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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Fireplace / Firetrap

    This house had a whole lot going on. In the basement beneath the fireplace forms, I saw charred wood bits on the top of the foundation wall. YOW!!!!

    I don't know if there are any options that make sense aside from tearing out the existing fireplace/hearth and starting over. What a mess.











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    Last edited by Nick Ostrowski; 03-21-2013 at 11:34 AM. Reason: Typo
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Fireplace / Firetrap

    Another option? They can seal off the chimney and put an electric fireplace insert in there.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    Default Re: Fireplace / Firetrap

    You should have seen some of the other eyesores going on in the place which was selling for a paltry $680 K. This was just part of it.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Guelph,Ontario
    Posts
    173

    Default Re: Fireplace / Firetrap

    I have seen something similar in a brand new home,good thing the clients had a home inspection,or the house may have burned down the first time the fire place was used.
    My clients walked from that deal,never did find out if this was ever corrected.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Charlotte NC
    Posts
    2,304

    Default Re: Fireplace / Firetrap

    Why not support the hearth extension that has settled and re-point the mortar joint?

    Last edited by Vern Heiler; 03-21-2013 at 12:09 PM. Reason: meant "hearth"
    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: Fireplace / Firetrap

    Quote Originally Posted by Vern Heiler View Post
    Why not support the hearth extension that has settled and re-point the mortar joint?
    I'll wait for Bob H to check in with his thoughts on this as I'm sure he's seen slop like this too. Maybe it can be salvaged but I don't know. If you notice the last pic, you'll see the hearth extension was built using some three cell bricks that the installer just turned on their side towards the wall. The lack of attention to detail doesn't inspire much confidence in making me think they did enough right to make this worthy of salvage. At the very least, the surround and hearth extension to me appear to be in need of a redo. In addition, the masonry fireplace chimney had multiple vertical cracks and the structure moved with hand pressure when I was up on the roof.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Near Philly, Pa.
    Posts
    1,682

    Cool Re: Fireplace / Firetrap

    Pretty sad. At the very least the hearth extension and facing should be removed so the foundation inspected and repaired as needed. I doubt the HX sits on a cantilever off the foundation wall. If not, you'd be looking at drilling into the foundation, pinning in a rebar cage, temporary forms, our a concrete pad, cure, strip forms then rebuild hearth extension and facing with the profile gap fully grouted. I'll bet once that facing is pulled you'll find charring in the wall. Probably pyrolized combustibles in that wall as well as underneath. That HX is probably sitting on the combustible floor...

    Keep the fire in the fireplace.

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