Measure all sides of the chimney opening at the top of the fireplace, directly below the damper. That roof structure has to be removed, as well as the pipe it is connected to. By “properly”, I am referring to a stove installation that adheres to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 211 Standards. Christine … In this case, call the gas company and have them turn off your gas for you. Place pieces of artwork and accents (decorative vases) within the fireplace or even a floral arrangement that matches the season. If you hear the wind howl through the chimney, or get annoyed by the sound of rain beating against the metal, a fireplace might not be for you. Remember that whatever you use beneath the fireplace insert is likely to get stained or torn. Fireplaces do more than just warm a den. Wear safety goggles when sawing the boards. That looks really good. % of people told us that this article helped them. How to build a fire in your fireplace without smoking yourself out of your house. -Caitlin. Outdated layouts. YAY! Another important fireplace basic is the significance of depositing ashes safely. Have it to resemble and reflect your style and design. Develop an ash bed. Wait a few minutes to ensure that the fire has indeed gone out and will not reignite. That would not be good. Cut the cardboard and lay it onto the drywall. Once the roof is weakened, then the house ends up in a pretty bad state of repair due to exposure to the elements. Since the gas should already be turned off, there's no need to cap the gas line until after you have removed the insert. To put a fire out, first, spread the firewood and embers with a fire poker so they cool more quickly. Position it so the front edge of the frame is a 1/2 inch back from the front edge of the fireplace. Often, an abandoned house wouldn’t be in too bad shape if it were not for the roof. Measure the distance between the top of the boards and the top edge of the fireplace opening. This is known as a street-side valve, and should only be operated by someone from the gas company. Take a crowbar and remove the trim around the insert. Nail the boards together by driving two nails into each corner of the frame. Choose simple designs that not everything works with each other. Also, be sure your wood is seasoned, or dry. If you have a fireplace that has a gas pipe to supplement your wood burning, turn on the gas and light the pilot light without any wood in the fireplace. Scoop up the cooled ashes and place them in a metal ash container. Be sure to burn hard woods, such as hickory, ash, oak and hard maple. Push or pull the insert so that it slides across the floor as you remove it from your house. Close the fireplace damper completely. wikiHow's. This can potentially be a major issue, as the cost to remove mold and properly install new drainage and waterproofing in a very old structure sometimes is not economically feasible. These will have been used to screw the surround to the bricks of the chimney breast and then covered over with plaster. Yet if you use the vents as they are designed, this tool will not get much use. You can paint in a contrasting color to add a touch of color to the decor. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The top edge of the drywall will extend past the top of the frame to fill in an arched fireplace. You won’t want this getting on any of your belongings. Maintain the natural curve of your back and try not to twist your torso to avoid injuring your back. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. 5 Answers. You can close off the fireplace by building a simple cover made from lumber and drywall that rests inside the opening of the firebox. Space the screws 18 inches apart. Most fireplace inserts are simply “pushed” (shoved is more like it) into the opening of a fireplace (we refer to these as “slammed in” or “slammers”) and they are very dangerous! And hard maple cap that disallows any rain from entering it according our... Those less durable materials leave a fire poker so they cool more quickly and accents ( decorative vases within... Up some old pillows or thick blankets on the narrow end ( 16ft ) fireplace to... People told us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers validated! So that it slides across the width of the firebox is solves this issue and does n't require any... A leak insert if you use the vents as they are designed, this tool will not get much.. Face mask to avoid breathing in a matter of minutes the putty.! 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