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Outdoor Fireplace Installation – Concord, MA

January 27, 2021 by admin with Comments Off on Outdoor Fireplace Installation – Concord, MA

Fireplace Design

At this home in Concord, MA we are hired for an outdoor fireplace installation on the back patio. The homeowner wants a fireplace that throws a lot of heat and that has a nice hearth for sitting on so they can enjoy the patio and fireplace during the colder months. To accommodate this we design a custom Rumford Fireplace. Named after Count Rumford’s design from the late 1700’s, the Rumford Fireplace is a tall, shallow fireplace that narrows towards the back and reflects more heat outwards. We follow the specified dimensions for the firebox itself, and then we custom design the surrounding stonework.

The fireplace design has a wrap around hearth and a cavity below for wood storage. The face of the fireplace is handsome and proportional with sloped sides and a chimney matching the width of the firebox. We will use a gray stacked stone veneer, granite for the hearth and caps, and reclaimed wood for the mantle.

Outdoor Fireplace Installation

Foundation/Firebox/Blockwork

First we excavate and pour a concrete pad, and then block up the hearth. Once the hearth is up we start the brickwork for the firebox. The firebox is made from a special brick and mortar both of which can withstand very high heat.

As the firebox goes up we block around it forming the body of the fireplace. Once we reach the top of the firebox we need to transition the opening to meet the chimney. This is either done by corbeling the brick, or by using precast Rumford parts. In this case we corbel the brick until meeting the 1′ x 1′ size of the chimney liner.

Once the first chimney liner is in we are done with the brickwork and continue blocking up the slopes and chimney until we reach full height.

Fireplace Veneer and Cap Installation

The blockwork for the outdoor fireplace installation is done and now we can begin the finish work of capping and veneering. First we make a test fire to make sure the fireplace is drawing properly. Proper draw is important for any fireplace so the smoke goes up and away and not out the front. Outdoor fireplaces can be extra challenging in that swirling winds, downdrafts, and other outdoor variables can blow smoke where you don’t want it. To guard against this we make sure the opening of the fireplace, chimney liner, and chimney height are all to the proper proportions to ensure the best possible draw. In this case the fireplace is drawing great and no adjustments need to be made.

The hearth goes in and we veneer up the face until reaching the sloped portion of the caps. The sloped caps take some extra care as it is a steep slow, so we pin them onto the backing block with metal ties before mortaring them in place.

Once the caps are on and dry we continue veneering. We leave a wooden spacer where the mantle will go and finish veneering to the top.

The mantle is a hand hewn hardwood beam that we pick out from an architectural salvage yard. We pin it onto the face to give it a ‘floating shelf’ look without the need for any corbels or brackets below.

The mantle is in. Next we add a granite cap to the top of the chimney, give everything a cleaning, and the outdoor fireplace installation is complete and ready to enjoy.

Patio, Steps, and Firepit – Needham, MA

January 26, 2021 by admin with Comments Off on Patio, Steps, and Firepit – Needham, MA

Here in Needham, MA we are removing an old deck and installing a new stone patio, steps, firepit, and walkways. The patio will be made from Natural Cleft Bluestone, the stairs from granite, the firepit from reclaimed granite curbing, and the walkways from bluestone flagging.

The granite stairs will wrap around the corner of the house so one can exit in any direction. The bluestone patio is natural cleft bluestone laid in varied size running bond, or rows of the same size. The running bond pattern gives a more contemporary look than the more traditional random pattern. The corners of the patio will be stepped in to allow for planting areas, and irregular bluestone flagging will be used for a stepping stone walkway.

Installation

First we remove the deck and excavate the area for base preparation. Compacted crushed stone goes in the base, and the stones are dry laid on top in a thin layer of fine gravel. Dry laid patios are far more common these days as they are faster and easier to install, they drain freely, and hold up longer in the variable New England climate.

We install the granite steps to wrap around the corner of the house. The top landing is made from bluestone to match the patio below. Against the house we add new pressure treated sheathing, and then flash the sheathing with ice + water shield, and then aluminum sheet metal. This ensures no rot will occur where stone meets the house.

Next we install the bluestone patio. These are natural cleft bluestones which have a rougher cleft surface and vary in color. We lay them in neat rows and switch sizes each row. In the joints we spread a polymer sand which is a fine sand that hardens up. It is not a cement product, it is meant to remain somewhat flexible and permeable and works well with dry-laid patios.

Next we go to the supply yard and pick out some reclaimed granite curbing to use for the firepit. The reclaimed granite comes out of old of old roads and bridges etc in the area and is sold to supply yards. We pick out several pieces that are consistent enough in size, and then cut them down to make the square firepit. The granite is a hefty 8″ thick, by 16″ tall and makes for a solid firepit. We take care to plan the layout so that the cut ends are hidden and the existing rough ends are visible. In this case we have 4 equal lengths available so we lay them out in a ‘pinwheel’ fashion rather than two long and two short.

We lay the rest of the patio and then add the stepping stone walkways leading to the patio and through an adjacent garden. The flagstones are large, irregular pieces of bluestone. They match in appearance but make for a more informal pathway.

We spread new loam in the area and our portion of work is done. Landscapers will come in next to plant amongst the patio and walkways to soften and integrate the whole area with the yard and gardens.

Backyard Retaining Walls

January 25, 2021 by admin with Comments Off on Backyard Retaining Walls

At this home in Concord, MA we are renovating the back yard by flattening the grade with fieldstone retaining walls. The plan is to wrap the area with the walls to raise the grade to level, and in the corner extend the walls up further to create a sitting wall. In a somewhat unique fashion the walls will be capped with granite curbing to give it a clean finish and sturdy top to step or sit on.

Building the Walls

To prep the walls we dig out a trench and lay compacted crushed stone as a base. We then bring local fieldstone from our private supplier and stack the wall. The wall is dry-laid without any mortar. Crushed stone and rip-rap goes behind the face stones, and behind that there is a layer of fabric to separate the stone from the dirt behind. This creates a natural looking, well drained, and long lasting wall.

Once the wall is up to height we cap it with granite curbing. This granite is 4″ thick x 18″ wide x 4′ long. The wide, heavy stones make for a sturdy, flat top, and give the wall a unique appearance. In the far corner we build the wall up above grade another ~2′ to create a closed in area and sitting wall.

In the end the customer now has flat useable area with attractive stone walls to sit and enjoy their view of the river.