FMI VENT FREE UNIVERSAL MASONRY FIREBOX MM39/44/49VF - Manual (Page 14)

13
Fireplace Assembly Procedures
TOOLS NEEDED FOR INSTALLATION:
One 4 ft. level •
Roto-hammer with ½” drill bit •
Drill motor with mixer blade to mix Mortar •
Two empty 5 gallon buckets to mix Mortar •
One wheelbarrow • and shovel to mix concrete
Grout bag •
Triangular masonry trowel •
Rubber hammer •
Sponge and 2 water buckets to wipe down and moisten •
parts prior to applying mortar
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR INSTALLATION:
Epoxy for securing rebar in footing / foundation •
Three (3) - 90 lb. bags of ready mix concrete with ¼” or •
smaller aggregate
MATERIALS INCLUDED:
8 - ⅜” Rebar x 28” Long •
8 - ⅜” Rebar x 12” Long •
1 - 50 lb. bucket Mortar •
20 - Small Wood Shims •
Note - Wipe excess water from surface prior to applying grout.
This will help grout to adhere to surface during assembly.
Warning: All surfaces where grout is applied must have water
sponged on several minutes prior to assembly. This will minimize
cracking of grout joint and provide maximum strength.
Place the Grand Meridian Fireplace hearth base on top of your
non-combustible floor. For concrete slabs, supporting floor
needs to be rated at ASTM 90.
Draw an outline of the hearth area based on the dimensions 1)
shown in Figure 17. Position Hearth slabs and mark rebar
center locations. Drill 4 inches into concrete slab and secure
the 8 pieces of 12 inch rebar with epoxy.
Figure 17
Left Side Hearth 2nd
Right Side Hearth 1st
Model W
MM39VF 43”
MM44VF 48”
MM49VF 53”
W
28”
Apply mortar
between joints
12 inch rebar
Mix a batch of mortar and prepare Right Side Hearth bottom 2)
surface to be bonded as shown in Figure 18.
Figure 18
1/2” AWAY
FROM EDGES
1/2” MORTAR
BEAD TYPICAL
Hearth section shown prepared
for Right Side position
APPLY MORTAR
BEAD TO ALL
MATING SURFACES
Align Right Side Hearth to the outline created. The overall 3)
width should allow for an approximate gap of 1/8” between
slabs for the additional mortar to unite the remaining slab.
Check for surface flatness, level if necessary.
Apply mortar to the remaining Hearth except this time apply
4)
beading on surface to be facing floor as shown in Figure
19.
Figure 19 Hearth shown prepared
for Left Side position
Before installing side walls, confirm placement of outside 5)
combustion air access (if required), this can be installed
either side depending on which side is accessible to outside
combustion air (all diagrams in this manual show the
combustion air inlet hole on the right side). Prepare side
wall and rear wall mating surfaces with the prepared mortar
and begin assembly.
Figure 20
Side Wall shown prepared for Right Side Air
Access. For Left Side bead opposite side.
1/2” AWAY
FROM EDGES
Keep the assembly of the next sections of the firebox side 6)
walls moving up, keeping components moist, mixing mortar
as you need it and threading the mortar appropriately as
you stack each section, one onto the next. Constantly check
for squareness and levelness while building each course of
block. As you complete each section, make certain that you
adhere the mortar at each and every joint.