Need Fireplace Help

[Nomad]

I can be pretty resourceful at times, but other times I am clueless. I need to close off the front of the fireplace and make it air tight. I will use plywood and the wife will cover it with either cloth or wall paper to match the room. The problem is I can't figure out how to attach the plywood without totally ruining the opening. I want to try to do the least amount of damage I can with an eye to someone someday selling the house. Here are some pictures.



This shows the whole opening. The black trim around the opening is soapstone and I do not want to damage it. I put the screen in there because the whole bottom under the grate is open and I didn't want to have to go down and rescue my cats from the clean out door.



This is the floor. I don't want to mess up the tiles.



This is the right side. There is one small tab up on the side. Not much help really.



The left side, same tab as on the right.

Whatever I do for a frame will need to be sealed in some manner to the masonry. Then the plywood would need to be sealed to that.

Any assistance would be appreciated...remembering I want to try to maintain the fireplace as damage free as possible. Thanks.

Nomad

[Cabin Fever]

I would cut two 2x4s slightly shorter than the inside width of the firebox. On one end of each of the 2-bys, I'd attach a furniture/chair levelers (feet) like those shown in the photo below....make sure they are the kind that use an open-end wrench for adjustment. Then hold the 2-by horizontally against one inside wall of the firebox and adjust the leveler on the other end until you have a tight fit. Screw your plywood into the two new horizontal studs.

[frankva]

Clever infidel.

What kind of caulking would clean up easy 10-20 years down the road, yet adhere to tile?

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

I would cut two 2x4s slightly shorter than the inside width of the firebox. On one end of each of the 2-bys, I'd attach a furniture/chair levelers (feet) like those shown in the photo below....make sure they are the kind that use an open-end wrench for adjustment. Then hold the 2-by horizontally against one inside wall of the firebox and adjust the leveler on the other end until you have a tight fit. Screw your plywood into the two new horizontal studs.

I see what you're saying, but I'm not sure anything is square enough to do that. Both sides angle in from front to back. I was thinking of a full four piece box frame that I could seal against the fireplace surfaces...maybe with silicon. Then I could just run a bead all the way around the face of the frame...again silicon...and secure with screws. I have the picture in my head, but it doesn't translate to the physical opening I actually have.

Nomad

[littlebitfarm]

Take a 2" foam board. Cut it a little big and force it into the opening. That should seal it pretty tight. Couple dabs of Liquid Nails on the foam will hold the plywood in place.

Kathie

[Ross]

Originally Posted by frankva

Clever infidel.

What kind of caulking would clean up easy 10-20 years down the road, yet adhere to tile?

Thermal plastic caulking, pulls off clean

[soulsurvivor]

I know you didn't ask for this, but have you considered getting a fireplace insert? That is a very attractive old fireplace and seems a shame to cover it over with plywood. There are all types of inserts available from wood to gas and they're available in all price ranges.

My son got an insert for his basement fireplace that looks and works like a cast iron stove. He really likes the double function of heat plus cooking surface.

[Buzz Killington]

You could use a masonry bit to attach some "L" brackets to the left and right side of the firebox, then attach your plywood to the brackets, that way you could recess it to whatever depth looks right to your eyes. I'd be a shame to lose a lot of that tile on the bottom, never seen that before and it's quite attractive.

[KMA1]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

Take a 2" foam board. Cut it a little big and force it into the opening. That should seal it pretty tight. Couple dabs of Liquid Nails on the foam will hold the plywood in place.

Kathie

I think I would follow Kathie's suggestion, but I would also glue the plywood to it before I pushed it into the opening. Cut the 3/8 or 1/2 inch plywood to fit snug at the outer trim first. (Not just inside the trim opening ofr the fireplace.) Then glue to the foam. Last step, run a silicon bead just around the edge of the plywood and stick it in and hold in place ofr a few minutes. Once the plywood panle is in place, run a bead of silicon caulk along the bottom at the floor.

It shold stay firmly in place until it is pryed out and the silicon can be easily removed with a scraper from the paint and tile..

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

Take a 2" foam board. Cut it a little big and force it into the opening. That should seal it pretty tight. Couple dabs of Liquid Nails on the foam will hold the plywood in place.

Kathie

I like it. Not a huge amount of work and no damage. That's why I ask on here, people just know stuff. Thanks.

Nomad

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by soulsurvivor

I know you didn't ask for this, but have you considered getting a fireplace insert? That is a very attractive old fireplace and seems a shame to cover it over with plywood. There are all types of inserts available from wood to gas and they're available in all price ranges.

My son got an insert for his basement fireplace that looks and works like a cast iron stove. He really likes the double function of heat plus cooking surface.

I have thought about it but the chimney is 122 years old and I don't know how long it's been since anyone used it. And the grate and shelf above it are permanent. They would need to be removed to be able to use an insert. I suppose a stove could be set partially into the opening and a flue pipe run up, but the shelf would need to be removed to do that also.

Nomad