Our Services
Fireplace installation in Black Hammock, from plan to first fire
Firebox, chimney and finish, planned as one project by our specialists in Black Hammock.
What zero clearance really allows
A zero-clearance fireplace can sit close to wood framing, but it still has required spaces. One chimney maker calls for at least 2 inches between its pipe and framing, drywall, insulation and wiring, and one fireplace maker lists half an inch at the back and sides of the unit.
We frame to the manuals for the fireplace and the chimney you choose and check every gap before the drywall goes up. Those spaces are easy to keep while the wall is open and hard to recover once it is finished. We also check outlet boxes, ductwork and plumbing near the planned opening, since any of them can end up closer to the chimney than the manual allows.
Protecting the fireplace during the build
A fireplace that gets wet before it is finished can carry the damage for years. One maker asks for the unit to be kept dry during construction and notes that wet insulation leaves a lasting odor. Water in the chase or on the firebox during the build can also stain finished drywall and ceilings below.
Until the roof and the chase are closed, the fireplace stays under cover, and the chimney opening is covered at the end of every work day. The site is swept and the debris hauled away before we leave.
Alarm requirements for new rooms
Florida law requires an approved, working carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of each room used for sleeping in new buildings and additions that include a fireplace, a fossil-fuel appliance or an attached garage, or where the Florida Building Code requires one.
We raise this during planning for any addition or new home that includes a fireplace, so the alarm is on the project list from the start. Its placement is part of the builder's or electrician's scope. Whether the alarm is battery powered or hardwired, it is one more line on the project list, and we note it in the written record.
What the new fireplace burns
A wood-burning fireplace is built for solid wood fuel. One maker forbids gasoline, kerosene and lighter fluid and warns against chimney cleaners and flame colorants, and one chimney maker adds driftwood, plastic and chemically treated wood to the list.
The fuel rules are covered at handover. Clean, dry firewood and a proper starter are all the fireplace needs. Wrapping paper, cardboard boxes and scrap lumber are the usual temptations, and all three stay out of the firebox. We also explain how to lay a fire so it catches without help from a liquid.
