Do-it-yourself fireplace in the apartment - step-by-step instructions!

Over the centuries of its existence, the fireplace has evolved from a mandatory attribute of the home (used for heating and cooking) into a beautiful decorative element. In private houses there are no problems with installing a fireplace, but if you are a resident of a high-rise building, then certain difficulties and disappointments await you.

DIY fireplace in the apartment

Is it possible to install a fireplace in an apartment?

You can install a real wood-burning fireplace, but only in apartments that are located on the top floor of the house. This will require a permit issued by the Moscow Housing Inspectorate, since:

the construction of a fireplace is considered a renovation of a living space;
the construction of a chimney that will pass through the ceiling, attic and roof is part of the reconstruction work.

Is it possible to install a fireplace in an apartment?

Therefore, you will need two permits at once - one for each type of work.

Note! The problems don't end with paperwork. The fact is that according to SNiP, the floor load in city apartments should not exceed 150 kg/m². Please note: the weight of a fireplace with firebox and chimney can reach 500 kg.

Therefore, it is better to equip an electric fireplace in the apartment (and residents of lower floors have no other option). Don’t be afraid of the word “electric”, because in the process of work you only have to make a frame and a pedestal.

Electric fireplace

Firebox methods

Once a clear definition has emerged with the weight and design features, it is important to decide what fuel the fireplace will operate on. As a rule, two types of devices are installed in apartments, differing in the firebox material:

gas;

Gas fireplace

solid fuel.

Wood-burning fireplace
Features of wood-burning fireplaces

Solid fuel differ from gas both in operating principle and installation cost. Naturally, the use of natural gas is more relevant. This is because this material is characterized by advantages:

does not pollute the atmosphere;
does not require special space for fuel storage;
does not force the owners to make efforts to ignite and maintain the fire.

Such devices are environmentally friendly, easy to operate and do not require polluting the apartment or looking for additional space for firewood. If desired, you can be content with decorative logs, and get the fire from a gas burner.

This type of fireplace installation is preferable in residential buildings with main gas. If the house is not gasified, then working with gas will not be entirely convenient, since in this case it will be necessary to purchase special cylinders, which take up extra space and are far from safe.

Recommendations for choosing an electric fireplace

Advantages of electric fireplaces

Not everyone can afford a stone or brick fireplace, we have already found that out. And the point here is not only the complexity of installation or design, but also the price - a full-fledged fireplace will cost about 180 thousand rubles. Moreover, an additional ventilation system will be required.

Electric fireplace

Electric models do not have such disadvantages. The main thing is to follow the operating rules (regularly checking electrical wiring, installing a stabilizer, etc.). Other benefits include:

low cost (when compared with traditional options);
ease of operation;
aesthetics, attractive appearance;
Possibility of installation in any room, without additional communications and redevelopment;
safety.

As for the firebox itself, you need to buy it in the store. But first things first.

Which chimney is better?

Chimneys differ not only in size and cross-sectional shape, but also in materials.

Chimneys for stoves and fireplaces

Brick chimney

Traditionally, red solid bricks are used to build a chimney. It is strictly forbidden to work with cheaper material - sand-lime brick - such a chimney will burst at the first fire. Red brick is strong, fire-resistant and durable; with high-quality masonry, it serves as well as a building - about 150 years. But the chimney made from it has an inconvenient square shape. As the smoke rises in a spiral, cold air currents appear in the corners of the structure. This leads to condensation and accumulation of soot in the corners, which destroys the material.

Project of a brick chimney in a multi-storey building

Another significant drawback is the complexity of installation. It is extremely difficult to build a brick chimney with perfectly even and smooth walls. The work takes a long time and is the most expensive. The cost of laying a chimney is from 30 rubles. per brick.

Older houses are usually equipped with a brick chimney. Before installing a fireplace, you need to invite a fire inspector, who will determine its condition, whether it requires repair or not. If you are not satisfied with the location of the chimney, you can lay a new internal one nearby or install an external one, which is attached to the wall of the house. To ensure good draft for the fireplace, the chimney height must be at least 4 m.

Steel chimney

A more modern and convenient option is a steel chimney. Thanks to its round cross-section, smoke rises evenly through it without lingering. Thanks to the two-layer insulation, condensation does not form on the inner surface of the chimney. The material is lightweight, resistant to high temperatures, corrosion, durable and simple, mounted on brackets. One person can handle its installation. In terms of the cost of materials, it is somewhat more expensive than brick, but it benefits from installation. Often, in order to improve the performance characteristics of brick chimneys, a steel insert with a circular cross-section is placed inside. In this case, the role of insulation is performed by brick walls. The service life of a steel chimney is 15 years. The cost of a steel chimney is 17,000 (diameter -150 mm, length - 4m). Installation - 15,000 rubles.

Steel chimney

Ceramic chimney

The best and most reliable type of chimney is ceramic. This is a multi-layer design. A round ceramic pipe is placed in a separate block of expanded clay, between which a layer of basalt insulation is laid. The chimney is assembled from elements held together with glue. Fireclay construction, unlike brick and steel, which can be ordered in any section, is produced in strictly established sizes - from 12 to 20 cm. Manufacturers provide a guarantee on the material for at least 30 years. The cost of a ceramic chimney is 24,600 rubles. (diameter -140 mm, length - 5 m). Installation - 15,000 rubles.

Ceramic chimney Effe2 Domus

Stage 1. Selecting a location for installation

An electric fireplace is the best option for a city apartment.
Everything here is quite simple: any wall you like will do, preferably in the living room.

Note! You should not plan to build a large structure in a small apartment. The fireplace must fit the area.

Procedure (procedure) for approving a fireplace

Who doesn’t dream of sitting by the fireplace in the evening, when it’s cold and blizzard outside, and the firewood crackles so comfortably in it. But most people living in apartments in St. Petersburg consider this an unattainable dream, because the procedure for approving a fireplace is an extremely tedious and complicated procedure.

A fireplace is considered an open source of fire; therefore, a well-designed and high-quality hood is required, which will be mounted from the apartment to the roof. Chimney equipment - for an apartment, a key problem in arranging a fireplace, which significantly narrows the possibilities in which it makes sense to plan and coordinate a fireplace.

Stage 2. Buying an electric fireplace

Electric fireplace ELECTROLUX EFP/P-3020

Electric fireplace Dimplex Opti-myst Burbank
Having decided on a place, you can go to the store to buy a firebox. Such devices cost an average of 25-30 thousand rubles, but you should focus not only on the price, but also on the size of a particular model.

In an apartment where literally every centimeter of free space is valuable, it is better to install oversized and shallow fireplaces. The most compact models have a depth of 7 cm. Among the manufacturers, it is worth highlighting the German company Hark, the British Burley and the Irish Berry.

Video - Electric fireplaces for apartments

Find out how to make a false fireplace with your own hands with step-by-step installation and finishing instructions from our new article.

Features and types of fireboxes

Before installing a wood-burning fireplace, you should decide on the type of main functional part, since it can be open or closed.

Open fireboxes

This option can be built from refractory bricks. This is a fairly heavy design - a small classic fireplace weighs about 800 kg. For this reason, its installation requires reinforced flooring and a separate foundation. An industrial open firebox is much lighter, but its other characteristics do not differ from a brick one. Main disadvantage: low efficiency, approximately 15%. Therefore, the open fireplace design is not considered as a heating device; it performs an exclusively aesthetic function.

Closed fireboxes

Such a fireplace is a complete heating system that can heat an average two-story house. Channels made of pipes (steel, aluminum) are attached to the chimney, supplying heat to the rooms. Ready-made fireboxes can have different capacities. The efficiency of a closed fireplace is about 85%. Minimum power - 5 kW. 1 kilowatt is enough to heat 10 m2.

An important advantage of a closed design is safety, since it does not require monitoring, just close the door. If the fireplace is open, you need to wait until the wood burns out. The flooring near the open fireplace is covered with non-combustible material.

Stage 3. Construction of the pedestal

The construction of the fireplace begins with the manufacture of a pedestal for the portal. It is advisable to use a piece of tabletop for this, cut to fit the size of the device.

Note! The portal is the front part of the fireplace with decorative cladding. In other words, this is what people pay attention to first.

It is recommended to use an MDF tabletop with a laminated protective coating. This material is resistant to moisture and high temperatures. The modern color range is quite wide, which allows you to choose a tabletop to suit every taste. In short, no difficulties should arise at this stage.

Fireplace pedestal

If you plan to install a wall-mounted fireplace, then a rectangular tabletop is cut out (a jigsaw is used for this), and if it is a corner one, then a pentagonal one.

Note! The area of the pedestal must necessarily exceed the area of the fireplace itself.

The pedestal needs to be raised by placing it on a slight elevation. Such an elevation can be a frame made of a metal profile 5x5 cm or 5x4 cm. At the end, the pedestal is covered with a plastic plinth, the color is similar to the color of the tabletop.

Dimensions of fireplaces, their design and types

The smallest electric fireplaces are the size of an eighth of a square meter, they can be portable, and most often they are only of an applied nature. The products are very convenient in everyday life for heating purposes.

The design of electric fireplaces has its own standards, namely, the standard design consists of two main parts:

The portal is the outer part or frame; it can have an interesting design and decoration.
The hearth is the firebox of an electric fireplace, the functional part.

An electric fireplace is much safer than a classic fireplace; it dries out the air in the room less and is easier to operate and clean.

By size, electric fireplaces are divided into:

microfireplaces that have dimensions of 35cm*50cm*20cm;
small fireplaces, the dimensions of which fluctuate around 60cm*65cm*32cm;
large models in which any parameter exceeds 1 meter.

Depending on the placement, there are several types of structures:

floor;
built into the wall (the so-called “hearth in the wall”);
attached.

Their price can range from 10 thousand to 250 thousand rubles due to additional effects, such as flame visualization and humidification functions.

An electric fireplace is considered large if it measures more than 50 cm in height and 70 cm in width. Most often they are installed on the floor in large niches.

The decoration of the fireplace can be completely different, especially if you have a large financial reserve. You can make a fireplace with carvings, special masonry, stylized in the spirit of the Renaissance, or cover the protective grille with precious metal.

Stage 4. Making a frame to frame the fireplace

Making a frame to frame the fireplace

Making a frame to frame a fireplace
An electric fireplace is easiest to make from sheets of plasterboard. This material is easy to install and resistant to temperature changes. In addition, it is most suitable in terms of environmental friendliness.

First, the frame of the portal is constructed. For work you will need the following materials:

metal profile 5x5 cm for racks;
metal profile 5x4 cm for guides;
“bug” self-tapping screws of short length (about 1-1.3 cm). Self-tapping screws

Note! The term “bugs” refers to short white self-tapping screws that have a large head and are used for fastening metal profiles.

Tools
You will also need equipment such as:

metal scissors;
mounting level;
marker;
stationery knife;
screwdriver;
hammer;
screwdriver

Now you can start installation. A wall-mounted fireplace is more common, so the technology of its manufacture is considered.

Step 1. First, the entire area of the wall that will be in contact with the structure is covered with fireproof material. Asbestos sheet can be used as such a material.

Step 2. Next, markings for the frame are made on the wall. Use a mounting level and a marker.

Note! A level check is mandatory, since it is unlikely that a crooked electric fireplace can be considered a good result.

Step 3. Guides from a 5x4 cm profile are attached according to the markings drawn up at the previous stage. The result should be a symmetrical parallelepiped. Self-tapping screws and dowels are used for fastening.

Fastening profiles

Step 4. All elements of the future frame are connected using “bugs”, after which the structure is strengthened, since it will have to withstand considerable load. In particular, this applies to the lower part where the electric firebox will be installed. For reinforcement, a 5x5 cm profile is used - it is inserted across the structure in increments of 30 cm.

Step 5. The internal part intended for the firebox is formed. To determine the dimensions of this part, the dimensions of the device itself are measured, and the width of the fire-resistant tile (or any other heat-resistant material) is added to the resulting figure.

Stage 5. Making a frame for the chimney

Chimney frame

Making a frame for a chimney
To install this element, a metal profile of 10x4 cm and 10x5 cm is used. No complex structure, as for a portal, is required here - fastening one side to the wall is enough.

Step 1. Holes for self-tapping screws are made in the 10x5 cm profile. The profiles are applied to the markings on the wall, and marks are made for the dowels.

Step 2. Holes are made for the plugs. A hammer is used to drive plugs into the wall. After this, the profile itself is attached using self-tapping screws.

Note! The resulting structure will be fragile, so it also needs to be strengthened using a 10x5 cm profile installed in 50 cm increments.

Step 3. The frame is brought up to the very ceiling - this will be more aesthetically pleasing, and the fake chimney will be extremely similar to the real one.

Stage 6. Wiring communications

The next step in creating an electric fireplace is wiring the cables to the location of the structure. It is recommended to use cables with “self-extinguishing” insulation with a cross-section of 2.5x2 for this purpose. In the portal itself, the cable is laid in a metal “sleeve”.

Note! If there is grounding in the apartment, a three-core cable should be used. Then the fireplace will need a ceramic socket with grounding.

When installing an outlet, it is advisable to also connect a switch - in this case, you will not have to remove it every time you need to turn off the device. In other words, you can turn it on/off using a switch.

Types of fireplaces

Depending on the type of fuel, installation method, style and location, models come in different types: wood-burning, gas, electric, floor-mounted, wall-mounted, straight, corner, stone, timber. There are devices that don't even need a chimney. They do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere, although they function on the principle of living fire.

Built-in options take up little space, but the space for them should be taken into account in advance when designing the interior so as not to disturb the structure of the walls. If you decide to install equipment after renovation, the best option is a wall-mounted fireplace. As for the exterior decoration, it can be made of stone, brick, and other materials.

In addition to the above, island and corner fireplaces are popular - they fit organically into the interior, becoming an integral part of it.

Stage 7. Sheathing with plasterboard

After wiring the cable, it is necessary to cover the frame with plasterboard.

Step 1. Using a stationery knife, cut out sheets of material of appropriate sizes.

Step 2. The sheets are attached to the profile using a screwdriver. For this, “seed” screws (black, intended for metal) measuring 2.5 x 0.3 cm are used.

Fastening drywall sheets

Step 3. The joints between the sheets of drywall are puttied with sealant.

Step 4. This material itself is quite fragile, so all corners of the electric fireplace are reinforced with galvanized steel corners (necessarily perforated).

Step 5. All surfaces are primed and puttied.

Step 6. Preliminary fitting of the electric furnace in the finished frame is carried out. Opposite the ventilation lugs located in the device body, holes are made in the drywall. If this is not done, the firebox will overheat during operation.

Puttying plasterboard sheets

Biofireplaces

Another option for a source of live fire is biofireplaces. Those who have ever installed such devices know very well that their operation requires a special flammable mixture based on ethyl alcohol. It is safe and combustion products do not pollute the air.

Most often, biofireplaces are not equipped with replicas of firewood or ash. They are original in their natural form and are perfect for most modern interiors. Typically, the fireplace body with all its edges is made of glass. This design will allow you to admire the flame from different angles. But there is still one drawback in such devices - the high cost of fuel. This fact makes electric fireplaces more popular.

Stage 8. Decorating the electric fireplace

Decorating an electric fireplace
There are several options, so everyone can choose what they like best. Below are possible finishing materials.

VD paint. To apply it, you can use either a roller or a brush.
To apply textured plaster you will need a spatula.
The artificial stone is placed on “liquid nails” or special glue.

Find out how to make a decorative fireplace with your own hands, and also get acquainted with the types of fireplace decoration with a step-by-step photo report from our new article.

As you can see, you can install a fireplace in an apartment with your own hands, even if it is just an imitation. This will require a minimum set of tools and materials, desire and half a day of free time.

Electric fireplace

Firewood or gas?

If your home satisfies the above conditions, and the desire to have a fireplace has not yet disappeared, then the question of fuel arises - wood or gas? It is better to refuse firewood. Firstly, this is inconvenient in an apartment: you will have to allocate a special place for storing woodpile or coal. Secondly, smoke from solid fuel, even with a modern afterburning system, pollutes the air. In a number of European countries, the use of firewood, coal and peat in cities is prohibited altogether. There is no such law in Russia.

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On the picture:

It is not necessary to have a wood-burning fireplace in your apartment - logs can be used as decoration, and you can admire the flames of a gas fireplace.

Alternative

In general, you will always have the opportunity to switch from gas to wood (of course, by collecting the necessary permits). After all, manufacturers are trying to ensure that the same models, with minor changes, can operate on both types of fuel. Well, if the obstacles are insurmountable and even the gas option cannot be agreed upon, you always have a solution with an electric or bio-fireplace.

In the photo: living room interior from a project implemented by interior designer Larisa Demidova.

The option with gas fuel is much more preferable. When burned, it practically does not form harmful substances, and the acrid smell of smoke will not be felt in the apartment when ignited. This type of fireplace is especially convenient in apartments located in gasified buildings. You can connect to the pipe and do not need to buy gas cylinders or look for a place to install them. In many houses with gas stoves, a special ventilation duct is provided in the kitchen, to which (if there is no special chimney) they may be given permission to connect a fireplace. However, remember that any manipulations with the centralized gas supply system, installation of gas appliances, etc. can only be performed by Gorgaz employees. And they are unlikely to regularly deal with fireplace installation. Therefore, no matter how attractive the opportunity to “get hooked” on a common house pipe may be, it is better to opt for the option with a gas cylinder. Then the fireplace can be installed by specialists from the company where you bought the model. Large companies also offer assistance in preparing all the necessary documentation.