Firebox repair

[jotulburner]

Bought new house a few months ago knew from chimney inspection wood stove install wasn't code. Just pulled the old All Nighter woodstove out of the fireplace. To my surprise found 5 or 6 missing bricks completely gone near the top of the firebox where it attaches to damper. The old owners must have removed them when they got loose and just kept on using the stove My building Inspector missed it during inspection and I also had an independent chimney inspection and he missed it. So this is all a big surprise not budgeted for. We are planning on installing insert when we can afford it. My question is do I need to have entire firebox rebuilt or can they just repair missing bricks or can I get away with not doing much if I plan on insert and liner. Also Any Ideas on cost of firebox repair a ball park estimate would help me allot thx. I want it done right but we are pretty low on cash till next year so any ideas of cheap fix would help in the short term.

 

[bholler]

If you are planning on using it as an open fireplace those bricks need replaced but no need to redo the whole thing. If you are not going to use it untill you put an insert in there no need to do anything.

 

[jotulburner]

If you are planning on using it as an open fireplace those bricks need replaced but no need to redo the whole thing. If you are not going to use it untill you put an insert in there no need to do anything.

will they need to be replaced when I put in the insert? Thx

 

[bholler]

No they dont need to be there for a properly installed insert. and theymay have been removed in order to get the old insert in there are lots of times that a few bricks are pulled to make room for the insert or liner

 

[jotulburner]

No they may have been removed in order to get the old insert in there are lots of times that a few bricks are pulled to make room for the insert or liner

Interesting that all nighter was 24 inchs deep wonder if it hit and thats why they took them out. I appreciate the info Ive had other wood stoves in fireplace openings but the brick was always in great shape. seeing the loose mortar and rubble really freaked me out.

 

[Nick Mystic]

It sounds like this insert didn't have a SS flex liner attached to it, correct? If that is the case, then you do need to plan on installing such a liner when you put the insert back in place. I don't believe slammer installations are legal in most places any longer. The price on installing a liner of course can vary greatly depending upon how tall your chimney is and whether you get an insulated liner or non-insulated liner. Also, you can usually save several hundred dollars by doing the installation yourself. Good Luck.

 

[jotulburner]

It sounds like this insert didn't have a SS flex liner attached to it, correct? If that is the case, then you do need to plan on installing such a liner when you put the insert back in place. I don't believe slammer installations are legal in most places any longer. The price on installing a liner of course can vary greatly depending upon how tall your chimney is and whether you get an insulated liner or non-insulated liner. Also, you can usually save several hundred dollars by doing the installation yourself. Good Luck.

I am planning on a liner and flush insert what I just removed was just big wood stove crammed in the fireplace with 4 ft pipe crammed up the flue with rockwool crammed around the pipe