Rumford Fireplace in Superior, WI

This Rumford fireplace stands in a home in Superior, Wisconsin. Solid Rock Masonry LLC built it around a 3 x 3 foot Rumford firebox, with a firebrick accent wall beside it. In addition, we hand-picked the Minnesota granite at a quarry near St. Cloud, including a 12-foot granite mantel stone. A 1-inch steel hearth and a matching steel wood box finish it off. 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, Superior, 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

Minnesota granite Rumford with a 12-foot stone lintel, steel doors and a steel hearth with wood storage near Superior, WI — The finished Rumford fireplace with our SR-36FB doors, the 12-foot granite mantel and the steel hearth.

What is a Rumford fireplace?

A Rumford fireplace is tall and shallow, with widely angled sides and a streamlined throat. That shape throws more heat into the room. The design is named for Count Rumford, born Benjamin Thompson, who wrote about it in 1796 and 1798, according to rumford.com.

Because a Rumford is so shallow, building code treats it differently. The 2024 International Residential Code, section R1001.6, requires most masonry fireboxes to be at least 20 inches deep. However, it allows a Rumford at not less than 12 inches deep and not less than one-third of the opening width (IRC 2024, Chapter 10).

Where did the granite for this Rumford fireplace come from?

First, we went to a granite quarry near St. Cloud, Minnesota, and picked the stone by hand. We also picked out the big mantel stone there. Hand-picking lets us choose color and shape for the face before a single stone reaches the job.

Granite quarry near St. Cloud, MN where the stone for a Rumford fireplace was hand-picked — First, the granite quarry near St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Quarry floor at a St. Cloud, MN granite quarry — The quarry floor where we picked the stone.

Piles of Minnesota granite at the St. Cloud quarry — Then we sorted through the granite piles by hand.

How did we build the firebox and hearth?

Next, we laid the firebrick hearth and the concrete block base of the Rumford fireplace. Then the firebox walls and the firebrick accent wall went up beside it. After that, we set the steel hearth in front of the firebox.

Firebrick hearth and block base for a Rumford fireplace in Superior, WI — Next, the firebrick hearth and block base.

Firebrick hearth and concrete block backing for a Rumford fireplace — The block backing behind the firebox.

Firebrick accent wall rising beside a Rumford fireplace — Then the firebrick accent wall goes up.

Steel hearth set in front of a Rumford fireplace firebox — After that, the steel hearth goes in.

How was the granite laid?

We split and laid the Minnesota granite course by course around the Rumford fireplace firebox. Meanwhile, the steel wood box went into the stone on the side, where it is easy to reach.

Split Minnesota granite stone ready to lay on a fireplace — Split granite, ready to lay.

First courses of Minnesota granite on a Rumford fireplace — The first courses of granite.

Minnesota granite laid around the base of a Rumford fireplace — Granite around the base of the fireplace.

Granite and firebrick at the corner of a Rumford fireplace — Meanwhile, granite and firebrick meet at the corner.

Steel wood box built into the side of a stone fireplace — The steel wood box set into the side.

Minnesota granite pier beside a Rumford fireplace — A granite pier beside the firebox.

Granite piers and firebrick accent wall on a Rumford fireplace — Both piers and the firebrick accent wall.

How does the chimney go up?

Then the block chimney for the Rumford fireplace rose with the flue inside it. In other words, all the structure was built and checked before the rest of the stone went on.

Rumford fireplace masonry and block chimney on scaffolding — Then the masonry and block chimney on scaffolding.

Clay flue tile set in the block chimney of a Rumford fireplace — The flue tile smoke chamber inside the block chimney.

Clay flue tile inside the block chimney — Another view of the flue tile.

Flue tile set in a bed of mortar in the chimney — Next, the mica insulation around the smoke chamber.

Flue and block chimney shell rising — The smoke chamber and insulation are capped with mortar.

Round flue connection in the block chimney — A round flue connection in the chimney.

Round flue section rising in the chimney — Then the stainless steel flue section rising.

Thinking about a Rumford fireplace for your home? If so, we design and build custom fireplaces around Duluth, Superior, the North Shore, the Iron Range and northwest Wisconsin. So, give us a call at 218-343-2978 or request a quote below.

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How did we set a 12-foot granite lintel on this Rumford fireplace?

The lintel stone is about 12 feet long, roughly 24 inches tall and about 12 inches deep. By our estimate, it weighs several thousand pounds. Also, the roof was already on, so a crane was out of the question.

Instead, we set it with a telehandler. The job took about 2 hours, because we kept adjusting the height with pallets until the stone sat exactly where it belonged.

Telehandler set up to lift a 12-foot granite mantel stone into a house in Superior, WI — First, the telehandler set up outside the house.

Giant granite mantel stone on cribbing inside the house — The lintel stone on cribbing inside. Notice the tele handler arm within inches of the beams.

12-foot Minnesota granite mantel stone set over a Rumford fireplace — Then the 12-foot granite lintel held in place temporarily with a strap until the mortar sets.

Granite mantel set over the firebrick of a Rumford fireplace — The lintel over the firebox opening.

Granite stonework going up above the mantel of a Rumford fireplace — Next, granite goes up above the lintel.

Block chimney rising through the roof — Then the chimney rises through the roof.

Chimney through the roof ready for stone — The chimney, with roof scaffolding.

Minnesota granite chimney above the roof in Superior, WI — Afterward, granite on the chimney above the roof.

Finished granite chimney above the roofline — The finished granite chimney.

Finished Rumford fireplace in Minnesota granite with a 12-foot granite mantel and steel hearth in Superior, WI — Finally, the finished Rumford fireplace before the doors went on.

What finishes the hearth and the wood box?

The Rumford fireplace hearth is 1-inch-thick steel. Our welder finished it with gun bluing, and he gave the steel wood box the same finish. As a result, the steel reads dark and even next to the granite.

Can you build a Rumford fireplace near Duluth or Superior?

Yes. We work within about 1.5 hours of Duluth, including Superior and northwest Wisconsin. For more of our work, see the project gallery. Also, three Rosin fireplaces we built are the Luhrsen Lake Superior stone fireplace, the Corinthian granite fireplace on Island Lake and the Montana ledgestone fireplace near Cook.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is this Rumford fireplace?

It is in a home in Superior, Wisconsin.

What size is the firebox?

The Rumford firebox opening is 3 feet by 3 feet.

Where did the granite come from?

We hand-picked the stone and the mantel at a granite quarry near St. Cloud, Minnesota.

How big is the mantel stone?

It is about 12 feet long, roughly 24 inches tall and about 12 inches deep. We set it with a telehandler.

What is the hearth made of?

The hearth is 1-inch-thick steel. Our welder finished it, and the matching steel wood box, with gun bluing.

Does the fireplace have doors?

Yes. After the build, we added a set of our SR-36FB fireplace doors.

Rumford Fireplace in Superior, WI with St. Cloud Granite and a Steel Hearth