What kind of material is more suitable for DIY fireplace as furnace? Marble or granite?

What kind of material is more suitable for DIY fireplace as furnace? Marble or granite?

What is the most important thing when we want to build our own fireplace in a completely DIY way? Undoubtedly, the furnace is the core component of the whole fireplace, so what material is the most appropriate choice? First do not rush to give the answer, I think we can from the "fire resistance", "not easy to crack", "durable", "price" and other dimensions to consider.

If I had to share this experience from the perspective of a person who has experienced it, I think that in combination with the above key points, granite is undoubtedly the best material for building a fireplace furnace when burning solid fuels such as wood. Granite has a high heat resistance, non-flammable, wear-resistant, is also one of the most commonly used materials in the fireplace furnace, it is very durable and strong, and can be carved on a variety of patterns, textures and colors, is also a very affordable material, so in most self-built fireplaces, granite has become the first choice.

However, it is very unwise to move heavy objects or slide sharp objects above the fireplace furnace of this material, because of the characteristics of granite, there will be more or less shallow or deep scratches. The other disadvantage of granite is that it expands and contracts when a fireplace is heated and cooled, so when it is used as a solid fuel to burn a fireplace furnace, the granite must be treated separately. If only a single material, granite, is used in the furnace, the granite will be subjected to intense heat from a solid fuel (such as wood), and over time, the granite will crumble.

After understanding the material selection of the furnace in the DIY fireplace, we need to carry out a size review, and the information about the preferred size of the fireplace furnace can be said to be very blank in the country, so the author from the International Association of Certified Housing Inspectors (InterNACHI) website found the "International Standard of Practice for Commercial property inspection" for your reference.

After understanding the material selection of the furnace in the DIY fireplace, we need to carry out a size review, and the information about the preferred size of the fireplace furnace can be said to be very blank in the country, so the author from the International Association of Certified Housing Inspectors (InterNACHI) website found the "International Standard of Practice for Commercial property inspection" for your reference. In the United Kingdom, for example, details of the required hearth dimensions can be found in Part J of the Building Code. And these sizes can be used as a guide for friends to DIY fireplaces at home. InterNACHI recommends that for fireplaces with openings of 6 square feet (0.56 square meters) or smaller, the depth of the furnace should be 16 inches (406 mm) less from the opening into the interior and extend at least 8 inches (203 mm). From the side. For fireplaces with openings larger than 6 square feet (0.56 square meters), the fireplace should have a safe distance of at least 20 inches (508 mm) and a side of at least 12 inches (305 mm).

In addition, the Building Code also stipulates that the furnace must extend at least 150mm to the side of the fire bed and at least 300mm to the outside of the furnace in order to place open equipment. For closed devices, 300mm can be reduced to 225mm. InterNACHI recommends that the furnace be at least 4 inches (102 mm) thick for any size fireplace opening. When the temperature of the furnace surface does not exceed 100 degrees Celsius, the thickness of the furnace must be at least 12mm. For a furnace with a temperature of more than 100, if there is a gap of at least 50mm below the furnace, the thickness must be at least 125mm; If the fireplace is located on a combustible floor, the furnace must be at least 250mm thick.

From this series of data, it is not difficult to see that compared with the fireplace directly installed on the ground, the fireplace after the elevation has some obvious advantages, such as the fireplace after the elevation is not easy to reach the fire source, thus providing better safety for children and pets, but also easier to become the focal point of the entire space, of course, all roads lead to Rome, Granite is the best material to build a fireplace furnace is not the only material, choose other high-quality furnace materials such as ceramic bricks, stone bricks, marble, etc., can also meet your requirements for performance, budget, color and design.