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    leenjack74's Avatar
    leenjack74 Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:05 PM
    The brick in my fireplace are cracking can I use cement or concrete to fix this prob?
    The brick in my fireplace are cracked can I use cement or concrete to patch my fireplace ?
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:09 PM
    DO you care about burning the house down.. or dying from carbon monoxide?

    Fireplaces are not something you want to treat casually when anything is wrong.

    Cracked firebrick need replaced... and you HAVE to use the correct materials... its special materials and special mortar... and you won't find it at Home Depot or Lowe's. (at least the ones where I live don't have it).

    I'd recommend getting a professional experienced with fireplaces and chimneys to do the work.
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    leenjack74 Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:13 PM
    The brick in my fireplace are cracking can I use cement or concrete to fix this prob?
    What materials do I need to fix my fireplace other than replacing one or two bricks?
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    tickle Posts: 23,796, Reputation: 2674
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    #4

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:14 PM
    Special brick, fire bricks, have to be used to withstand the heat. No you can't do it yourself.

    Is the damage inside or outside?
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    leenjack74 Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:17 PM
    The brick in my fireplace are cracking can I use cement or concrete to fix this prob?
    The bricks in my fireplace are on the inside tickle
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    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #6

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:20 PM
    It takes a very specific and special mortar mix... no other type of mortar is suitable.
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    tickle Posts: 23,796, Reputation: 2674
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    #7

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:22 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by smoothy View Post
    It takes a very specific and special mortar mix.....no other type of mortar is suitable.
    Yes and special bricks smoothy. I know I just had it done my friend, for a lot of money!
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    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #8

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:25 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by tickle View Post
    Yes and special bricks smoothy. I know I just had it done my friend, for a lot of money!
    Yep... I rebuilt one of my fireplaces 14 years ago. (have two in my house)... after a LOT of research and talking to professionals in the field I knew that walked me through it... definitely not a DIY project for the average person.

    Firebrick in the firebox... and I don't even remember the correct mixture for the mortar needed.

    Too much can go wrong if its not exactly right, and what can happen when it does is very serious.
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    leenjack74 Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #9

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:28 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by smoothy View Post
    Yep....I rebuilt one of my fireplaces 14 years ago. (have two in my house)....after a LOT of research and talking to professionals in the field I knew that walked me through it...definitely not a DIY project for the average person.

    Too much can go wrong and what can happen when it does is very serious.
    I have someone doing it I just want to make sure the materials he's using are the right ones
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    N0help4u Posts: 19,823, Reputation: 2035
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    #10

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:32 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by leenjack74 View Post
    I have someone doing it I just want to make sure the materials he's using are the right ones

    So he is using cement or concrete to fix it?
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    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #11

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:33 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by leenjack74 View Post
    I have someone doing it I just want to make sure the materials he's using are the right ones
    Have him tell you what he's using in the mortar... exactly... fire-clay is a major component of the mix, I don't remember exactly the rest of the mix...

    And it HAS to be firebrick... firebrick is not glazed.. and looks more like sandstone than any other type of brick. And made from different materials.

    This is way different than laying regular brick... though it might appear similar to someone that's not familiar with what to avoid.

    And its been so long I since I did it I honestly would not want to give anyone tips or directions that I learned to do it at the time. Because I'm not sure how much I might have forgotten since then.

    All the warnings I was given I do remember quite well.
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    leenjack74 Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #12

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:35 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by N0help4u View Post
    so he is using cement or concrete to fix it?
    Neither I that was my question, I was wondering if u could use cement or concrete to fix the problem.
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    N0help4u Posts: 19,823, Reputation: 2035
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    #13

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:39 PM
    No, what is he using?
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    tickle Posts: 23,796, Reputation: 2674
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    #14

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:40 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by leenjack74 View Post
    the bricks in my fireplace are on the inside tickle
    I am not an expert, mr. Lee jack, but know you can't do this yourself and it is fire bricks you need. If you use this for a heating source, fhen you owe it to yourself to get it done properly, yes ?
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    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #15

    Sep 9, 2013, 02:41 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by leenjack74 View Post
    neither I that was my question, I was wondering if u could use cement or concrete to fix the problem.
    Absolutely not... they are very different than the mortar needed for a fireplace. Both of those would literally explode (well spall violently is more like it) when subjected to a fire that close and to that heat.
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