Can I turn my standard fireplace into awesomeness?

I am highjacking my wife’s account...

We have a standard fireplace and I was wondering if I could convert it into a usable RMH. I have looked around and not really been able to find much on this topic. We live in SE Texas so granted it’s not a life or death situation. If I could cut our propane bill though and make ourselves just generally cooler that would be great. I also dislike the fact that I can’t have a fire without actually making ourselves colder... a picture of the fireplace is attached.

Thanks!
Daniel

Daniel, i would say, it's perfectly possible.

We need to know more about your fireplace and chimney.

Is the back of it against an outside wall? If yes, that's a bad point.

What is the section of your chimney at my be 4 ft above the fireplace floor, 10 ft? 20 ft? Just to see if it could be used as a bell. Single storrey house, or is there levels above?

Would you mind loosing some space in front?

Is that carpet on the floor? Wood underneath?

Are you able to lay firebricks?

Are you really willing to do this?

Have a read of this, and the links. https://permies.com/t/68801/Conversion-conventional-fireplace-rocket-mass

And tell us what you think.

Satamax Antone wrote:Daniel, i would say, it's perfectly possible.

We need to know more about your fireplace and chimney.

Is the back of it against an outside wall? If yes, that's a bad point.

What is the section of your chimney at my be 4 ft above the fireplace floor, 10 ft? 20 ft? Just to see if it could be used as a bell. Single storrey house, or is there levels above?

Would you mind loosing some space in front?

Is that carpet on the floor? Wood underneath?

Are you able to lay firebricks?

Are you really willing to do this?

Have a read of this, and the links. https://permies.com/t/68801/Conversion-conventional-fireplace-rocket-mass

And tell us what you think.

That is an interior wall, there is one room on the other side. The house is only 1 story.

I’m not entirely sure. I know some portion of the chimney is exterior brick, empty space, and then the actual chimney, I don’t know if that goes all the way down. Once it hits the ceiling it is just the chimney.

I don’t mind losing some space.

The floor is vinyl tile on the concrete foundation.

I don’t know how, but I’m sure I can learn how to lay fire brick.

My only real concern would be the aesthetics of it. We have no real intention of selling, but I would hate to do something that would drastically effect the Desirability of the house or the appraisel. If I can make it look nice I’m all in.

Get "all" the measurements of the chimney and the fireplace. I'm absolutely sure you can make something which looks nice. Concrete slab underneath, perfect. Interior wall, perfect.

There is no wood in that wall behind the fireplace?

Is your concrete slab on piers, or direct on the ground?

There are wood studs, but no, no other wood.

Yes the foundation is on the ground.

Katie Jarvis wrote:There are wood studs, but no, no other wood.

Yes the foundation is on the ground.

Well, it would be clever to remove those studs, and make a solid wall in the back of this chimney.  Pouring concrete. Or someting similar. To get the advantage of heating both sides.

If I remember correctly when we had the Sheetrock down there is a brick facing just like the front.
Certainly a question would be what kind of heat could I get for the house? To the right of the fireplace is the kitchen and living room, which is about a 1/3 of the house. To the left is the bedrooms and baths. The house is about 1600 sq feet, with pretty good insulation, but not on the level of spray foam.

Working on measurements.