help with major fire place project

[gizmos]

Hi guys,
I have a serious problem. My fireplace is a mess. There was an old massive wood-burning insert that I was using when I moved in. It never worked right and after a few burns I decided I needed to replace it. So I bought my stove, Jotul F3 CB and parts and brought them home.
I tore the monster of an insert out and hauled it to the dump, not even worth scraping. Now I need to fit the square peg in the round hole. Of course my firebox is smaller than every other firebox in the country. From the hearth to the top plate is only 21” and I need 25 ½” or 23 ¼” (with the short leg kit) for the stovepipe to clear the top plate. To add to insult, the hearth for the stove to sit on is 15” deep, which is too narrow. The front legs will be right on the edge. Of course when I measured around the old insert I though there would be more room. The rock used for the hearth is not flat and has different dimensions.
So…… It’s probably not worth the work, however, every project I do has major problems and rework. Nothings easy. I’m tearing out this mess and putting my stove in if it kills me.
In doing so, I will not make the hearth as long. Now it continues past the fireplace four feet to the wall. I want to push my TV back against the wall and gain more living room space.
I broke off some of the rock from the hearth and it looks like under the rock is snider block, the kind you would build a block wall with. I’m going to tear out the entire hearth.
Then what??? What would be the best thing to do?? If I ever sell my house, my stove is going with me, so I need to leave it with a working fireplace or ready for an insert of some kind. My wife and I are not big fans of the rock they used. Should I take it all out? It goes to the ceiling. Or should I leave the rock and lower the hearth???
If anyone has ideas or has seen some one deal with this kind of issue, please respond. I need all the advice I can get. I will try and post photos. Thank you for this great forum.

Mark

 

[Rudyjr]

Ask around in your area if anyone knows of a retired mason who does side work. This is what I did many years ago on the fireplace that is shown in my signature. It took me quite a while to find someone. I stopped at job sites and asked any trades people that I knew. Finally found a retired ex-union brick mason through a friend that knew a retired concrete contractor at our church. My fireplace was stone and in much worse shape than yours. I am sure you can find someone willing to work with you to remedy the situation if you ask around. In my case we became life long friends and we worked together on may jobs through the years. He is deceased now but I think of him everytime we use the stove.

 

[oconnor]

I would echo Rudy - be patient and find a mason you trust and who shares your vision of what the project should look like in the end.

 

[gizmos]

Thank you for the response.
I do know of a good mason, who can help me. I just need a plan. I would like to know if you would try and take the bottom of the firebox to the floor. I really like the idea of the stove on the floor. But I don't know how much work thats going to be and if thats going to make the fire place a "stove option" only fire place. The bottom of the firebox is about 14-15" off the floor. We have a concrete slab foundation. Whats under the firebox???? Is it solid brick or concrete? or is it filled with something else?

or option 2 is to lower the hearth even with the firebox (down 3 1/2" from where it is) and make the hearth out of a flat wide stone so the stove will fit on it.

Ill attach photos of examples of both ideas. I really would like to know whats under that firebox, if anyone knows?
thank you again.
Mark

 

[oconnor]

Is the fireplace on an outside wall? With you having a concrete slab foundation, you can really do whatever you want to allow a stove install, including taking the entire fireplace out and building whatever backing wall you want.

Perhaps a floorplan of your house might help with some ideas?

 

[gizmos]

Yes, the fire place is on an exterior wall. It the west side of the home, approx 35' foot wall for the living room and kitchen. If I start knocking brick out will the whole chimney come falling down?

 

[Rudyjr]

The best thing you can do is get together with the mason and let him tell you what can be done with the fireplace. If you want to maintain a fireplace there are certain things that need to be considered as far as opening dimension ratios.

 

[elmoleaf]

First I'd investigate those two vents in the sides of the firebox. It looks like they go straight out the side. Probably want to block those up.
If it was mine, I'd knock down the hearth extension to floor level, and make new hearth pad flush with the floor for the stove to sit in front of the existing chimmney. Leave the firebox height as is. Demo the stone facing. Perhaps close over firebox and add a thimble for stove pipe connection to a liner. Perhaps leave an access panel for cleaning the stove pipe.

 

[gizmos]

It appears that the metal box doors inside the fireplace lead to the outside of the chimney vents. I'm not sure why they did this? Anyone know what these are for? and there appears to be an access pannel on the outside of the chimney. Theres a metal plate.

 

[TreePapa]

It appears that the metal box doors inside the fireplace lead to the outside of the chimney vents. I'm not sure why they did this? Anyone know what these are for? and there appears to be an access pannel on the outside of the chimney. Theres a metal plate.

Early OAK (Outside Air Kit) ??

Peace,
- Sequoia

BTW, I second those who say to consult with a local mason before doing any demo on this FP and chimney. It's likely that the hearth (in front of firebox) is not a structural part of the FP and chimney, but the mason will be a lot better qualified to tell you than anyone just looking at pics on the net.

 

[gizmos]

Hi all,
Just wanted to give you an update on the project. Jack hammered out all 12 feet of hearth. Makes my living room look huge I called a friend of mine who's a mason and he helped me put the fireplace back together. Been shopping tile for the floor and then I'll be ready to get her in! I'll attach some photos.

 

[gizmos]

Rebuilding the fire place.