Hello all-
A neighbor has a woodburning fireplace in his basement. The fireplace is flush with the inside surface of the concrete foundation wall – the chimney runs outside of the foundation. There is no hearth or mantel.
He wants to cover it up for three reasons: He never uses it, it’s drafty in the winter, and he could use the wall space to put furniture against.
The basement walls have been previously furred out with 2x4s, insulated and sheetrocked. So the fireplace is exposed but inset about 4 inches from the surface of the drywall. He wants to create an insulated cover to fit this recess – sheetrock with rigid foam behind it – that will be flush with the drywall, but removable for access if ever neccessary.
Does this sound okay? Any serious safety concerns?
-Doug Ranney
Replies
No safety problems I can see unless this flue has inadvertantly been acting as a supply for makeup air to other appliances in the house.
Other than closing off the wall, there are two other things I would recommend to avoid other problems in the future.
I would fit a foam panel inside the FP openning and caulk to have it sealed against air flow, or warm moist air will be drawn in where it could condense and end up looking like a leak or feeding mold.
I would also cap the top of the flue off to keep rain out and to slow energy loss. If you are in a climate where winter freezing occours, you do no want ANY moisture to enter or remain in that flue or it will destroy the chimney over time
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< warm moist air will be drawn in where it could condense and end up looking like a leak or feeding mold.>
Yep - we can always tell if we've left a fireplace damper open and it's gotten warmer outside than inside - we can smell wood ash in that room.
Noticed it last night in the kitchen when it was 92º at 10 PM.
Forrest
Thanks. I will relay your recommendations.