I have a fireplace question?
Friday, 12. March 2010
My husband and I recently uncovered a fireplace built into the wall in our basement. it’s been covered over for a couple years it looks like. We have a gas fireplace upstairs already. When we uncovered this one downstairs it looks like it’s got the fire pit itself and it’s been burned in. We don’t have the glass front part of it. My question is… what do we need for it? I don’t think we’d need an insert since it’s already got the firepit and stuff? Do places just sell the glass/metal part? what the heck is it called anyway? sorry to be such a girl…lol
it’s possible this one was sealed so that the one upstairs could work right…. opening this one might ruin what you got upstairs…. whatever you do, get a chimney sweep in there to check it out before you even THINK about putting a fire in it… he’ll tell you if the chimney needs cleaned or if it was blocked for the upstairs fire or what…. get it looked at so you’re safe, ok?…..if it’s been closed, you’ll need it cleaned anyways, so the inspection is the best idea since he’s out there anyhoo…..
http://www.google.com/search?q=glass+doors+for+fireplaces&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1
we got our glass doors at Lowe’s….
meanolmaw Says:
it’s possible this one was sealed so that the one upstairs could work right…. opening this one might ruin what you got upstairs…. whatever you do, get a chimney sweep in there to check it out before you even THINK about putting a fire in it… he’ll tell you if the chimney needs cleaned or if it was blocked for the upstairs fire or what…. get it looked at so you’re safe, ok?…..if it’s been closed, you’ll need it cleaned anyways, so the inspection is the best idea since he’s out there anyhoo…..
http://www.google.com/search?q=glass+doors+for+fireplaces&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1
we got our glass doors at Lowe’s….
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rosco Says:
Hi ,If this home is an older home,I would hire a chimney sweep to look at that liner inside before you go buying things.You do not what a fire .Good Luck
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Dr. Strangelove Says:
You need to inspect the chimney before you light it. There may have been a problem and that’s the reason it’s covered up. If you’re not sure about this, call a mason contractor if it’s a masonry chimney and get a professional opinion. You don’t want to burn down your house.
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I’m a builder
Elite Says:
From one girl to another, that’s how we learn. Asking questions and expanding our horizons so to speak.
The front of your fire place glass is just what it is. Its a frame with glass and if you google fireplace glass front, it will pull up information for those surround systems. Or you can just use a screen but you should have a fireproof mat in front to protect the floor. Carpet and wood floors should be set back from the face of the fireplace to prevent ignition from popping embers and such.
However, one must ask why the fireplace was covered in the first place. You do not want to burn a fire, screen or no screen until you know the answer to this question.
Was it because the gas fireplace was installed and they used the existing chase or chimney from the basement to vent it? This would mean the fireplace downstairs can no longer vent.
The chimney could be capped off. Maybe the mortor has decayed or isnt sealed properly to prevent flames from escaping? Go look at your roof. You should have various small pipes venting sewer gas from the sinks and toilets. You should have a vent for your heating system. Is there a chimney or a chimney pipe?
Gas venting is different than actual fireplace chimneys. Vent pipes run up and out of the roof via a chase which is a box built to contain the exhaust pipe for the gas stove. Wood burning stoves also vent via pipe which has to be made specifically to penetrate floors and roofs. A chimney is constructed to vent smoke from flames and usually stands alone. It is not typical to share a chimney with another vented pipe system.
I would run a video inspection camera up that entire chimney from the basement to see what is there and what kind of shape it is in. Then, have a professional fireplace installer look at the dvd of it. They might even have the video camera capability also. If they don’t, your local plumber has camera’s they use in sewer systems that reach 300 feet and might be able to do it for you. Note that plumbers do not deal with soot and ash so it might be a messy job. They can camera from roof sewer vents (at least my crews do) and I would have them start there on the chimney while you seal the front of the pire pit to prevent escaping soot. Creosote is greasy and hard to clean up so remove the plastic very slow to prevent a puff of debris into your home. This will also prevent them from pulling the reel of cable into your home after they have inspected it. Removal is done outside.
Fireplace builders are required to pull permits and build these vent systems, chimneys and chaseway’s per fire code. You also may need approval from the fire department to even use the chimney again so check what permits were issued in the past for your home. If that chimney was required to be abandoned, it may not be in shape to use.
Last, does your city allow wood burning. Most major city’s have made it illegal to burn fossil fuels like wood unless in an efficient current rated wood or pellet stove. I’d hate for you to get your fireplace all ready only to find out you can’t even use it.
References :
20 years Utility Infrastructure and Commercial Construction.
http://www.denverpipe.com