- Because traditional brick mortar consists of sand, lime, and cement, it will disintegrate in a roaring fireplace
- So, yes, fire fireplaces masons need to use refractory fireplace mortar comprised of magnesium silicate, which can deal with heat up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- READY TO USE: Preblended, just add water and go!
If you have a fireplace in your home, there are probably several questions you ask yourself regarding how to safely maintain and enjoy it. Well, this all starts with how the fireplace is built.
You want to make sure your fireplace is constructed correctly and nicely to hold up for you through many years.
This does not necessarily mean you need special mortar for your fireplace, but you want to make sure what you choose is still of good quality and safe for your specific type of fireplace.
Of course, you need to make sure whatever you decide to use is of fireproof material.
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What Type of Mortar Is Best Suited for your Fireplace?
It also depends on what type of fireplace you have to determine the kind of mortar you are using. For example, brick fireplaces do not work well with mortar that is mixed with sand, lime and Portland cement.
This mixture will cause the mortar to crumble away when they are put together with a wood fire. This mixture though is very resistant to fire and heat so they could be better suited for other types of fireplaces.
Risks of Using the Wrong Mortar
Using the wrong type of mortar could become dangerous when lighting a fire in your fireplace. Some types of mortar are not heat resistant so this can cause the fire to become too large for the fireplace space resulting in the fire spreading to unwanted parts of a room.
Domestic Fireplace Mortar
Domestic Fireplace Mortar was specially crafted just for fireplaces. It is premixed and ready-to-use. It was made in order to install firebricks in masonry fireplaces.
This means it is safe to use with brick fireplaces. It can even be used with boilers, chimneys, furnaces, and even kilns because it is heat and flame resistant.
Refractory Mortar
Refractory Mortar is another option to consider. Refractory Mortar can withstand temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit so it is, of course, very resistant to heat.
Refractory Mortar can be used anywhere it will be exposed to intense temperatures such as fireplaces and chimneys. It consists of a mixture of fireclay, cement, sand, and ingredients such as calcium aluminate.
Fireclays are used to create fire bricks. They are the reason fire bricks can withstand the temperatures that they can.
Refractory Mortar may be the best option to consider when building a fireplace. Because of its ability to withstand such intense temperatures, it will be a safe option. If you use a type of mortar that cannot withstand heat, it will cause the fireplace to fall apart over time.
You willl have to do a lot more maintenance to it than you would choosing a mortar that can handle the heat.
Overall, while it is not completely necessary to have a special kind of mortar for your fireplace, it is a factor to consider. You want to be sure you are building and maintaining your fireplace correctly and safely so you never have to worry about some kind of accident happening in your home caused by your fireplace.
Having the best quality mortar you can find will ensure that your fireplace will be able to withstand the heat of a fire and uphold itself for years to come.
Hi, my name’s Eugene Duke and I love sitting by my fireplace reading a book and sipping on an adult beverage. Do you have a fireplace in your house? I’ll help you figure out the best type and style of fireplace for your home.