Is There a Fireplace in My Wall?
Well, now that I’m buying the apartment I live in, a number of questions beckon. Clearly, there was a fiireplace in my apartment, but apart from the stone rectangle on the floor by the wall, at that remains is a segment of the wall, the width of the fireplace, that comes about five or six…
Well, now that I’m buying the apartment I live in, a number of questions beckon. Clearly, there was a fiireplace in my apartment, but apart from the stone rectangle on the floor by the wall, at that remains is a segment of the wall, the width of the fireplace, that comes about five or six inches out from the rest of the wall (a vertical rectangle pf wall that’s fireplace-wide, floor to ceiling).
So what is in there? The question of why the fireplace was covered or removed also beckons….
Thanks, Peter. You response was more positive that I had hoped. I am not looking to create something usable; just uncover a relic for decorative purposes.
Whatever is now visible on the wall is smooth, and harder than plaster; did they cement something over? I wonder how much work would be involved in determining what’s under there; do I need a portable x-ray machine? I wonder if the style of the building answers what’s under there; did they remove the fireplace, or just cover it up….MYSTERIOUS!
What’s back there depends on what your building was previously. If it was a private home–a brownstone turned into apartments–it may be a full-fledged fireplace. But if the building was always a a multi-family dwelling, it may be a flue for a gas fireplace, as Rick stated above, or it may be the flue for a coal stove that previously sat in front of the fireplace (in older buildings). Unless it was a private home, the firebox may not be deep enough to use today to burn wood. In my former co-op, I uncovered a shallow firebox. I then had to hire a fireplace expert to completely dismantle that “fireplace” build a firebox deep enough to handle wood with fireproof brick, and then install a new terra cotta flue to the roof. Big mess in my apartment and my neighbors above had to agree to having their walls opened for the flue. Cost me $2,000 20 years ago–much more expensive now. Good Luck!
Peter
Yes, it’s an old fireplace. Many of these old houses had small fireplaces that burned gas from a small space heater that sat in the fireplace opening. The heater looked like a funky toaster. Many of these fireplaces were boarded up when radiators were doing a good enough job at heating the house.