Hi, Paul --

I'm a shareholder in a building in San Francisco (called a TIC rather than a co-op out here). When I moved in a year ago to my apt., the fireplace was drywalled over -- I had it opened up and it was a crumbly mess, old brick similar to yours, definitely not usable.

Rather than investigating building codes, etc., on my own, which would have made my head explode, I called the leading fireplace co. out here (they build and repair fireplaces, reline chimneys, clean chimneys, etc.) and they came out and told me what needed to be done for code, etc. I didn't need permits, but if I had they would have done paperwork for me. Hopefully NYC has a similar company that handles most apt. fireplace maintenance and repair?

They ended up relining my flue and rebricking the firebox. But they do no do surrounds, which I needed to do not only for cosmetic reasons but also so it would become completely fireproof -- I contacted a small company, a brickmason and his son, and they did great work to rebrick the outside surround. I found a guy who delivers firewood to my third floor apt., and I've been enjoying wood-burning fires in the evening for the past couple months.

Good luck!

Jennifer

Wow, that looks just like my fireplace (which in my case, much as with the poster above, had been bricked up and covered over with plaster). I had mine relined with a SS flue liner, with a damper at the top of the chimney. I'm no expert, but looking at the style and size of the firebox, this FP may need similar work to make it fully usable. (Some earlier fireplaces were designed for coal rather than wood, and in any case many masonry chimneys deteriorate, or don't draft properly. Plus, having a damper up top keeps rain, animals, etc., out of the chimney.)

As for a hearth, I did something the AP recommended. Since I redid my floors at about the same time I uncovered the fireplace, I made room in the new floor for a slate heart to extend out from the brick wall. But instead of slate at ground level, I built a 12" high box, which I put slate on top of. Yes, this takes up valuable floorspace. But it puts the hearth at an appropriate height beneath the firebox for using a stand-up fire screen (otherwise you'll need doors, or a chain screen hanging from the brick), makes it easier to clean up cinders, etc. Plus it even makes for a little ledge for sitting in the warmer months.

Maxwell and Jennifer,

Thanks for your help... I will definitely consider your suggestions as I move forward here. If I do build up, it will leave a 6' clearance to the opposite wall, so I don't know if I will go that route.

I did research at the public library and online with "This Old House" and I think "Fine Homebuildng" magazine indexes. Someone at each magazine actually emailed me the reference for every major article on fireplaces, but I have not had the chance to go back to the library yet.

I've worked for architects, but don't have a lot of experience combing through code, but an architect friend told me a hearth needs to be 16" deep and extend by 12" on either end of the opening. So that's a start.

I'm probably going to cut into the floor, but it's not a done deal yet. Of course a beautiful raised slate hearth would be sexy, and then I'd have shelf space for some gorgeous Jonathan Adler vase... haha...

So I'll send pics when I do have the work completed.

Thanks again!

Paul

If you want to make it into a foolproof wood-burning fireplace, I have three words for you - Halstead Welles Associates.

HWA is a company on East Houston that specializes in building fireplaces and gardens. High-end but their work is foolproof. I bought my co-op apartment in 1999 and I hired them to rebuild and open the fireplace. They rebuilt the hearth & firebox to code, lined the chimney, and recommended and installed a draft inducer at the top of the chimney, an electric fan which guarantees me an excellent draw and a nice fire in any weather.

Later on I picked out an antique mantle and a nice piece of marble for the hearth & immediate surround, and they cut the marble and installed both marble & antique mantle.

You will have to get the approval of your co-op to do this, as I did, but if no-one else in the building has a working fireplace it might be worth it to watch the expression on the board's faces when you propose the work. (It was for me!) All these old tenements have fireplaces built into the walls, and a lot of people don't even know they're there.

I'm not sure what others had in mind when they mentioned a raised slate hearth, but if you're thinking it'll be too expensive, just use slate tile and elevate it or box it in with something cheaper. (Wood ought to work on the vertical surfaces, since they're not facing the fire itself -- not sure if that meets code, but it ought to.) 12x12 tile is pretty standard, but 16x16 can be had for not much more. Certainly less than $10/sf.

I am not sure if this is possible, but would it be possible to cantelever a hearth by cutting a slab of marble or slate to fit the entire inside box of the fireplace and then allowing it to hang over the edge?

Take a look at www.homefireusa.com. You won't have to rip up your floor.
Cara

Dear Sir,

I am building a villa in Egypt and would like to have a fire place but we have niether a code nor the experience to build one. Can I have at least dimensions.

Hello,
A customer has purchased a gas fireplace for the basement. Venting to the outside below grade. Can you building a treated plywood enclosure lined with fire rated sheetrock allowing for the 1" proper clearances to combustibles required and backfill?.

does anyone know how to get coal marks of a marble fireplace i have tried everythn thanks tracey 18/03/07