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Nuke proof mantle, Ideas?

| Posted in General Discussion on April 14, 2000 02:27am

*
Here’s one. Could use some ideas.

We have a mantle in a finished house that will not pass code or the inspector. The top of the mantle as well as an arch underneath are too close to the opening of the fireplace. We need to make it fireproof.

Our hope is too affect a retrofit with visualy identical fireproof materials. The house is newly occupied and the mantle is in the master bedroom. So a minimum of mess and hoopla will be greatly appreicated.

Here is a description. First the big rectangle (the mantle’s, mantle?) Okay, I’ll call it the “mantle top”. Size/inches 64 x 5.5 x 7.25. Second is an arch that is directly below the mantle top. It is 51 in. long, 1.75 in. thick and is 5.5 in. high; narrowing to 2.5 in. at the middle. The arch dies into columns.

The whole mantle is finished with a smooth sprayed semigloss white on what i believe to be mdf. The replacement material would have to be able to accept a finish that would be hard to distinguish between.

Here is what we have come up with so far. It is almost in a loose order of popularity or percieved plausability.

1. Rebuild using metal, backerboard and plaster. Our plasterer does flawless work, biggest problem here is the mess. However this seems the most likely optionso far.

Drywall over wallboard metal stud’s etc… Drywaller referred us back to the plasterer. Thought he would do a great job, this is no surprise.

Have it built up out of stone and paint. Spendy, maybe a last ditch option at best. And it feels just downright wastefull.

In a similar vein, found an add in the back of the current FHB about some outfit in Texas that casts whole mantles out of limestone and silica. Custom mold setup. Thousands of miles away from the site, which raises ?’s about quality control. Also, their work starts in the several thousand dollar range. Then we still have installation costs.

Some kind of resin or other product we can mold up ourselves. Have originals to make mold with. No idea of anything suitable, would need more research. Hence this post.

Some other fireproof material. Fire slate, concrete, Corian and like…

Final option would be remove mantle and paint a fascimile of one on a drywall/metal stud thingy. We could also paint on all the little knick-knacks that collect on such things. Pictures of family, puddles of melted wax from candles, maybe even dust. That would add a nice touch ‘doncha think’. We would, of course, have to warn them about setting a glass of wine or anything else on it.

If you all care to help us brainstorm, that would be great. We will figure something out. Meanwhile I will keep enjoying this early northwest summer.

Thanks alot,

Rj Crosby

P.s everytime i try to spellcheck this post, something garbles the whole thing up. So please excuse any sp. errors or such. Thanks.

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Replies

  1. Guest_ | Apr 12, 2000 11:19am | #1

    *
    Assuming that it's too close to the firebox opening, why don't you take it off and move it up. Make up a cpl bases to match.

  2. Rj_Crosby | Apr 12, 2000 04:02pm | #2

    *
    Thanks for the Idea.

    The room is finished and there is a built in tv cabinet directly above. The detail around the cabinet ties into the room trim. We would have to under go an extensive redesign of a rather large area and the client would have to replace their new super tv with a much smaller one.

    Sorry that I left this info out. I felt that my previous post was bloated enough.

    Rj Crosby

  3. Guest_ | Apr 12, 2000 05:05pm | #3

    *
    The demo contained within this site is miserably slow, however, I saw this demo - or something similar - on TV last year. The structure involved would not burn, even with a torch applied directly.

    FIRE

    1. Guest_ | Apr 13, 2000 02:26am | #4

      *How much are you missing proper clearnace by? If only and inch or 2, could you reduce the size of the firebox opening and get the needed clearance?Bob

      1. Guest_ | Apr 13, 2000 02:48am | #5

        *How did this happen in the first place? Did you buy the house with a "not-to-code" surround? Do you have a home buyers warranty to cover this? I gave up on the spell checker too.Ed. Williams

        1. Guest_ | Apr 13, 2000 05:06am | #6

          *What will the inspector accept? That is really the only opinion that truly counts! I would honestly ask for his/her suggestions. It is possible to obtain fire-retardant treated plywood. But I don't know if it would be available to you in such a small order. Yet another reason to kill the TV!

  4. Rj_Crosby | Apr 13, 2000 07:17am | #7

    *
    Thanks everyone for your input. It is good to know that there are people out there willing to help.

    Ralph, I followed your lead to that website. Asked them to fax me some info. hope they do. Would be great to be just able to give a few coats of paint.

    Bob, this is one of those straight to the point ideas that I admire so much. Unfortunately I neglected to mention that it is a vented gas fireplace.

    Ed, I wish that it had not happened. I believe that it was an oversight by a cadre that did a last minute design. I just came on site as a last minute finish/fix it guy before the owners moved in.

    Stanley. Unfortunatly we are already going around with the inspector on the fireproof plywood in the elevator. We have never worked with this inspector before and he seems to be the kind who just keeps repeating the code book when you ask ?'s. We have an excellent reputation and are not the cutting corners kind. Would like to make it safe, code compliant and give the client the fireplace they want.

  5. Guest_ | Apr 13, 2000 03:08pm | #8

    *
    If you are still considering using fire retardant paint as a fix, there is a paint that goes by the tradename "Ironclad" and is local etc.....(USA) and by a common name paint manufacturer.

    I'll do a search and post it.

    Here it is, Ironclad is by Benj. Moore product code 220101 I believe. limited colors but I have used white and thought it was latex/acrylic....

    1. Guest_ | Apr 14, 2000 02:27am | #10

      *A company called Koppers makes retardent coatings also. Ohio/Pennsylvania. Clear also. This is from a long time ago, should autta be around.

  6. Rj_Crosby | Apr 14, 2000 02:27am | #9

    *
    Here's one. Could use some ideas.

    We have a mantle in a finished house that will not pass code or the inspector. The top of the mantle as well as an arch underneath are too close to the opening of the fireplace. We need to make it fireproof.

    Our hope is too affect a retrofit with visualy identical fireproof materials. The house is newly occupied and the mantle is in the master bedroom. So a minimum of mess and hoopla will be greatly appreicated.

    Here is a description. First the big rectangle (the mantle's, mantle?) Okay, I'll call it the "mantle top". Size/inches 64 x 5.5 x 7.25. Second is an arch that is directly below the mantle top. It is 51 in. long, 1.75 in. thick and is 5.5 in. high; narrowing to 2.5 in. at the middle. The arch dies into columns.

    The whole mantle is finished with a smooth sprayed semigloss white on what i believe to be mdf. The replacement material would have to be able to accept a finish that would be hard to distinguish between.

    Here is what we have come up with so far. It is almost in a loose order of popularity or percieved plausability.

    1. Rebuild using metal, backerboard and plaster. Our plasterer does flawless work, biggest problem here is the mess. However this seems the most likely optionso far.

    Drywall over wallboard metal stud's etc... Drywaller referred us back to the plasterer. Thought he would do a great job, this is no surprise.

    Have it built up out of stone and paint. Spendy, maybe a last ditch option at best. And it feels just downright wastefull.

    In a similar vein, found an add in the back of the current FHB about some outfit in Texas that casts whole mantles out of limestone and silica. Custom mold setup. Thousands of miles away from the site, which raises ?'s about quality control. Also, their work starts in the several thousand dollar range. Then we still have installation costs.

    Some kind of resin or other product we can mold up ourselves. Have originals to make mold with. No idea of anything suitable, would need more research. Hence this post.

    Some other fireproof material. Fire slate, concrete, Corian and like...

    Final option would be remove mantle and paint a fascimile of one on a drywall/metal stud thingy. We could also paint on all the little knick-knacks that collect on such things. Pictures of family, puddles of melted wax from candles, maybe even dust. That would add a nice touch 'doncha think'. We would, of course, have to warn them about setting a glass of wine or anything else on it.

    If you all care to help us brainstorm, that would be great. We will figure something out. Meanwhile I will keep enjoying this early northwest summer.

    Thanks alot,

    Rj Crosby

    P.s everytime i try to spellcheck this post, something garbles the whole thing up. So please excuse any sp. errors or such. Thanks.

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