We remodeled a few years ago and I tore down the old stone Fireplace & chimney. It Was about dead center in the place and the decision was made to open the floor plan. This fireplace was at least 100 yrs old and had a stone And masonry base. The attached photos show the sub-floor once the hearth was replaced. We never had on open fire in as there was an Encore to a Dura-liner flue. How many fireplace fires would have been necessary to reach the reduced kindling temp caused by repeated heating and cooling of the subfloor?
Almost a house fire
- Thread starter Jackfre
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Pyrolysis at work. Do you have any before pictures of the fireplace? Did the fireplace hearth extend over the subfloor?
This is a very old place, at least by CA standards. It appears that the front of the firebox was just over that seam. Petrified wood in the stone work. There is a small dungeon below with a single 12x12 concrete column supporting.
This is the type of stuff we see all the time. I know many give me crap about being anal on safety. But there is a good reason. Stuff like this is not at all uncommon.
Insulation? The attic had been poorly insulated but there was zero insulation in the walls of the home when we purchased it. That of course would have led the previous owner/tenants to build some REAL fires. In the re-model I did find some newspaper from 1887 on the roof sheathing. There is a small dungeon below the fireplace that I threaten the grandkids with. It has a single 16" sq concrete column supporting the fireplace and chimney.
Our has something similar. Referred to as "the pit". Might have been for coal in the early days. Now it houses the hw heater and air handler.
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