper backup heat source, but not nearly as fun. -Lou

[andrewkenworthy]

very well done and great vid,,your a good teacher,,and the fireplace looks great,,you used correct techniques and workplan,,you obviously have done a lot of brickie work,,good job.

[mabiusmasonry]

great job !!

[dragosevm]

very nice, you should get in business with this stuff...and If you ever get to built indoor fireplace....please post it.