Insert Advice

Thanks Daksy!

Velvet, I think you are correct in saying all I need is ember protection. As for more permanent, I didn't realize the 12" ledge that was there wouldn't be adequate enough for an insert, mainly because I never researched them or thought about it till after the fact. I had a budget plan after we bought the house and so far I am surprisingly below that budget in doing the updates that I wanted so that's why I'm getting the insert this year instead of next year (not a bad thing). But had I planned to have the money, when I had the new hardwoods installed I would of added the extra protection then. Since they were just put in though I'd rather not disturb them. As for the brick surround I personally am not crazy about it and the wife HATES brick. I got a good friend who builds stone fireplaces for a living. He gave me a price of $600 to reface the surround in stone and I called and made an account at the factory for Thinstones. I can get all the stone I need for under $400 including me making the drive to pick it up. Delivery is actually almost MORE than the stone!! So it's a road trip.

DAKSY said:

Or here: http://ajhearthoriginals.com/

Click to expand...

I like that have a 12x48. But I don't like that they don't have any pictures of it on their website or pamphlet.

velvetfoot said:

I wound up cutting an extension out of the hardwood floor with a circular saw. The stove guy said I should've used one of those new recip. tools (Dremel, etc) - sure, he tells me after I did it. There were tiles over micore there that I took out and put in micore and tiles to replace them. It came out just a little higher than flush to the floor, which I liked. Some of those hearth pads look pretty nice though, but I bet they're not too cheap.

edit: the tiles I put in were stone, so they were a little thicker than ceramic, which was there first.

Click to expand...

I'm not the best carpenter. I like burning wood not making stuff out of it!! I've got to ask around on how much the hearth boards are...so far on the net I've seen them go from $85--$500. I guess the sky is the limit though. I emailed one of the companies already asking for a local dealer. It's funny, when I was just renting a house I didn't worry about the look so much but now since I own this house and hope to for a long time, I'm thinking more about what the finished product looks like than before. So I'm looking at aesthetics before I look at the cost. I guess you could say I want to buy it once and be done with it.

Stove is getting installed today!! Pics to follow.

Here she is!! NEXT...new stone face on the fireplace!!

velvetfoot said:

Sweet!

Although, I see nothing wrong with the brick look.
The front skirt comes right to the edgle of the bluestone (or whatever it's called).
You'd probably have to pull it out a little to put in the stone facing?

Click to expand...

I had them set the stove in with about a 1.25" gap behind it for the stone work. Then I can snug it back. I tried to plan my madness, lol.

Well after being jerked around for a month by the first guy I hired to do the fireplace I went with someone else. He was booked up for a week and a half but he told me it would take 3 days! And he delivered as promised!! He even came back on the fourth day after everything was dry to help me re-install the insert. I did buy a new piece of stone. $90 was a small price to pay to get rid of the seem in the middle...(do it once, do it right). So what do y'all think?

And before anyone says it...the fireproof hearth rug is already on order!