Neighbor needs help!

[JRJ]

OK so my neighbor was in the process of roofing his house. During a complete tearoff, storm comes, rips off tar paper and dumps a couple inches rain in. Long story short, insulation gets saturated, ceilings fall in...bad deal. Actually very bad deal cuz insurance company won't return his calls now. He is now living in a 14' pull behind camper. For 3 months now. He began doing the removal and clean- up all on his own. And on his dime.

Question is, he's down to the studs/rafters throughout the entire house. In between the kitchen and living room, he had an old wood burning fireplace open on both sides. Heatilator maybe. I have him talked into ripping that junk out and get an insert or set a stove on a hearth within. What are his options to make non-combustable clearance on the kitchen side because wifey already ordered kitchen cabinets to hang above where fireplace was. I know, sounds confusing. He had a local dealer come out and said it couldn't be done. Any suggestions? Kitchen has the tile in front. Thanks men!



Sorry I messed up pics

 

[begreen]

His best bet might be a complete tear out of the current fireplace leaving the kitchen wall intact and sealing the opening. Then replace the chimney with new class A pipe and a new hearth with appropriate stove.

 

[JRJ]

That's the plan. How would you seal it properly? Dura-Rock?

 

[begreen]

That depends on the hearth design. If the new stove clearances are honored then it can be studs and sheetrock. There are a lot of close clearance woodstoves on the market so that should work out as long as a new stove is used. On the hearth side of the studs you could use cement board if the intent is to cover with a veneer of tile, brick,stone, etc..