Items Needed to Build a Fireplace

Metal Lath

• A metal lath is an expanded and perforated metallic plaster base used to line your fireplace. This will form the barrier between your fireplace and the walls and floor. Metal laths can be bought from specialty steel retailers, fireplace dealers and some home improvement superstores. You will also need painter's tape to mark the area where the lath will be positioned. A utility knife is necessary to cut and trim the lath. You will also need a hammer and nails to secure the metal lath to the wall and flooring.

Bricks

• You will need bricks to form the structure of your fireplace. Although any brick can work in a fireplace, firebricks are better suited to withstand the heat without cracking. Other bricks are acceptable for use on the exterior of the fireplace. Other alternatives to brick include granite, marble, stone, tile and tin to decorate the outside of the fireplace, but firebrick should be used in the firebox itself.

Mortar

• The material that assembles and holds the bricks together is mortar. Mortar is typically made from a combination of cement, lime, sand and water, but refractory mortar is the ideal type for a fireplace. Refractory mortar "uses sodium silicate as a binder which does not deteriorate with heat," according to Jim Buckley and Bob Rucker at construction-resource.com. They explain that this pre-mixed mortar is also easier, cheaper and gets even stronger when heated. If you choose a different mortar, be prepared to patch your work in the future. You will need a mortar pan to hold the mortar and a trowel to spread the mortar over the bricks.

Ventilation

• All working fireplaces must be vented so smoke can escape. If your home is already equipped with a chimney, much of the work will already be in place, and in some cases, you will simply need to tie your new fireplace into the existing vent pipe. To build your own fireplace vent, you will need a double-sided pipe, roof tar, woodworking materials like hammer, nails and saws, extra shingles to patch the roof and a screen. The double-sided pipe will extend from your new fireplace and out through the roof. You will need to cut an exit hole for the pipe and then patch your work with roof tar and extra shingles or roofing material. The vent pipe will need to be closed off with a piece of screen to prevent debris and animals from entering your home. Chimney placement for oil and wood burning fireplaces should follow a "3-foot, 2-foot, 10-foot rule," meaning that the "chimney should be 3 feet above the roof surface through which it protrudes and 2 feet above anything else within a 10 foot radius measured horizontally," according to checkthishouse.com. Single wall chimneys in warm climates should extend 2 feet above the roof, 2 feet higher than buildings within 10 feet and 5 feet above the flue collar.

Warning

• Fireplace and chimney installation is a job that requires precision in order to function properly. These jobs should only be performed by professionals or highly skilled craftsmen who have experience with masonry and ventilation.