Need some ideas

[realstihl]

I started demolition on the basement alcove. You can see where I had the problems with clearance at the front. I plan on replacing those with steel studs. As I understood in a previous post, if the ceiling height is 7' or more it isn't considered an alcove. My problem is trying to hide the pipe at the top. I need some ideas. The bottom of the chimney pipe is about how high the tile will come down.


Here's some more pics

 

[webby3650]

What's the reason for trying to hide the pipe? I'm not real sure what you mean, are you thinking of putting a header across the opening just to hide the chimney?

 

[realstihl]

Yes, there will be a header.

 

[Jags]

I don't think I am getting the big picture. Is there something visually unappealing about the black connector pipe?

 

[realstihl]

Here some pics of what I went with. Construction is with all steel studs including header covered with cement board. I used the stud cavity as the spacing. In the pics you can see the bottom stud vent holes. I didn't use the cheapo studs from the box stores because I thought they might be to flimsy. I found them at a place that specializes in drywall supplies only. The cheap studs were 3 bucks and the good commercial ones were 6. Sheet metal is one of my old trades so it wasn't too hard to mate up the verticals on the header. I guess there's nothing much that will burn around the stove now. Next weekend we'll be installing the tile. No more arch.

 

[realstihl]

Here's the finished project. I'm not too sure about the tile combination but it will work and is functional.