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How we install fireplace inserts in Altamonte Springs
Liner, hearth and fit are planned together before an insert goes into your Altamonte Springs fireplace.
Leaving the firebox structure alone
It can be tempting to chip away brick to make room for a larger insert. The manual we follow does not allow bricks or mortar to be removed, apart from the smoke shelf and the damper frame, and only when the structure is not weakened and the protection from combustibles is not reduced.
We choose an insert that fits the fireplace as built. When the model you want needs more room than the fireplace offers, we recommend a smaller model, since cutting the firebox to fit is not an option the manual allows.
The smallest fireplace a model accepts
Each insert lists the smallest fireplace it can go into, usually as a width at the front and back, a height and a depth. A fireplace that is a little too shallow or too narrow at the back can rule a model out even when the front looks generous.
We measure all of those dimensions during the free inspection and compare them with the model's figures. You leave the visit knowing which inserts will actually fit your fireplace. If none of your favorite models fit, we suggest ones that do before you spend anything.
Hearth protection in front of the insert
An insert sits forward of the old opening, and its manual sets the floor protection in front of it. One model calls for a noncombustible hearth raised above a combustible floor, extending 16 inches in front and 8 inches beyond each side, with a longer extension when the hearth is flush.
The existing hearth is measured against the manual and extended with noncombustible material where needed. The extension is priced on its own line, so you can see what the floor needs separately from the insert.
Moving a heavy insert safely
Wood inserts are heavy, mostly because of their steel body and firebrick lining. One manual lightens the unit for moving by taking out the firebricks and the baffle first and refitting them in place.
The carry from the driveway to the hearth is planned, floors and door frames along the route are protected, and enough people come for the size of the unit. Every brick and baffle part goes back exactly where the manual shows. The carry is planned before installation day, so nothing is dragged across your floors.
