Please help, need advice.
Just had an Avalon Ranier insert professionally installed in a preexisting ZC fireplace.
I also had a stone facade built to cover the entire preexisting mantle area that surrounds the old ZC fireplace.
Behind the stone work and what was behind the old mantle is the to code gypsum board/drywall that came down flush to the top of the old ZC fireplace insert top face per the instructions for the ZC fireplace.
Where the stone work extends across the opening of the fireplace a 2" wide piece of L shaped steel is used to support the stonework above. Above the L shaped support, the stonework and mortar back up flush to the preexisting drwyall. However, at the very bottom of the stone work where it spans the fireplace opening, there is a 1/2" gap between the back of the stone and the very top of the front face of the old ZC insert. This gap only extends 2 inches upward (vertical) and terminates where the mortar/stone work back up flush against the preexisting gypsum board.
MY QUESTION IS: What type of material is best to fill this slight gap.... the gap does not affect the integrity of the properly installed ZC fireplace, BUT the new avalon insert (as directed in the manual) sticks out of the old ZC fire box several inches and i dont want heat from the top of the stove to get trapped in that gap. I want to seal/fill that gap direct all the heat (even with the blower working) out into the room and dont want a dead end void for heat to get trapped into.
Is grout/mortar safe to use for filling a gap.
The installer left me hanging on this and i want to quickly finish it up. It shouldnt be hard at all to do, I have done lots of stone/tile work with mortar and grouts..... I just want to know what the proper material to use is that is the safest.
PLEASE HELP.
thanks
Just had an Avalon Ranier insert professionally installed in a preexisting ZC fireplace.
I also had a stone facade built to cover the entire preexisting mantle area that surrounds the old ZC fireplace.
Behind the stone work and what was behind the old mantle is the to code gypsum board/drywall that came down flush to the top of the old ZC fireplace insert top face per the instructions for the ZC fireplace.
Where the stone work extends across the opening of the fireplace a 2" wide piece of L shaped steel is used to support the stonework above. Above the L shaped support, the stonework and mortar back up flush to the preexisting drwyall. However, at the very bottom of the stone work where it spans the fireplace opening, there is a 1/2" gap between the back of the stone and the very top of the front face of the old ZC insert. This gap only extends 2 inches upward (vertical) and terminates where the mortar/stone work back up flush against the preexisting gypsum board.
MY QUESTION IS: What type of material is best to fill this slight gap.... the gap does not affect the integrity of the properly installed ZC fireplace, BUT the new avalon insert (as directed in the manual) sticks out of the old ZC fire box several inches and i dont want heat from the top of the stove to get trapped in that gap. I want to seal/fill that gap direct all the heat (even with the blower working) out into the room and dont want a dead end void for heat to get trapped into.
Is grout/mortar safe to use for filling a gap.
The installer left me hanging on this and i want to quickly finish it up. It shouldnt be hard at all to do, I have done lots of stone/tile work with mortar and grouts..... I just want to know what the proper material to use is that is the safest.
PLEASE HELP.
thanks
