Making our fireplace work?
This is a two part question. 1) We think our brownstone flue has been “re-lined”, but in the event it is not, how much might it cost to add a new metal lining? We only really want to use the fireplace on the Parlor floor, there is only one floor above that. 2) If the…
This is a two part question.
1) We think our brownstone flue has been “re-lined”, but in the event it is not, how much might it cost to add a new metal lining? We only really want to use the fireplace on the Parlor floor, there is only one floor above that.
2) If the chimney has already been re-lined, how much might it cost to reline just the hearth with fire brick on one floor?
And finally (ok, so there were three questions), any recommendations on a company to do this work?
Thank you all in advance for your recommendations. We’d love to be able to use our fireplace this winter.
If you are only looking to do a gas fireplace there are some great options. Go to http://www.gascoals.net and they have lots of styles of gas coal burners, coal baskets and frets. This company stresses that they must be used vented but we have unvented units installed in out early 19th century townhouse in Philadelphia and they are fantastic. After the initial fireup which will give off some odor due to the newnesss of the coals, they burn as clean as your gas range with no emissions. Also, they throw a lot of heat. To be safe we always leave a cracked window and I would not install one in a bedroom and leave it on overnight but these CAN be used ventless (no flue whatsoever).. I’m sure there are people out there who will write and disagree but we’ve been using them for 5 years in this Philly house. I will be installing one in my Bed-Stuy brownstone this Fall.
I had a fireplace restored that hadn’t worked in many years. It was expensive, but well worth it. It now works great. Reasonable places will come and inspect your job and give you an estimate for free. I used Nationwide Chimneys. Ask to speak with Bruce Rubino.
This is a bigger and dirtier job than you may realize. I always recommend that people do this before they move in. The dirt and soot that comes out of an old chimney is unbelivable.
The cost of getting a fireplace ready to use varies greatly depending on what fuel it was made for (wood, cannel coal, gas) and what you want to burn. Fireplaces in later brownstones (like mine) may well have been made for gas–they can be converted to wood-burning, but it’s a BIG job and might not work all that well. OTOH, I think gas logs are still available.
We used Mr. Chimney to install a liner and they were great, but no longer take new jobs in Brooklyn. Cost was $4k (I think), inc. a lifetime guarantee, but cost varies a great deal, depending on the contours of the flue, number of floors, etc.