Outdoor fireplace project

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Outdoor fireplace project

Jemfisk

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#190815 13-Jan-2016 16:47

Hello I am interested in building an outdoor fireplace. Will I be able to create one by doing the following? Or will it not be strong enough and not be able to sustain the heat.

Pleased suggest your improvements

1) build a wooden frame
2) cover wooden frame with cement board
3) plaster outside of cement board

(Does it need a steel fire box? Does it need fire bricks? Is there any special additions it needs? Does it have to be a certain type of plaster?)

Cheers
Jem

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#1470192 13-Jan-2016 17:16

I'd suggest it needs a firebrick firebox and flue (or combination ofsteel and f-brick)
Not sure if you've checked with council, but it may be worth seeing if what you want to build is actually permitted. Some councils only allow gas fired outside fireplaces/heaters/ etc. And specifically ban wood/charcoal/coal options

Dynamic

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#1470196 13-Jan-2016 17:31

The wood could still 'cook' if it gets heated sufficiently. A friend has a gas fire installed in a new house and a 90 degree elbow in the chimney came apart in the ceiling space. The heat rising up that chimney deeply scorched the wood in the ceiling cavity.

I thought that fibre cement board exploded when thrown into a fire, but according to Wikipedia I'm wrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber_cement_siding#Fire_resistance

Would be interested to see what you have in mind if you would like to share and image.

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Jemfisk

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1470202 13-Jan-2016 17:57

I was just going over my plan and i was thinking of getting a second hand fireplace and building this wooden enclosure around it and then putting cement board on that

So my frame would look like this:

What do you think?

Dynamic

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#1470207 13-Jan-2016 18:08

That looks very cool. As long as your timber is well insulated from the heat you should be fine. Perhaps cruise the internet looking at "DIY pizza oven" or similar for additional ideas on materials to use. I pick on Pizza Owen as it is trendy and there should be plenty of information available but "DIY fire pit" might get just as much information.

Outdoor fire regs in Auckland follow. Your local council should have similar information on their web page.

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/licencesregulations/ruralfire/pages/aucklandurban.aspx

There would be a few people here who will of course add some thoughts tonight, and would live to see progress photos if you can be bothered. :)

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

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Jemfisk

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1470215 13-Jan-2016 18:24

This is my first geekzone post after stumbling across it on the internet... Hopefully I'll find it useful and will use it a lot... Yes I'll definitely post photo updates once started

Jemfisk

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1470223 13-Jan-2016 18:34

How would I stop the timber framing from getting too hot and catching alight?... If the firebix is sitting inside the wooden frame how will I keep the timber from getting too hot?