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Chimney & Fireplaces/Drywalling over brick wall with fireplace

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Expert: - 7/31/2008


Question
QUESTION: My fireplace is built into a basement brick wall. There is no other surround
material, just the brick. I am drywalling this wall and am not sure how to
transition from the drywall to the new surround (yet to be determined;
probably granite).  Do I place the final drywall stud/furring strip at the outside
border of where the new surround will begin, or do I continue placing  furring
strips all the way to the fireplace opening edge?  In the latter case I would use
concrete board instead of drywall on the surround area.
Thank you,
Mark

ANSWER: Is this a masonry fireplace or a factory-built fireplace?  That will make a tremendous difference in the answer.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This is a brick/masonry fireplace built into the brick wall. The house is 80 years
old and this is original. There has never been a formal surround because the
brick wall runs right to the edge of the fireplace opening. Thanks.

Answer
Mark,

You need to keep ALL combustibles (furring strips, drywall, etc) 12" away from the top of the firepace opening and 6" away from the sides of the fireplace opening.

Concrete board is acceptable for use in this application.

Additionally, no combustibles are allowed to be directly mounted to the exterior of this fireplace/chimney without a 2" clearance.

This is all per NFPA 211, 2006 Edition.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com and good luck with your project!

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com

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Bart Ogden

Expertise

I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.

Experience


Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas

Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee

Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps

Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate

Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems

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