We would like to fill this gap in now to make it look better. Once the surface is clean and dry, you can then begin to fill the gaps with a suitable filler material. You could also fill it with strips of Hardieboard (or cement board) and caulk the edges with a high temperature caulk. It's absolutely okay to isolate the gap from the interior of your house by sealing it off with non-combustible materials. Refractory caulk, also known as fireplace mortar, is suitable for minor repairs only. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. If you don't want it to stick to the wood then mask off the wood before. Then again use a second coat to create a smooth straight extension of the wood trim to the slate. There is a product called smoke tite that is used from chimney companeys, its a compressed air spay system that sprays high heat cement in all the proper gaps and areas needed to be sealed, my company is baltimore based and we use this treatment all the time for sealing throaghts in the chimney, hope this can help ur issues. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. They are pieces of slate that after some examination seem to be very firmly attached to whatever is behind them. If the wall is not level, then the fireplace will not be level. You did it right it sounds like. Before filling the gaps in your wall or fireplace, it's important to take some time to properly prepare the surface. If it were me, I'd probably go that direction. I am reviewing a very bad paper - do I have to be nice? As you work, inspect all of the mortar joints to make sure they are sound. 2. See more, I have this old red brick fire place and I am Not sure what to do with it. ideas for space between wall and high cabinets, West Whittier-Los Nietos General Contractors, fireplace surround-can I put granite over tile. How could one insulate sill plate from the outside? Lie on your back facing up into the fireplace and look at the top of the fireplace surround. I would caulk it and carefully paint the same color as your wall. One of the challenges that comes with filling in the gaps between a wall and fireplace is making sure that the wall is level. Look for cracks or loose bricks, and make sure that there's no debris blocking the flue. Cured foam can be trimmed, shaped, sanded, painted or stained. If for some reason you are concerned about high heat in this area, there is a fire rated caulk made especially for gaps in fire or common walls. If the gap is deeper than a 1/2-inch, you'll need to install backer rod before you apply the caulk. We would like to fill this gap in now to make it look better. Thanks All. I started with the fireplace but there was a large gap going around. First inserts going into a two sided (90 degree faces) fireplace - feedback and surround suggestions? Thanks though. See more, Our family room has a very large brick fireplace wall. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Bold and adorned or streamlined and minimalist which of these fireplaces would you want warming up your home? Remove the fire grate from the fireplace and use a fireplace brush and dustpan to sweep out the firebox. The first step is to clean any debris or dust from the area where you will be applying the foam. Look for high temp stove and gasket cement. Thanks Im advance for any info you could give me! Any direction is very much appreciated. This will remove any accumulated soot and ash, and help to prevent any potential fires. We happen to have a stack of old flooring that was removed from Ed's grandparents farmhouse. Press J to jump to the feed. Regardless, if air is filtering through into the living space, there must be a gap outdoors ( external chimney) as well as indoors. The hearth seems to have some kind of concrete or bonding material holding the slate pieces together. This would cause a 1/2" gap between the surround and the brick face. It's hard to suggest a good non-combustible filler without seeing a picture. The fire needs oxygen to burn, and if the gap is too small, then the fire will not be able to get enough oxygen and will go out. Ultimately, the decision of whether to fix your wall-to-fireplace gaps yourself or hire a professional depends on your budget, your level of experience, and your personal preferences. 1. Close up drafty gap between wood beam and concrete wall? Also would a chimney balloon or chimney pillow possibly solve this problem? In addition to being a potential fire hazard, a damaged expansion joint can also allow water and insects into your home. of fireplace and white wooden fireplace frame. New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--. I've used fire rated silicone around my flue in the past and it has worked a treat to seal between the flue and the roof. You are using an out of date browser. There isn't much but we thought it might come in handy as we renovate and it already has! I need help filling the space between the fireplace and window. But, it's important to remember that a fireplace is not just a decoration - it's a working appliance that needs to be properly maintained. Last edited by dhaniyal; 08-25-2008 at 06:41 AM . What's the best material to use to fill in a 1/2" gap between drywall and stairs? That way, you won't accidentally reapply the excess caulk where you don't want it. Please be aware that just stacking bricks in there will leave an airspace between them and the fireplace masonry. Thoroughly vacuum the walls and floor of the firebox again. Once a week should be sufficient, but you may need to do it more often if you're using your fireplace frequently. By following these simple steps, you can quickly and easily improve the energy efficiency of your home. Hope this helps. Does having a paint over a popcorn ceiling change how I'd remove the popcorn ceiling? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Remove all gas pipe back to area desired. Buying wood insert but what brand has a faceplate that allows for a gap. Good! The gap between a slide-in stove and the back wall is easy to mask with a thick, heat-resistant and fire-retardant backsplash. Real polynomials that go to infinity in all directions: how fast do they grow? The caulk might need a second application because that's a large crack and you could get noticeable shrinkage on the first application, even with the backer rod in place. How do philosophers understand intelligence? As I mentioned the first thing we did to fill the gap was rip down a floor board to wedge underneath the baseboard trim. Do not use a plug in a fitting. There's those electron-microscopic photos again. Of course, you'll still need to seal gaps with fireproof caulk. Over time, the bricks and mortar can fail due to the expansion and contraction of the materials as they go from room temperature to roughly 700 degrees Fahrenheit and back again. Unfortunately I can't seal the outside without great expense. Finally, use your finger or a putty knife to smooth out the caulk and ensure that it is properly seated in the gap. Pic is not showing up for me, but, here's an idea. Either method will result in a neat, easy to paint fill that should stop your air infiltration problem and make the finish look nice. In addition, if there are air leaks, then it will be difficult to keep the fire going. There is some space between the back of my fireplace and the interior wall. I am currently refacing my fireplace and had the same issue. Mortar works if you have some kind of backing. Make sure to use heat-resistant materials, such as bricks or stone, when filling in the gaps between a wall and a fireplace. Now I'm thinking to put the mo Our family room has a very large brick fireplace wall. The built ins will be floor to ceiling. I didn't think I could caulk such a large gap. Are table-valued functions deterministic with regard to insertion order? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Once it's dry, you can use a blade or kitchen knife to cut away any that has expanded beyond the gap. Spellcaster Dragons Casting with legendary actions? Step 5 - Spreading the Caulk New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. Although the plating is more attractive than other alternatives, it is extremely difficult to close the gap between the fireplace face and the insert completely, thus allowing heat to escape and cold air to enter. I'm sure you could find it elsewhere as well check around! See more, We would greatly appreciate your assistance in selecting a new color for the fireplace wall.The color of our living room walls and fireplace wall is Sherwin Williams If so, what am I looking at for cost to fabricate some iron or steel? Otherwise, you could end up causing more damage than good. By regularly checking and filling the gap between your wall and fireplace, you can help to avoid these costly repairs. Afterwards, there was a gap between the new oak wood frame and the slate hearth. At first I was thinking to paint the brick with white paint. I'm searched but unable to find an answer. I wouldn't worry about it unless you think it will be really noticable in your application. Not only are these gaps unsightly, but they can also let in drafts, which can affect both your heating bill and your comfort level. Insulation question, How to permenantly close and seal wood fireplace. 11 Reasons to Love Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Again, Just One Wall: When the Accent Wall Works, Everything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned from Downton Abbey. Clean out the mortar joints by sucking out the debris with the shop vacuum or blowing it out with a can of compressed air. I will be having built ins around the fireplace and I am trying to decide if they should be stained or painted. With a little careful preparation, you can easily fill the gaps in your wall or fireplace and create a perfectly seamless finish. The idea of using Hardieboard and high temp caulk is an interesting one. It fits like a glove. will filling the area with plaster help? Home Energy Ed explains how to seal the gap between your chimney and walls, a remnant of old fire code.Video courtesy of Home Repair Services www.HomeRepairS. What is the etymology of the term space-time? Finally, don't forget to give your fireplace a good clean once a year using a. See how to find hidden wall studs with this ridiculously easy trick, I-shape kitchen layouts take a streamlined, flexible approach and can be easy on the wallet too, 8 Ways to Give Wood Walls a More Contemporary Look, Is it time to kick the hard stuff?