Our selection includes accessories compatible with all of the most popular fireplace brands, including vanguard, empire, and monessen. If in doubt have your fireplace inspected and go by there recommendations period subscribe here. If the mortar joints around your firebox are crumbling, try chiseling out the old mortar and replace it with new mortar. According to the chimney safety institute of america csia the firebox refractory panels should be replaced when a nickel on end can fit into the crack or when. We do offer the universal hargrove replacement fireplace refractory panel 24 inch x 28 inch and hargrove replacement fireplace refractory panels 24 inch x 40 inch set of 2 for woodburning fireplaces. Use the putty knife to spread fireclay across damaged areas, and work the material deep into the cracks using the flat blade of the putty knife to apply pressure. In both cases, the bricks and fireclay mortar are designed to withstand extreme temperatures. You cannot use ordinary cement for this purpose because of extremely high burning temperatures inside the fireplaces. What causes the cracks and breaks in firebox refractory panels. It is used to line up the sides of fireplaces, fill up cracks and set up new fireplaces. Years of heat and usage cause wear and tear, stress and heat cracks. Mar 24, 2014 if you notice any cracks, holes, voids, missing or loose brick in your fireplace on your fire brick or refractory panels, discontinue use until the problem is corrected. Frequently asked questions about prefab fireplaces chimney chat. If you have a fireplace which needs repair buy this.
Years of heat and usage cause wear and tear, stress and heat cracks, abrasion and pitting, all of which can compromise the effectiveness of this safety barrier. Meecos red devil 121 furnace cement and fireplace mortar. Any fireplace is going to crack but all cracks need to be monitored. Manufactured fireplace often have refractory concrete like panels in them for limiting the transfer of heat in the firebox area. Heat can penetrate the rear wall and are is a fire hazard. If the brick is crumbling, have it replaced with a new firebrick embedded in refractory mortar. Small gaps in mortar can be repaired with a special hightemperature caulk called refractory caulk. Tiny hairline cracks that occur inside the panels are also not concerning, and you can safely continue to operate your fireplace. Dec 18, 2015 again, cracks from these reasons do not mean the refractory has failed. The importance of refractory panel replacement lindemann. The nice thing about the caulk is that you can work it into the cracks with your fingers and it dries quickly see picture. It is located at the top most portion of your chimney and protects the inside of your chimney, making sure that nothing can enter it, not even water.
Both bricks and fireclay mortar are designed to withstand very high temperatures, but brick, mortar and panels can crack or even crumble over time. Refractory cement can tolerate temperatures above 2000f. Repair or replace a cracked fireplace refractory fireplace. The temperature in a wood burning fireplace gets very hot and can reach 1,100 to 1,500 degrees.
Cracks in the masonry of the firebox can be dangerous since smoke and hot gasses can seep through the openings and possibly ignite wood beams inside the walls. Replacing prefab fireplace panels chimney sweeping and. Fireplace refractory panels lindemann chimney supply. Wood burning fireplace tips during your last chimney inspection, did your sweep mention a cracked refractory panel. Any visible crack should be sealed for tiny hairline cracks there are caulk tube repair sealants specifically for chimney fireboxes you have to scrub out the crack and immediate surrounding area well with wirer brush and croesote solvent first, then force caulk into the crack. In fact, there is metal behind the refractory on a factorybuilt fireplace. If the mortar joints in a firebox are crumbling, chisel out the old mortar and replace it with new mortar. Refractory caulk, sometimes marketed as fireplace mortar, is suitable for minor repairs only. There are a lot of questionable things like that in this house i dont know what was used in the beginning, but if i used some refractory mortar would that solve the problem. Heres what you need to do to address these problems. Skamol refractory panels cannot be installed when the mounting surfaces are concave, convex or have any type of internal standoffs, which can cause future stress cracks. These panels may be cut to fit using a circular saw and masonry blade and are safe to use with most prefabricated woodburning fireplaces.
Refractory panels that crack need to be replaced and there is no fixing them with mortar compound. This article catalogs the types of chimney cracks and movement that may be found in brick, stone, or concrete block chimneys. If a brick in a masonry fireplace cracks, it needs to get patched. Fireplace panels and liners fireplace refractory panels and fireplace liners, also known as a fireplace wall, offer a simple and costeffective way to enhance the appearance of your hearth. Heres an example of a cracked refractory that is in good shape. Then clear any loose mortar from the firebox floor and walls. Cracks in the refractory mortar after drying perhaps due to. If your fireplace has broken or crumbling bricks, large gaps in the mortar, or missing mortar, have the fireplace inspected by a professional mason or fireplace contractor. The sides and back wall of a typical woodburning fireplace are constructed using fire bricks and mortar.
Castable refractory cement is a dry mix cement suitable for casting your own shapes, bricks, replacing worn out firebrick, or creating your own fire pit and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. If you have a single brick that is damaged then you may be able to replace that single brick and redo its mortar joint. We note the crack and can watch it to see if it is growing. Cracks allow heat and debris to become close enough to the combustible materials around your fireplace to ignite a fire that could possibly destroy your home. If the brick is crumbling, have it replaced with a new.
Most fireplaces have either firebricks or concretet slab inserts with brick patterns on them. When these fine cracks occur, you can rest assured that the homeowner can enjoy the fireplace with absolutely no danger. Repairing cracks voids the ul listing and manufacturers warranties. However, over time, the brick, mortar, or panels can crack and crumble, creating a serious fire hazard. If a brick in a masonry fireplace cracks, you need to patch it. The chimney safety institute of america csia warns that a cracked fireplace refractory should be replaced if the crack is 116 of an inch wide, or you can fit the end of a nickel into it. The chimney safety institute of america csia warns that a cracked fireplace refractory should be replaced if the crack is 116 of an inch wide, or you can fit. In a masonry fireplace, firebrick is used to make the firebox, while refractory brick panels line a firebox of a prefab metal fireplace. It withstands exceptionally high heat without product failure. Refactory panels are a simple and cost effective way of improving the look of your fireplace. Superior refractory traditional white brick liner for 36 inch. Anatomy of your fireplace chimney safety institute of. Oct 25, 2011 universal replacement refractory panel 23. Cracks in the refractory mortar after drying perhaps due to high humidity.
Many chimney sweeps do this sort of repair, as do chimney masons. In a masonry fireplace, firebrick is used to construct the firebox. It contains silica for heatresistance and is specifically designed for fireplaces. Refractory cement under item number 610 and 611 are smooth, premixed cements suitable for indoor fireplace repairs. How to caulk the cracks in the walls of a fireplace home. Refractory brick panels line the firebox of a prefabricated metal fireplace. Lighting fires in a damaged firebox causes concern for house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. How to fix mortar gaps in a fireplace fire box the spruce. Start by scrubbing excess ash and dust from the walls of the fireplace to expose the brick. Meecos red devil castable refractory cement 25 lb at menards. Keeping these joints in good repair with a high temperature refractory mortar will help ensure the fire is contained. Cracks in the refractory panels cause a potentially dangerous situation since they have lost their insulating ability and may allow the transfer of heat to combustible materials. If the brick is crumbling, you can have it replaced with a new firebrick embedded in refractory mortar.
If you notice bits of mortar on the floor of a fireplace, caulk the cracks using a silicatebased refractory cement caulking that resists heat. Again, id suggest contacting a good mason who understands fireplaces and foundations. Originally developed for use in blast furnaces, it has exceptional strength and is abrasion resistant. It can be cast into irregular shapes, used to fill large holes or cracks in masonry fireboxes or as a solid stone bed 12. Generally speaking, most of the cracks we see in refractories are more of an aesthetic nature and not function. Most manufacturers state that if there are cracks in the panels, the panels cannot be repaired or patched. They are made to be relatively easily removable and replaceable. You can also go online to your particular manufacurers site and get it there. These fireplaces are factorymade and have fireplace panels. If the crack can cause the refractory to loosen or fall out, then heavy cycling can cause cracks to propagate as the slagsproduct get into the cracks and make them worse ex. Repair or replace a cracked fireplace refractory fireplace place. This is where our annual or biannual maintenance schedule is handy. Today i would like to share with you the way that i fix the cracks in my fireplace. We can repair the inside of your fireplace the firebox.
Numerous things can contribute to the wear and tear of your firebox refractory panels. Fireplace repair mortar is a silicate based refractory cement caulk for tuckpointing damaged fireplace mortar joints. Replacing panels, even for cracks, is still the best and safest option. Fireplace firebrick panel hairline crack fix youtube. Here are the inspection items that a properly working fireplace should have visually inspected to function safely. If your current fireplace firebrick lining has cracks of 14 or more, you should replace the panels for safety reason. Repair your fireplace or firebox refractory panel replacement. Learn how to repair crumbling mortar in a fireplace in just a few basic steps. Fort worth fireplace repair dallas fireplace repair. This includes prefabricated fireplace refractory panel walls. When the cracks in the refractory panels become worrisome, is when those hairlines cracks begin to widen.
Castable refractory cement is ideal for casting into custom shapes to replace wornout firebrick. The fire box is the space inside your fireplace where wood combusts to release smoke up the chimney and spread warmth into your home. Actual cracks in brick and refactory panels are the hardest problems to cure. In a fireplace without a chimney cover, the rain water will pool on the smoke shelf, mix with the soot behind the damper, and form an acidic slurry that can destroy the mortar joints. All refractory panels should be replaced when the panel is cracked all the way. Small hairline cracks in the refractory will almost always be present after repeated firings. Fireplace panel replacement and repair bauns chimney sweeping. Preparation is the key to effectively caulking the. They develop cracks over time which can be very dangerous if they become wide. How to fix a cracked fireplace pasqualediy youtube. Any chimney sweep who offers to repair cracks without replacing the refractory panels risks being sued for loss of life and property should a fire occur. Do i need to repair the crack in my fireplace rear wall. Lintel is not separating from fascia wall gas line valve is outside the firebox. You should also replace fireplace refractory if the surface is abraded to 14 of an inch.
House fires can occur if there are cracks in the refractory panels that allow excessive heat to transfer through the cracks to the metal shell box and to the wood framing. Simply slapping some mortar on the crack will not solve a thing, even if you bother to find some heat resistant mortar. This process, known as tuckpointing, is the same one you follow to replace or repair mortar joints in any brick structure. After some drying time, clean up the joint lines for a smooth finish. What you should do about cracked fireplace refractory. I agree but unfortunatly i am renting the house, the person who owns the house is a house inspector, so i dont know what he was thinking. These replacement fireplace refractory panels are engineered for extreme heat, have excellent thermal properties, and can be used in prefabricated and. Repair may be a moderately difficult thing, since you really need to eliminate the underlying problem. Learn an easy diy method for filling small gaps and cracks in masonry mortar between the fire bricks in your fireplace, using refractory caulk. Skamol refractory panels will expand and contract as temperatures inside the fireplace increase or decrease.