Hi I am new to posting on here but have been researching and reading as best I can, apologies if my questions have been covered elsewhere.
Currently have a 1960's era brick fireplace with a raised slate hearth, 16" wide by 20" high. I am planning on installing a Jotul f3 and would like to removed the raised hearth (which is only 16" wide) and also lower the inner hearth to floor level. Currently the raised hearth sits approx 20" off our hardwood floor. I don't see any problems with removing the raised hearth as it appears to be slate on durock over plywood and framing (haven't opened it yet) with a fake brick veneer on the vertical section. I am wondering if there are any structural concerns to consider for the chimney with lowering the inner hearth to floor level? or any other problems with this plan? The chimney is on an exterior wall backing onto the carport, and has an ash clearout opening well below our living room floor level (accessible from the carport), but the inner hearth has no openings for ash to drop down?
The plan at this point is create an opening large enough for the F3's clearance specs for Canada, then lay down 24 gauge sheet metal on the floor and thinset mortar 1/2" durock over top, finished with natural slate, mortared and grouted to the durock. It appears this will meet the code for k values?
Thanks for any advice or help anybody on here. Feel free to direct me if these questions have been answered already.
Currently have a 1960's era brick fireplace with a raised slate hearth, 16" wide by 20" high. I am planning on installing a Jotul f3 and would like to removed the raised hearth (which is only 16" wide) and also lower the inner hearth to floor level. Currently the raised hearth sits approx 20" off our hardwood floor. I don't see any problems with removing the raised hearth as it appears to be slate on durock over plywood and framing (haven't opened it yet) with a fake brick veneer on the vertical section. I am wondering if there are any structural concerns to consider for the chimney with lowering the inner hearth to floor level? or any other problems with this plan? The chimney is on an exterior wall backing onto the carport, and has an ash clearout opening well below our living room floor level (accessible from the carport), but the inner hearth has no openings for ash to drop down?
The plan at this point is create an opening large enough for the F3's clearance specs for Canada, then lay down 24 gauge sheet metal on the floor and thinset mortar 1/2" durock over top, finished with natural slate, mortared and grouted to the durock. It appears this will meet the code for k values?
Thanks for any advice or help anybody on here. Feel free to direct me if these questions have been answered already.