how to fit an insert if the oversize face plate is 1" too short

[phenolic]

i'm a newbie looking to finally get some use out of our fireplace and leaning towards having a wood burning insert and chimney liner installed in our 1940's masonry fireplace and currently unlined chimney.

Aesthetics is pretty important to my wife and she's taken a liking to the regency hampton hi200. the dealer said that the oversize faceplate is an inch sort for our fireplace and i'm wondering if there is a way to shim it up with bricks or something and still look good or if we need to look at different insert options that will fit better or possibly having someone come in and rebuild the hearth so it's a 2-3 inches taller.

 

[Delta-T]

you could have a metal fabricator build you a lil extension for the top of the surround to make up the inch. probably wouldn't cost you very much at all.

 

[Jags]

Yep, time for a custom surround. It is not totally rare to hear of this.

 

[Delta-T]

Yep, time for a custom surround. It is not totally rare to hear of this.

If you decide to go full on custom...i suggest some diamond plate stainless steel.....and some strobing led lights across the top...it makes for a real eye catcher, or something with fur.....heat resistant of course. :cheese:

 

[phenolic]

diamond plate and fur....not sure if the wife will go for that :roll:

i guess we need to consider other options that may be a better fit for our space then to try customize our space or the surround to make a particular model fit.

any downside to getting an insert that is bigger then we need? i seem to remember reading about increase creosote/decreased efficiency when the stove is running at less then certain temp so doing smaller burns in a big stove may not be ideal??

our house is ~1600ft and the living room where the fireplace is located isn't overly large, maybe 200ft. dining room is connected by two door size openings and is about the same size. i was thinking something rated 40-50K would be good and it seems like a 70K btu would be overkill and may cook us out.

 

[Jags]

Don't let the custom surround scare you. It really isn't that uncommon of a thing.

But I am really thinking Chrome. Chrome is always classy.

 

[Delta-T]

+1, custom surround is very common, and should cause no stress. we do a couple dozen every year. if you can't do diamond plate, then chrome is, as Jags says....classy.

 

[phenolic]

looking at the insert's clearance requirements it says we need a min hearth thickness of 1.5" and ours is ~3/4" so rebuilding the hearth and bottom of the fireplace to make it 2-3 tall may be the way to go as it would solve the clearance requirement and would also allow the oversize surround to fit.

is rebuilding the hearth as easy as removing the old tiles then laying down a course or two of bricks and topping it off with a nicer tile or piece of cut stone? should i consider getting some brick/tile/mortar and do this myself or would it be best to hire a stone mason?

 

[Jags]

looking at the insert's clearance requirements it says we need a min hearth thickness of 1.5" and ours is ~3/4" so rebuilding the hearth and bottom of the fireplace to make it 2-3 tall may be the way to go as it would solve the clearance requirement and would also allow the oversize surround to fit.

is rebuilding the hearth as easy as removing the old tiles then laying down a course or two of bricks and topping it off with a nicer tile or piece of cut stone? should i consider getting some brick/tile/mortar and do this myself or would it be best to hire a stone mason?

It is up to you and your talents, but I don't see any reason to why you couldn't add to what is already there. No reason for fancy tile or cut stone because you will not see it anyways. I recommend that you double check this approach with someone more knowledgeable than I am on hearth building, but I would look into that route.

Edit: Whoops - I was referring to firebox, not the actual "visible" hearth part. Again, you may be able to add to the existing, but check with someone smarter on the subject than I am.