Masonry Magazine December 1992 Page. 12
Getting A Masonry Fireplace Built
Our delivery of service system needs a fresh look.
AN UNUSUAL MIX of people from the masonry industry gathered at my invitation in an unfinished room in a model house in Columbus, Ohio one day last fall-a flue liner manufacturer, a refractory mortar distributor, three masons, two masonry materials dealers, an engineer from the Brick Institute of America and two home builders. Sixteen students in a carpentry framing program had just built a masonry fireplace and chimney (this was really an unusual day) and this was the final evaluation and workshop. The experts and the students had all come for the last day of a three day fireplace training workshop put on by the Masonry Fireplace and Chimney Association for the National Association of Home Builders' Industry Education Alliance Program.
Toward the end of the session, one of the masonry materials dealers was extolling the virtues of masonry fireplaces over metal so-called "zero clearance" fireplaces-safer, better looking, longer lasting, etcetera etcetera. You'd have to say that everyone in the room was pro masonry, even though both builders regularly install metal fireplaces.
"Lothar", said one of the builders, "I've got a house going up right now. Can you build a masonry fireplace in it for me next week?"
No, Lothar, one of the best fireplace masons in Columbus, was booked until Spring.
"How about you, or you," asked the Builder gesturing toward the other two masons. They were tied up too, one way or another.
No one could build fireplace.
No one in the room could think of any mason who knew how to build fireplaces who wasn't busy. Guess who's going to put another metal fireplace in the house he's building next week?
Masonry fireplaces are better. Home buyers like them better. Everyone likes them better. But so what, if you can't find anyone to build a masonry fireplace? Price is important, but that's only part of the picture. Metal fireplaces are sold "installed" and can usually be delivered and installed within a week. They're UL listed and guaranteed. If one doesn't work someone will replace it.
For a builder to get a masonry fire-
JIM BUCKLEY, president of the Buckley Rumford Fireplace Company in Seattle, Washington, is presenting a workshop at the Masonry Expo in San Diego, California in February. The title of his his workshop is "How to Earn More Money While Building Better and Safer Fireplaces."