making a fireplace work
Hi Brownstoners, Can anyone recommend someone to turn non-working fireplaces into working fireplaces? And approximately how much does this cost per fireplace? Thanks!!
Hi Brownstoners,
Can anyone recommend someone to turn non-working fireplaces into working fireplaces? And approximately how much does this cost per fireplace?
Thanks!!
Where are you located in?
You might find some local fireplace store to get some suggestion. You can go to http://heatnglo.com/
to get their distributor list. That might be professional. I love their products.
If you want upgrade marble mantels, you can go to Evan’s Home Luxuries to buy. Their price is pretty fair and hand carved. Their website is http://www.evanshomeluxuries.com.
Thanks. My e-mail is yash7@aol.com if you feel you can be more candid that way. Also, how small was your original firebox? Mine is barely 17 ” deep.
I begin this post the same as the last … “I hesitate to say this …” I ran into an odd turf war – pissing match with a couple of bellfire installers. I rather not say who as I can’t recommend them and I don’t want to slander them … just yet! my best advice is to do some research, ask the manufacturer for recommendations, interview them and follow your gut. with the recent warm weather I still have not used the unit enough to see if the recent repairs and smaller fires are working well. I’ll keep you posted.
anon 8:30 am, who did the installation of your bellfire system?
I hesitate to write this … but, there are retro-fit fireboxes and flu liners. on system is called “bellfire” and that’s what we have installed in one of our parlor fireplaces. it cost 5,000 to purchase and install. our fireplaces were gas, these and coal burning fireplaces are typically shallower than they should be for wood burning purposes. the idea of these retro-fit systems is economy. they reline your flu with a circular 8″ or even as small as 6″ stainless steel liner. this avoids the messy, extensive brick and plaster work to repair the flu. they can fit various size fireboxes into existing openings. if you can remove the mantel they can put in a larger one. if you don’t want to remove the mantel they can put in a smaller one. the design of the firebox and the flu is suppose to compensate for the shallow depth and diminished size of flu.
I started using ours and there was excessive smoke coming into the room. our neighbor also had an identical system and identical problems. after a few visits and modificiations and making smaller fires it seems to be working o.k. still keeping an eye on it. it was the most affordable option, we love the smell and look of the fire and personally wouldn’t want a gas fire instead of this.
Our house (dating from circa 1879) was originally heated by a forced hot air system. A coal-burning furnace sent hot air up to the fireplaces in every room. Usually when you see those beautiful cast iron “summer grilles,” their original function was to act as vents for this kind of system. We had two of our fireplaces to converted to wood-burning. This involved building completely new terracotta flues complete with smoke chambers and new fire-brick fireboxes. It’s a big, messy job — each chimney breast had to be opened up and then replastered. We use one fireplace occasionally but not the other. The one we use has a tendency to smoke — with a conversion it can be impossible to get the dimensions exactly right. We also have to be very careful not to build too big a fire because, as others have metioned, the fireplace is very shallow and a wood fire can develop a huge amount of heat. Speaking of which, you should probably have a structural engineer come assess the wall and floor surrounding your mantel. If the floor joists run right under the hearthstone, it may be better not to attempt this if you want to avoid burning your house down. I found some interesting reading on the This Old House website and also an article from The Old House Journal written by a very expert Boston-area chimney mason. All in all, I’m not sure this project was worth the time and money we put into it. The romance of a wood-burning fireplace is great but the reality is a hassle. If I was doing it over and money was no object, I’d run a gas line to the fireplaces and install a very high end British gas insert (either super modern or traditional — they have great range available in the UK). Our chimney mason, btw, was Andre of A&A who advertises on this site (718-953-2836). He’s a good guy and knowledgeable.
If you have an older townhouse where the fireplaces were built to burn coal you will need to have the chimney relined, rebuild the smoke chamber and reline the firebox with new firebrick. It is messy but not as expensive as previous posters have claimed. I have done a few fireplaces(four houses in Cobble Hill) and the price has averaged out between $5000 to $6000 per fireplace. Fred at Fireside Construction has done three of them and his work and workers have been top notch. His office number is 718 951 9494
I think is right “lp” about original coal fireplaces in most brownstone neighborhoods, although in my area (PLG), which is relatively late, fireplaces are usually gas. I know a few people who have had a gas fireplace converted to wood-burning. It’s a BIG job, involving relining the firebox wih brick and building a smoke chamber above it. It might also mean rebuilding the chimney with a larger flue–I have friends who were able to use the originalflue, but they can only light a rather small fire or the room will fill with smoke.
Most brownstone fireplaces were built as coal burning fireplaces, not gas. The hearth is usually quite shallow as a result and not good for burning large pieces of wood. You will likely have to reline the flue (about $2500-$3000) and have the hearth enlarged to accomodate wood (not sure how much that would cost.