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This project aims to restore and upgrade an old stone hearth.
The original was part of the gable end of a stable in a rural setting and had been damaged by neglect, time and the elements. The building itself was in a state of imminent collapse. Original included a subfloor airduct and hearth and was set at floor level.
Stone quality was for the most part a mixture of field stone and rough quarried stone. Sand stone makes up 95 percent of the stone used in this building. A Type 1 portland cement is used throughout the project. The mix ratio varies. For pointing a strong mix of 1 cement to one lime to 3 sand is used. For building a weaker mix of 1 cement to 1 lime to 5 sand is used. New work is kept wet for two days, depending on weather conditions, until the moisture content in the wall equalizes. More importantly, this gives a slower set which reduces the risk of cracking in the masonry. The bulk of the building work is done in late summer/early autumn, when the onset of cooler and wetter conditions helps to promote a slow cure.
Two years were spent in preparatory work, cleaning and replacing the pointing between the stones in some of the worse affected areas. This seals the wall surface and keeps water from getting into the wall. It also stabilises the stones and tightens up the stone work. Where required, wedge shaped stones(points) are inserted into the joins to tighten things up and ensure stability.
This is Sean. Most of the stone work in this project is his.
Finally it was time to start on the base of the chimney to the right and left of the hearth. The original had completely collapsed so was dismantled and rebuilt from the bedrock up.
Here is the right side of the base complete. Each end of the air intake is clearly visible. The intake is simply a stainless steel tube set into the base of the masonry. The original would have been iron.
Here is the air intake for the left side set in place and ready to have the masonry built over it.
This is a rough diagramatic representation of the planned layout. The yellowish fill between the masonry and the firebrick is sand. It is hoped that this will allow leaway for thermal expansion/contraction and make repair and maintainance easier. The white is an air gap between the hearth and surrounding brickwork into which the intakes blow. A single pipe leads from this under the fire and blows air up through it.
