Expert: James Ball - 9/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: This home was built in 1976, it has a large arched double sided brick wood burning fireplace that goes from the living room to the master bedroom.  For obvious reasons we would like to make this a single fireplace.  It has only one flue that is positioned more on the living room side which is the side we plan on leaving open.  It has custom made arched glass doors on both sides but like other complaints I have read ours also let strong smoke odors into the bedroom even with the fireplace doors closed .  We would like to remove the hearth and build a back firewall, then sheetrock over it making it a usable wall.  Is this something that someone with pretty handy skills can do. Could we removed the hearth and then have a mason come in to build the firewall. Am I correct in the fact that the hearth and actual firebox are together but not actually one piece? I mean you can remove the decorative brick and mantel without it all tumbling down right? I haven't had any luck finding schematics for fireplaces.   Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: Hello Tricia, Double sided fireplaces look great and if they worked would be great....but.
first I would have a certified sweep (CSIA.org) take a first hand look, there might be some thing wrong with the system, second look into a top mount damper cap before doing the re build (this will help with the odor and cold air in winter coming down ) you have negative pressure in the house pulling air and odor down the chimney to feed the house (bathroom/kitchen exhaust fan, radon systems, central AC returns and just hot air rising in the home)
To use any fireplace you might have to open a window or door in that room to break the vacuum of the negative pressure.
If you do close off one side of the fireplace be sure to find a great mason and contact your local building department
James

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your advice, just had one more question.  Can me and my handy husband remove the brick raised hearth and decorative brick that is on the wall without disturbing the actual firebox and bringing the chimney down.  Are they a separate builds just attached by mortar?  Thank you. Tricia

Answer
Welcome back Tricia, in most cases the "face brick" is just that a cosmetic brick face but with out seeing it I would not be sure, maybe get and estimate from a local mason and ask him how he would do it and then give that a try if it does not seem to hard for you to take it down, be sure to cover the floor with wood or paneling.
James