Notice that the smoke plate in Figure 38 is more or less flush with the front brick while the smoke plate in Figure 39 is installed in a recessed position. I have not noticed any difference in the efficacy of the two locations. For cosmetic reasons, I prefer not to have a smoke plate on the same plane (flush) as the front brick but recessed at least 1” up to 2”.
Typically, metal smoke plates are left boiler-plate color, a gray or mottled gray steel, and draw the eye only one time. But they can also be painted a flat black. If you want it painted, I advise you to paint it yourself. A welding shop will always use a shiny black no matter what you request. I think shiny black looks tacky.
The advantage of custom-made, permanent smoke plates over factory-made smoke plates is that, in addition to being sized more exactly, they can be installed very securely. As you are reaching in to open and close the regular damper, you don’t want to be concerned that you may knock the smoke plate loose.
Incidentally, smoke plate hoods that protrude beyond the front plane of the fireplace may look authoritative—as if they are actually gathering …show more content…
You don’t even have to mortar the bricks in place although if you plan this as a long-range solution, you would, at a minimum, mortar between the front row bricks with refractory cement. For added stability, refractory might be used on the horizontal surfaces between the old brick and the new. I would not use mortar between the new bricks. But the bricks at the sides will need to be sawed to exact lengths and angles so the whole hearth is really tight. You should use firebrick instead of regular brick because, in addition to holding up to the great heat of the hot coals, they are usually much more uniform. At the end of the job fine sand or firebrick dust (from your sawing) can be swept into the cracks for added stability. See Figure
Typically, metal smoke plates are left boiler-plate color, a gray or mottled gray steel, and draw the eye only one time. But they can also be painted a flat black. If you want it painted, I advise you to paint it yourself. A welding shop will always use a shiny black no matter what you request. I think shiny black looks tacky.
The advantage of custom-made, permanent smoke plates over factory-made smoke plates is that, in addition to being sized more exactly, they can be installed very securely. As you are reaching in to open and close the regular damper, you don’t want to be concerned that you may knock the smoke plate loose.
Incidentally, smoke plate hoods that protrude beyond the front plane of the fireplace may look authoritative—as if they are actually gathering …show more content…
You don’t even have to mortar the bricks in place although if you plan this as a long-range solution, you would, at a minimum, mortar between the front row bricks with refractory cement. For added stability, refractory might be used on the horizontal surfaces between the old brick and the new. I would not use mortar between the new bricks. But the bricks at the sides will need to be sawed to exact lengths and angles so the whole hearth is really tight. You should use firebrick instead of regular brick because, in addition to holding up to the great heat of the hot coals, they are usually much more uniform. At the end of the job fine sand or firebrick dust (from your sawing) can be swept into the cracks for added stability. See Figure