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Important Pre-installation Information

Overview

YouwillndthattheGrand MeridianFireplaceisdesignedfor
completeassemblyatyourconstructionsitewithallnecessary
itemsdeliveredconsistingofinterlockingprecastparts, 50lbs.
ofmortarandrebar.
Thepartsofthereplacearemadeofincrediblystrongblendof
specialtycementandalightweightaggregate.
Thedesignofthereplacecallsfortheinstallationofarefractory
rebrickliner.This shouldbea minimumof 1-1/8”thick.The
linerwill be applied within the walls of the rebox. Modular
rebrickpanelsarealsoavailablefromFMIPRODUCTS,LLC.

Additional Materials Required:

1)Ready-Mixconcrete-2cu.ft.
SURFACE CRACKS-TheGrandMeridian FIREPLACESare
manufacturedusing high quality materials. During the drying
process,surfacecrackingmayoccur.Thesesmallcracks(under
1/16”willnotaffectthereplacesafetyorperformance).During
theassembly process, ll surface cracks with thin-set mortar
andbrushwhendryingforasmoothsurfacenish.

Leveling and Aligning Components:

Itisimportanttoassembleall Vent-Freereplacecomponents
ush,level and square. Since it is not intended that mortar
beusedto laya mortarjointof anymeasurablethickness as
istypicalwhen laying brick or concrete block, adjustments in
componentheightandlevelalignmentsareaccomplishedwith
theuseofsmallshims.Theseshimscanbetappedintoplaceto
levelandaligncomponents.OncetheMortar isset,theshims
mustberemovedcompletely.
Besureto re-groutanyand allgapswhere shimshavebeen
insertedand then removed or where contact surfaces have
beenseparatedbyshimleveling.

Field Assembly Procedures

1) Mixingthemortar–Youwillrequirea50lb.bucketofmortar
whichwillbemore thanenoughto adequatelyafxall the
replacecomponents,onetothenext.Themortarispremixed
anddryandistobeusedtoadhereallthereplacecomponents.
Besuretousecleanwaterandworkitupintoamixturethat
ispastybutnot lumpy.Ifitistoothin, thecomponentswill
notadhere.Sometrialanderrormaybenecessary.Youwill
wanttoapplythemixturewithastandardgroutbag.
2) Moisten all surfaces which will have grout applied prior
to assembly. This will minimize shrinkage and cracks
developinginthejointareas.Bestwaytoaccomplishthisis
withabucketofwaterandalargesponge.Dipspongeinto
waterandapplyaliberalamountof watertothegroutjoint
surfaceseveralminutesbeforethepartistobeassembled.
Thewaterwillabsorbintothesurface allowingthegroutto
properlycure.
3)Assemblyof the Components – Once you have found the
properconsistencyofthemixture,loaditintothe��groutbag
andthenplacethecomponentstogetherapplyingthemixture
directlytothecomponentswheretheycometogether.Asa
rule,youcangurethatyoushouldlaydownabout½”(one-
halfinch)ofathreadofmortar.Thelineofmortarshouldbe
approximately½”(one-halfinch)awayfromalltheedgesof
eachseparatecomponent.
 Themortarhasaconsiderableamountofholdingpowerso
donotoverloadthecomponentswithtoomuchmortar.
4)Youwill notice that some mortar will “ooze out” when you
placethenextcomponentontopofornexttothecomponent
youpreviouslyplace.Thisistobeexpected–itmeansthe
twopieces have properly bonded -- and you will want to
swipetheexcess awaywith atrowel.It isnever intended
thatthesurfaces ofthe componentsareto becompletely
coveredwithmortar.
5)Donotapplythemortarinthickbandsevenifthecomponent
youareworkingwithislargerthantherest.Youwillwantto
apply“stripes”ofmortarinthesesituations.
6)Making Sure Components Are Level – It is extremely
importantthat you pay careful attention to how you are
assemblingthe replace. Since every component builds
onthenext, it is critical, that from the beginning, you are
checkingthatthecomponentsarettingtogethertobelevel
andush.Ifyou havetomake anykindof anadjustment,
donottrytodoit“byloadinganopening”withmortar.That
iscompletelyunacceptable,resultinginareplacethat will
notbeplumborlevel.Whatyouare advisedtodoismake
useofshims.Youwillndthesesuppliedwiththereplace
andyoucan nudgethemin betweenopeningsto achieve
theprecisionyouneedinmakingcomponentadjustments.
7) Onceyouhaveremoved theshims,youwillwanttocover
anygapsthatmayhaveresultedwiththegrout.

Warning:Allsurfaceswheregroutisappliedmust

havewater sponged on several minutes prior to

assembly.Thiswillminimizecrackingofgroutjoint

andprovidemaximumstrength.