A concrete fireplace is easy to make.
When building or installing a fireplace, one of the most common materials to use is concrete. A concrete fireplace is generally easy to make, can be molded to fit a variety of shapes, and is noncombustible, so sparks or stray embers won’t damage the fireplace or the house around it. While a concrete fireplace is certainly not the most attractive choice for fireplace materials, it is easily covered with other materials like tile or slate for a more elegant and beautiful look. Since concrete can be cast into different shapes and sizes, it is the most adaptable material for building a fireplace.
A disadvantage of the concrete fireplace is its appearance. Plain concrete is not attractive in any way, and while it works well as a noncombustible material for a fireplace, it can negatively affect the tone of a room. Therefore, the concrete chimney must be covered with another material, which adds cost and time to a concrete chimney project. The advantage of such a design is that the homeowner will be left with a strong and secure chimney that takes on the appearance of whatever non-combustible material is covering the concrete. Slate, stone, brick, and ceramic can be used to line a concrete fireplace, or the concrete can simply be painted.
Building a concrete fireplace instead of using stone or brick is a good option because concrete is relatively inexpensive compared to other materials. If the chimney being built is elevated, that is, the chimney is not level with the floor, but raised off the floor. Concrete can be easily mixed and poured to suit height without adding too much cost. Most chimneys in modern homes have cement in their bases. Other materials are simply built on concrete.
Another advantage of concrete fireplaces is the investment of time to make one. Making a mold, mixing the concrete, letting it set, painting or sealing it, and placing it takes only a few hours, a day or two for the concrete to harden, but in terms of hours worked, only a few hours. Hours are needed. A small slab can be poured in a few hours and removed to the house the next day after curing. The smaller concrete slabs are also mobile, but they are extremely heavy so moving them is not always a viable option.
