Good point.

In Pennsyltucky I designed the fireplace according to Rumford.
Contractor was concerned about what the Building Inspector would think.
  He was right to be concerned, the Building Inspector was horrified and
made us "fix" it.  I guess building inspectors don't get into many old
houses in their territory.  Its hard to believe that any house in the
area prior to the 1850's hadnt been a Rumford, or Rumfordized.

Fire brick is dull, but it probably appeals to modernists.

-jc



On Tuesday, October 28, 2003, at 03:03 AM, [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Flemish bonds .?..heck I threw mine out with the Confederate.........
>
> I guess none of us pinheads lived across the pond long enough to warm
> ourselves by a fire
> Having spent a few winters in Scotland and Brittany I got to study fire
> hearths up close an personal; so much so that when I restored my
> creole cottage
> here on the edge of the Delta ( 4 fireplaces ) I did two hearths in
> Herringbone
> with reclaimed Roman brick. I must say the math was interesting
> putting them in
> ;but like tile the cuts are at the return walls.
> For those of us who like to stare into fire there is a big difference
> as to
> what your back hearth wall does for you  However  if you grew up with
> the tv
> replacing the fire I completely understand. PY
>
> --
> To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
> uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
> <http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>
>

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>