Hi guys, my name is Brian Dolan and have a small masonry company called B.C.D. Masonry. I have been trying to find an answer to a fireplace opening issue without much success.
I have a customer who on the advice of another mason had some very ornate stonework carved for a fireplace surround for a 14 inch wide opening. He has a brick chimney without any flue tiles. The opening in the wall into the chimney has to be made and the maximum depth of the chimney is 14 inches. I know the fireplace has to be built proportionally for it work properly but everything I’ve read only gives dimensions for a minimum width of 24 inches and upwards. I realise it will be a very small fireplace opening and he only wants to use it occasionally in the winter, and its more for the asthetic value rather than heat value. Any advice you could give as to whether its possible to have such an opening would be gratefully appreciated. I haven’t been able to find an insert or firebox that small either. Thankyou. Brian.
Replies
>>He has a brick chimney without any flue tiles.
Don't touch the job - a fireplace without a flue liner is a significant hazard. Why "buy" someone elses' mistake and liability - last one to touch it and all that.
Even if the homeowner agrees to hold you harmless, he might sell the place and your liability would run to a stranger
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Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
Edited 3/7/2005 11:17 am ET by Bob Walker
A few questions immediately come to mind:
1) Sounds like you're trying to tie the fireplace into an existing chimney?
2) An unlined one at that?
3) Anything else hooked into the chimney?