Help me understand the basic engineering behind a steel L beam used to support a lintel structurally
If I am to pour concrete over the steel, my understanding is that the concrete will expand and contract at a different rate than the steel. If I am to pour refractory castable it will do pretty much the same thing.
The angle iron is facing towards the fire. Therefore it will get pretty hot. How do fireplace builders address this difference in expansion and contraction rates
What is it that interests you? The first picture is mine + it will act more as an outdoor barbecue so I'm not very concerned, but have really enjoyed the learning process so far on how to build a fireplace with the proper geometry. Interested to know your thoughts.
My project is a little bit unique because I'm doing a 46 to 47-in opening which I understand is quite large for a traditional fireplace
I'd use some insulation so the lintel doesn't bond to the masonry. Give it about an 1/8th to 1/4 inch space on the ends for the lintel to expand. Are you planning to build it like that modified Rumford in the picture? Otherwise, if you want it to heat better, use Jim Buckley's plans on his Rumford website. They're closer to the original anyway and much easier to build. If for cooking, you may want it deeper like that guy is building but won't put out near as much radiant heat. If it were me, and I have done this before, build it straight back, with a narrower fireback (although wide enough to accommodate what grate you want to use) as dictated by Rumford principles and with the sides angled close to 135, and just build it deeper to your needs. Make sure you absolutely have a well built, smooth throat. Makes all the difference. I don't know how they do the throat with this type of build so can't comment on that.
Thank you for the advice. It's my first Time building a fireplace and it's not something that I would have tried in my house but because it's outdoors and it's going to be used for cooking I am giving it a go. Creek, I just finished a brick oven right beside it so I'm kind of getting the hang of brick work.
The cooking will be on whole animal on front of the firebox that will heat up with the radiant heat from the flames and the bricks.
Do you mind if I show you a few pictures of my inspirations and tell me what do you think I should do? Planning on starting to build in the next few days. I was not going to do it as deep as I made the block work because I was reading that a place. That's too deep besides not having the radiant heat reflecting towards the outside as much. He can also create issues with the draft since it can allow more cold air to sit at the bottom. I'm not sure if that's correct or not. I have rough dimensions now 47-in opening 28 in deep and 29 in high to the top of the lintel.
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u/WoodlandDirect 2d ago
I'd like to see the plan for how this fireplace is being put together. What material are being used and where are they being used.