Fireplace and Chimney
Rumford fireplace specialists
For those interested in maximizing the efficiency of a wood burning fireplace, we specialize in building Rumford fireplaces in new construction, or retrofitting Rumford fireboxes into pre-existing fireplaces.
Rumford fireboxes, first developed in the 18th century when burning wood was the primary form of home heating, are a clean burning and highly efficient firebox. Rumfords are shaped differently than modern fireplaces (see illustration below); the tall and shallow form of the Rumford firebox is designed to reflect radiant heat into the room and the narrow throat and rounded breast help keep heat in the firebox and send smoke up into the chimney.
We are certified Rumford Masons ( http://www.rumford.com/mason.html/#oh) and we repair and install dampers, including chimney-mounted models.
Chimneys
Masonry chimneys are prone to weathering and deterioration, perhaps more so than other parts of buildings (see below). This is largely due to extreme temperature fluctuations and their exposed nature on the structure.
Cycles of heat and cold lead to movement in a chimney, with different components -- flue, crown and body -- often moving at different rates. For this reason, we are careful in restoring chimneys, using brick, stone and mortars with the right properties and expansion joints in the right locations to maximize the life of the chimney.
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Sample Project: Chimney Reconstruction
Review of conditions: Severe spalling of brick, cracked crowns and flues on twin chimneys of 1920-era home.
Diagnoses: Differential expansion and contraction rates between bricks and mortar; glazed bricks prone to microfractures; lack of expansion joint where flue meets crown; film-forming paint trapping moisture in masonry.
Solutions: Chimneys razed and rebuilt with lime-based mortar and unglazed bricks; new crown built with expansion joints at flues; chimney recoated with breathable paint.
Mason's Mark LLC P.O. Box 193 Kent, OH 44240 Phone (330) 671-6585 Fax (330) 678-6965