If the fireplace has been used before remove excess ash and soot. Use a metal bucket to avoid accidental fires. Open your air control or dampener to allow air to flow through the chimney. Refer to ...

I have a fireplace, a cord of split, seasoned wood, and a cold family. So I make a lot of fires. But, for me, nothing about a fire is ever consistent—not the tinder or kindling or logs. So, I always ...

correctionAn earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the National Fire Protection Association as the National Fire Protection Agency. The article has been corrected. It’s that time of ...

Measure the area for the surround and the fireplace dimensions. Determine the exact top of the fireplace, because you’ll be setting a support slab across both sides of the surround to complete it. Dry ...