Our Services

Planning the firebox, the chimney and the finish

Same-day visits in Oviedo are possible when the calendar allows, and the plan is explained in the room.

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.

Doors, vents and the draft

One maker warns that placing a fireplace near a door that opens often, or near a heating or cooling outlet or return, can cause smoke spillage from the opening. Moving air in the room competes with the draft.

The room's doors and vents are noted during the inspection, and we suggest a placement away from them. When the ideal spot is next to a busy door, we explain the tradeoff before the wall is opened. A ceiling fan or a supply vent can often be adjusted, while a doorway cannot, so we weigh each one before the location is final.

Chimney size follows the fireplace

One chimney maker's instructions say the chimney diameter comes from the appliance maker's instructions and must never be smaller than the appliance outlet. The fireplace sets the size, and the chimney follows.

We take the diameter from the fireplace manual and order the chimney to match. When an existing chimney is being considered for a new unit, the size is one of the first things we compare. A chimney that is too small for the fireplace will not draft as designed, however tall it is. The size we install goes into the written record of the job.

Fireblocking around the fireplace

The Florida Building Code calls for fireblocking around a masonry fireplace, following its general fireblocking section. Fireblocking closes the concealed spaces around the fireplace so a fire cannot travel through them.

We install the fireblocking with the framing and point it out before the walls are closed. It is a small part of the job that the inspector will want to see. Only the fireblocking the code calls for goes into the airspace, and the rest of that gap stays open as the code requires.