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Building in a new fireplace, stage by stage

Firebox, chimney and finish, planned as one project by our specialists in Whites Landing.

Chimney height above the roof

On a masonry chimney, the Florida Building Code measures height two ways, 3 feet minimum above the roof penetration and 2 feet minimum above any part of the building standing within 10 feet. A factory-built chimney terminates as its maker's instructions direct, and one chimney maker repeats the same NFPA 211 height rule.

The roof, nearby ridges and walls are measured and the height planned before sections are ordered. A chimney that ends too low is one of the few mistakes that cannot be fixed without going back up.

Hearth extension rules for factory-built units

A factory-built fireplace uses the hearth extension its listing calls for, and the Florida Building Code asks for that extension to be readily distinguishable from the surrounding floor. Listed hearth extensions are tested to UL 1618.

We plan the hearth with the flooring so the extension is the right size and material and clearly marked off from the floor. One maker also uses metal hearth strips at the front of the unit, which we fit as the manual shows. If new flooring is planned, we set the extension height with your flooring installer so the two meet cleanly.

Permits before construction

The Florida Building Code asks anyone who plans to build, alter or repair a building to apply to the building official and obtain the required permit first. Fireplace and chimney makers repeat the same advice to check with local building or fire officials. The specific permits, fees and inspection stages are set by the local building department, never by the installer.

Approvals go on the project schedule from the first meeting, and any required inspections are booked around the work. The permit paperwork is filed with the written record of the installation.

Space and a screen in front of the fire

NFPA advises a clear zone of at least three feet between the fireplace or other heating equipment and anything that can burn, with a sturdy screen in front to catch sparks. One maker provides a firescreen and asks for it to be closed whenever the doors are open.

We point out that three-foot zone at handover and help you plan furniture and rugs around it. The screen and doors are fitted before the first fire. Glass doors on a wood fireplace get hot as well, so the screen and the three-foot zone matter even with the doors closed.