Fireplace Framing

sonic_loser

I'm an electrician by trade. I'm putting a 4-sided fireplace island into my house and trying to find a way to frame the box above the fireplace for venting.
The fireplace is non-loading bearing so I can't build on the fireplace itself.
I've talked to framers and they don't recommend the fireplace since the ceiling is 17ft high and vaulted. They said it would be too flimsy and wouldn't be strong.
The framing would be attached to the fireplace but just to secure it but not hold any weight.
The only thing I can think of doing is using angle iron and build the framing out of that.
Any ideas would be welcome.

send_it_all

Post Pics

Mike Finley

You need a lot more info. From what you are posting it sounds like this will basically have to hang from the ceiling and rest on the fire place. What is the ceiling like? Can you get really strong blocking in up there? If you can I don't see the problem unless you are planning on putting stone on it or something like that.

If you get good blocking on the ceiling for it to hang from, build the framing for the fireplace out of metal studs (not the home depot ones, get the structrual ones) and sheet rock it. Look into Trim Tex and you can make it really nice. I don't know the make of your fireplace but most that I can think of you can rest the structure on it and fasten it to it to anchor it in place.

woodmagman

B-vent gas, wood burning, direct vent gas, Pellet type fireplaces all have different requirements. The manufacturer will have framing recommendations in the installations manuals. They should note as to how close to combustibles you can be with your wood framing or they may recommend metal studs and none combustible material to various distances from the fire box openings or edges….. Check with your local authorities.

neolitic

Are you trying to design it yourself? Is it a pre-fab/manufactured fire box? Fireplaces aren't the place you want to go all experimental. If it's a masonry fireplace maybe you need an architect(those are rare words for me), or at least a very skilled and experienced mason to design it for you.

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sonic_loser

Thanks for all the replies. Here is a picture of the ceiling joists. I guess I've been thinking about it too long that I forgot to go into more detail about it.

The fireplace is a gas fireplace, natural vent/B vent, Napoleon BGNV40N island fireplace 22"x36". The framing above fireplace is just for appearance and cover the fireplace vent. The fireplace company told me the framing around the vent can be as small as 8"x8". I'm planning to come out of the fireplace the reduce down too 1'x3'. It will mostly be just sheetrock and maybe 2 rows of slate tile around.
We also get a lot of snow in the winter that will add to the weight on the roof.

Thanks for all that have replied and I appreciated you help very much.

Cheers!

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Mike Finley

I've actually installed that exact same fireplace, except it was the 3 sided version and not the 4. You should be able to do it exactly like I described.

That venting cavity 8"x8" doesn't sound right at all. You'd better check into that if you're going to do any framing that might compromise the clearances.

Saying you can't rest some weight on that fireplace is inacurrate, you can certainly attach to it and rest some weight on it. It will have screw holes in the top flange for doing just that.

However I would still try to design it with the least amount of weight possible. Leaving out as much slate as you can.