This Lake Superior stone fireplace stands about 23 feet tall in a home in Duluth Township, just north of Duluth, Minnesota. Solid Rock Masonry LLC built it around a hand-built 36 x 36 inch PriorFire Rosin firebox, one of the most efficient open-hearth fireboxes you can build. In addition, the owners hand-picked every stone themselves at spots along the Lake Superior shore. Our owner, Eric Moshier, is a third-generation mason and Certified Heater Mason with 40+ years in the trade. We build custom stone fireplaces across Duluth, the North Shore, the Iron Range and northwest Wisconsin.
By Eric Moshier - Certified Heater Mason, Third-Generation Mason, MHA Technical Committee Member, ASTM E1602 Masonry Heater Group Member
Where was this Lake Superior stone fireplace featured?
Lake Superior Magazine later featured the fireplace in their homes section. The finished photo above is theirs, by Jack Rendulich, and we use it with the magazine’s permission.
How did we design this Lake Superior stone fireplace?
Every fireplace we build starts with a SketchUp drawing. First, we lay out the firebox, throat and smoke chamber to exact dimensions before any block goes up. For this one, the owners wanted the stone to be the star, so the firebox had to be efficient and clean-burning behind it.
What goes under a stone fireplace?
A full-height masonry fireplace and chimney is heavy, so it sits on its own block & concrete foundation. Next, on top of that, we lay the concrete block backing and set the firebrick hearth.
Why a PriorFire Rosin firebox?
The Rosin firebox has a curved back and a shaped throat. That shape guides the smoke smoothly up the chimney, so the fireplace draws well on a smaller flue. As a result, less warm room air goes up the chimney with it. The PriorFire design is the work of Chris Prior of Adirondack Chimney Company, not ours. However, we build it by hand, brick by brick, on every Rosin fireplace we do.
For more detail, you can read about how we build Rosin and Rumford fireboxes on our custom stone fireplaces page.
How does the chimney go up?
Once the firebox and smoke chamber are done, the masonry core and chimney rise on scaffolding. Then we build and check all of that structure before a single face stone goes on.
Thinking about a stone fireplace for your home? If so, we design and build custom fireplaces around Duluth, the North Shore, the Iron Range and northwest Wisconsin. So, give us a call at 218-343-2978 or request a quote below.
How is Lake Superior stone laid on a fireplace?
Lake Superior stone is round, smooth and every color the shore has to offer. Also, round stone is harder to lay than flat stone, because each one has to be set so it looks natural and stays put. So we sorted the owners’ stones by size and color, then laid them up the full height of the chimney breast. Finally, we built stone niches into the face, in a style that echoes the stonework at Naniboujou Lodge on the North Shore.
Can you build a Lake Superior stone fireplace with stone I collected?
Yes. For example, this whole project used the owners’ own stone. Bring us your stone, or we can source it for you. Either way, we will tell you early if you have enough, and which stones work best where.
See more of our work in the project gallery. Also, two more Rosin fireplaces we built are the Anderson fireplace and the Corinthian granite fireplace on Island Lake. For a Rumford, see our Rumford fireplace in Superior, WI. However, if you want real heat from wood, look at a masonry heater instead. For an older fireplace that needs work, see our stone chimney and fireplace restoration page.
Thinking about a stone fireplace for your home? If so, we design and build custom fireplaces around Duluth, the North Shore, the Iron Range and northwest Wisconsin. So, give us a call at 218-343-2978 or request a quote below.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is this Lake Superior stone fireplace?
About 23 feet, with Lake Superior stone running the full height of the chimney breast.
What size is the firebox?
It is a 36 x 36 inch PriorFire Rosin firebox that we built by hand in firebrick.
Where did the stone come from?
As mentioned above, the homeowners hand-picked it at several places along the Lake Superior shore.
How do I get a quote on a stone fireplace?
Call 218-343-2978 or use our contact page. After we see the site, we price every fireplace from a written estimate.