Old Coal Fireplace HELP!!!!!

[RSTING69]

We are trying to sell my mom's house, it was built in 1903 and has had an old coal fireplace which has not been used in over 50+ years well before I was born. The front has a cover and was sealed off when i was a kid but I remember it being shallow and having a hole in the bottom.

Well we have a contract buyer on the house, however, the lender is requiring that the fireplace be functional before they will provide the buyer with the loan. We have a masonary specialist coming to look at it this weekend however, I was hoping someone could tell me what the best route to take was. The lender is stating that the fireplace just needs to be functional. I am guessing it is too shallow to be a wood burner since it was a coal burner. I have no idea what the condition of the chimney is or if it even has a flute, I do remember as a kid birds always getting down inside the chimney.

Does anyone have a ballpark of what its probably going to cost to get the fireplace "functional" and yeah they gave us 2 weeks before closing to get this done now.......

 

[Wisneaky]

We are trying to sell my mom's house, it was built in 1903 and has had an old coal fireplace which has not been used in over 50+ years well before I was born. The front has a cover and was sealed off when i was a kid but I remember it being shallow and having a hole in the bottom.

Well we have a contract buyer on the house, however, the lender is requiring that the fireplace be functional before they will provide the buyer with the loan. We have a masonary specialist coming to look at it this weekend however, I was hoping someone could tell me what the best route to take was. The lender is stating that the fireplace just needs to be functional. I am guessing it is too shallow to be a wood burner since it was a coal burner. I have no idea what the condition of the chimney is or if it even has a flute, I do remember as a kid birds always getting down inside the chimney.

Does anyone have a ballpark of what its probably going to cost to get the fireplace "functional" and yeah they gave us 2 weeks before closing to get this done now.......

It could cost a lot or it could be a little. Why would they care if it works?

 

[Grisu]

I recommend getting a certified sweep to take a look and maybe also give you an estimate. Here you can search: http://www.csia.org/search and http://nficertified.org/pages_consumers/consumers-1.cfm But, of course, you are looking during the busiest time of the year.

 

[begreen]

Functional is ambiguous, especially if designed for a shallow coal burner that's no longer available. Would bricking it up be another option?

 

[RSTING69]

It could cost a lot or it could be a little. Why would they care if it works?

My moms realtor told my brother and I that the buyers lender is a conventional loan and they are requiring it to be functional even though we disclosed at the onset of the sale of the house that the fireplace was not functional. They have not said what "functional" means, I could make it functional with an electric stove tossed in the opening for that matter.......

 

[RSTING69]

Functional is ambiguous, especially if designed for a shallow coal burner that's no longer available. Would bricking it up be another option?

I am not sure if bricking it up would be an option. I am guessing the lender is probably worried the buyer is going to try and fix it themselves and burn the house down. Its a nightmare, we disclosed it was not working when we listed it so I would guess the lender has known this up until yesterday when we had the lender sent an appraiser out and now it has to be functional.

 

[begreen]

Sounds like a paper pusher response. I would ask for a clear definition of functional. And also ask whether blocking it off is an option if making it functional is not advised by a professional sweep due to previously mentioned design issues.

Worst case scenario you lose the buyer or they find another lender.

 

[RSTING69]

Sounds like a paper pusher response. I would ask for a clear definition of functional. And also ask whether blocking it off is an option if making it functional is not advised by a professional sweep due to previously mentioned design issues.

Worst case scenario you lose the buyer or they find another lender.

I asked her realtor to check into both and I know the home was built in 1903 and as I said the fireplace has not been functional in over 50+ years so once they pull off the front steel cover I cannot imagine what they will find behind it and as GRISU said, its the busy time of year for these guys, took me calling 4 to get one response that was willing to come out without charging us for a quote.

So if they were to convert it to say Gas, which I am going to guess is the least costly or should I say labor intensive option as the box I am sure is too shallow for wood burning, would this require the chimney to be reworked as well or vented in some way? Fortunately my moms furnace is within 10 feet from the bottom of the chimney so would be a short run for a gas line. The chimney runs up through an attic and is quite tall on the roof portion just guessing but maybe 15' tall.

Thank you all for the help and input, will let you all know what the Masonist quotes or says come sunday.

 

[begreen]

A gas log set may be the cheapest option if safe. Hope the buyer's offer is worth it. Is this the only contingency?

 

[Wisneaky]

A gas log set may be the cheapest option if safe. Hope the buyer's offer is worth it. Is this the only contingency?

Sounds more like a buyer request than a lenders request.

 

[RSTING69]

A gas log set may be the cheapest option if safe. Hope the buyer's offer is worth it. Is this the only contingency?

It was a good offer buyer is willing to split cost or take on more which has my spidey senses tingling as to why they would be willing to do that and just say theyll fix it professionally on purchase....seems odd...only contingency at this point

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah a 1903 chimney isn't gonna pass inspection for wood burning lately. Gas log set is the way to go. And I agree with Wisneaky, buyer is using the lender excuse. Like I did with an inspector one time.

 

[bholler]

Either a gas coal basket of a gas insert is really the only option. We have done several inserts in this type of fireplace there are a few out there that look like an old coal unit. They can almost never be made to burn wood and even putting a traditional gas log set in there is usually not possible.

 

[begreen]

What usually prevents a gas log set from being an option? Too shallow?

 

[begreen]

RSTING69, are you having a certified sweep look at this setup or a mason? They may have differing opinions. If you need to find a sweep type in your zip code here: www.csia.org

 

[bholler]

What usually prevents a gas log set being an option? Too shallow?

To shallow no floor unfinished back no damper ect. If it has a cover and no bottom it was probably built for a coal burning insert they were usually never a fireplace and never finished that way at all. Yes you may be able to gut what is there and build a small rumford with a liner run from it if the flue is big enough but that is allot of money. At least $5000

 

[begreen]

To shallow no floor unfinished back no damper ect. If it has a cover and no bottom it was probably built for a coal burning insert they were usually never a fireplace and never finished that way at all. Yes you may be able to gut what is there and build a small rumford with a liner run from it if the flue is big enough but that is allot of money. At least $5000

In that case is a freestanding, rear-vent stove on a proper hearth with full insulated liner an option?

 

[bholler]

In that case is a freestanding, rear-vent stove on a proper hearth with full insulated liner an option?

There is usually not room for a liner that is the problem. But if there is yes that would work well