In my family room on one wall I am going to be putting a gas fireplace, built-in entertainment center and some bookcases. I haven’t decided on what gas fireplace yet and really don’t want to because by the time I am ready for it they will probalby have a new model. But before I put up the support framing I want to make sure I leave enough room for the fireplace. I also want to make use with as much room as I can so I guess what I am really concerned about is making sure I leave enough clearance for whatever model I get.
I am sure you guys must have jobs where a gas fireplace is called for but the unit isn’t there and you have no idea what the actual size is. I can’t imagine you stop the project to wait for it.
So how much room do you leave for it?
Thanks,
Steve
Replies
I'd leave a 3' square opening. That should cover just about any fireplace insert I've seen.
And it'a a lot easier to make a big hole smaller than a small hole bigger.
If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.
Thanks for the quick response Boss. What about depth?
Depth ???
With rare exceptions, all the fireplaces I see are sitting on joists cantilevered out 2' on exterior walls.
Saw one the other day that had me baffled. It was a see-through fireplace between the master bedroom and the great room. Guess you'd have to wait until the kids were gone to get a little nookie............(-:Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
Sorry, I left out this is an interior wall. So I am building the framing around it. The bookcases, gas fireplace, etc will all be flush, relatively.
Steve, The standard builders model fireplace insert I've been framing has been 42" wide . We leave a 48" high opening because if you have to put an elbow on it needs that extra height to slip into place as well as leaving room for 2" clearence for your flue.
We end up putting a 2x8 on edge across the opening after the unit is in place if you frame a wall straight down at 3 1/2" it will be closer than the 2" clearance that you need.
This is of course assuming that the insert will burn wood as well as gas .
"you can always build smaller than starting to cut "up/larger.""
How does that work? If I have drywall, bookcases, tv/entertainment cabinets in how do you build up? I guess I just thought there might be a rough in standard. But I guess that's one appliance that's purchased even before the framing?
I think he was referring to the rough opening, you can always build it smaller easier than making it larger. Either way is a cob job, and if I don't have a size I frame right by it.
The problem I am having with this is you should pick a unit out. If at the time you purchase the unit is not the same, then deal with it then. The whole concept is Mickey Mouse.
OK maybe I am looking at it wrong. Long story short. I removed a huge, old brick fireplace which left a large hole. I have filled in the hole but I've decided to finish it with an entertainment center/bookcases/gas fireplace. The fireplace is a ways off becuase I have to plumb the gas to it and haven't even started looking for one. But I would like to add the other things but leave space for the fireplace. Probably just cover the hole with drywall.
So what I am trying to accomplish is fiinish the area but making sure there is enough room to eventually add the fireplace. I am not trying to set the framing for the fireplace itself but just leave enough room. The space is about 16 x 8 feet and I figured about 2 feet deep. But in the middle I plan for the fireplace with shelves above and to the side, etc. I pictured short studs with a header across for the opening. Later when I get the fireplace I could attach framing to make it exact. I also need to leave room for the flu behind everything.
Does this sound reasonable? If so what would be a safe size for this opening? If not, other suggestions?
Hope this is clear, hasn't been a good week.
Steve
I'm with those who are suggesting you make some kind of decision about what you want now. If you go to a manufacturer that has been around awhile, their line is unlikely to change significantly over quite a period of time.
Most of these units require a 2'' air gap between specific parts of the fireplace and the flue, and location of the flue is somewhat precise. On the Vermost Castings unit I was recently involved with, the top of the unit allowed for wood framing to sit right on it, but any overhangs around the perimeter of the top had to be non-combustible.
I would think you could get a little creative, however, and in the 'hole' the fireplace will someday occupy, just install a cabinet or shelves that you can easily remove when the day comes to install the FP.
Leave a 42" square hole, you should be safe.
I think I would want to at least narrow my choices down for now, could you at least decide on large or small unit?
And how much width do you want to allow for trimming to the sides?
Anyhow, most often you will have a small and large size. I have a build sheet for a Majestic and the larger one is 48 5/8"w, 41 1/4"h, 25 1/4"d. The smaller one is 41 7/8"w, 37 3/4"h, 22/3/4"d.
Whatever unit you go with will have to be framed to the right ro to attach the clips, so I guess you can frame it without completing the hole, but I don't like framing to be left like that. It really would be better to decide what you want now, I don't imagine the units change all that much.
The one we just installed is only 12" deep, zero clearance on 3 sides, except top.
Hey Steve... you are not alone. I get your picture you'd like to have that hole properly headed off in your wall, cover up with drywall and finish off. In a few months when you're ready you'll just zip out the drywall fur in the hole to the proper R/O, install FP, install trim and voila, right? I run into wishy washy homeowners and bargain hunting GC's all the time... just frame a 48" x 48" RO and you should be fine for whatever you decide.
Thanks for the feedback. Wishy washy has nothing to do with it. I'm just not getting the fireplace now for many reasons including the plumbing. But there's a lot of work to do on the rest of it so I wanted to get started on it. I know I'll get a fireplace someday but not right now. Simple as that. Geez, sounds like no one in here plans ahead! LOL
Now if someone sees a problem with doing it this way or if it is so much easier to do it now (like saving weeks of work or lots of money) then fine and please explain. But I haven't heard that. All I've heard is people want it now. The salesman at the fireplace store would tell me that.
Whoooooaaaa!!! Steve, relax bro...if you look back I was refering to my GC's and homeowners as wishy washy, not you. I said that I could relate to you, not that I disagreed with you. Nothing wrong with planning ahead at all, like I said I've done it plenty of times in regards to zero clearance fireplaces. Get off of the defense and listen to the advice you asked for, if you don't like the package it comes in, than just ignore it. No offense meant, hope none is taken. DP
DP
LOL no offense taken. If you notice I was just having fun back at eveyone, I wasn't upset or defensive at all. (even though it did look awful close to calling me wishy washy) No, I was just surprised that most of the responses were on the one side.
Anyway, it was just for fun.
Steve
Steve, I can understand what you're trying to do.....however, if you're not going to rough in gas and the venting, why go to the trouble of framing the opening. It's almost a given that the hole will not be the right size and that you will have to do a lot of remodeling later on. IMHO, just frame the wall, build your bookcase, and when you decide on a fireplace, then run the gas, the flue and frame the opening. I guess this is all bunk if I'm not understanding all of the variables of your situation, but from how I am envisioning it, that's what I would do.
Except that I was also going to build in shelves above the fireplace. If I make the entire system 2 feet deep I think there will be plenty of room for the flue behind the upper bookcases if they are only 1 foot deep. Another bookcase on the left and the tv, etc on the right. So I just want to make sure I leave enough space to install the fireplace plus support for it. I've added a quick drawing that may help.
Although I think I've exhausted my use of the forum on this...