Okay, let’s get to it! I’ve been wanting to share this project for a while now, and today’s the day. I recently built a log burner brick fireplace, and man, was it a journey!
The Beginning
First things first, I gotta say, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. I planned this out. I spent weeks watching videos, reading articles, and basically just freaking out about whether I could actually pull this off. I’m pretty handy, but this felt…bigger. The biggest obstacle was figuring out where to even put the thing! After a lot of measuring and some heated debates with the wife, we settled on the corner of the living room.
Gathering Supplies
Next up, supply gathering. Holy moly, this was a whole ordeal. I made, like, five trips to the home improvement store. Bricks, mortar, the log burner itself (which was surprisingly heavy!), a flue liner…the list went on and on. I felt like I was constantly forgetting something. Pro tip: make a VERY detailed list before you go, and double-check it!
The Build
Okay, now for the fun part (and by fun, I mean back-breaking labor). I started by laying out the base. This was crucial to get right. I used a level, like, a million times. Seriously, don’t skimp on the leveling. A wonky base means a wonky fireplace.
Then came the bricklaying. Slow and steady wins the race, people. I mixed the mortar, spread it on, and carefully placed each brick. I used spacers to keep the gaps consistent. My back was screaming by the end of the first day, but seeing those first few rows go up was incredibly satisfying.
- Day 1: Base and first few rows. Exhausted.
- Day 2: More rows! Starting to see the shape.
- Day 3: Installed the log burner. This was tricky, had to get a friend to help lift it.
- Day 4 & 5: Built the surround and continued up with the brick.
The flue liner was another challenge. Getting that thing up and secured properly was… interesting. Let’s just say there was some cursing involved. But, I managed it! I am getting better at it.
The Finishing Touches
Once the main structure was done, it was all about the details. I cleaned up the excess mortar, made sure everything was sealed properly, and then… waited. Mortar needs time to cure, so I had to be patient (which is not my strong suit).
Finally, the moment of truth. I built a small fire, held my breath, and… it worked! The fire drew perfectly, the heat radiated beautifully, and I felt like a total champion. The heat get me warm!
It’s not perfect, mind you. There are a few little imperfections here and there, but that’s part of the charm, right? It’s handmade, it’s got character, and it’s something I built with my own two hands. And honestly, sitting in front of that fireplace with a cup of coffee on a cold evening? Priceless.
