Here's a collection of stories about masonry construction, Rumford fireplaces, fire safety, chimneys, woodstoves and more.
Fireplaces & Stoves
- Count Rumfords Legacy
We remember him as Count Rumford, inventor of attractive, efficient fireplaces that produce lots of heat and little smoke - The Cleaning and Waterproof Coating of Masonry Buildings
Inappropriate cleaning and waterproofing causes deterioration. Here's how to do it right. - Restoring a fireplace mantel (Sidebar)
From Rose Thornton's school of hard knocks, tips on how to strip and restore a mantel - Home is where the hearth is (continued)
A first-person account of lovingly stripping and restoring a 100-year-old mantel -- complete with how-to tips - Fireplaces: A construction primer
A fireplace that draws improperly is no asset. Here are design & construction basics. - Formulas for cleaning fireplace surfaces
Here are some cleaning formulas that work well with elbow grease... - Smoke gets in your eyes...
Here are some common causes and solutions to smoke problems with chimneys, stoves and fireplaces - Details: A Colonial Cooking Fireplace
Architectural drawings and photos, past and present, of a 1700s Maine cooking fireplace.


