Expert: James Ball - 12/21/2008

Question
We have decided to close up our fireplace and drywall over it so that the corner can be put to better use in our living room.  We have owned the home for 4 years and have never used it.  We were happy to not have completed the job yet because we got very heavy rain yesterday and water ran down the chimney and puddled on the floor and if there had been drywall, it would have been ruined.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hello Jen if you are going to close off a fireplace ( I am never in favor of this but) if you are going to close off the bottom you should close off the top too. maybe a stainless steel sheet over the top?
I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have make sure there is nothing else going on in the chimney before you close it off.
James