Hello, everyone! My name is Shane, this will be my first post, and hopefully someone may have a few ideas they can throw at me about this.
Here is the question????
I'm looking to put a 36" fireplace through a 12" block exterior wall, and there is an existing block fireplace pit. From the exterior wall the pit extends out 18" x 5' wide and 5' deep, that was put in when the house was built but has since sat empty. So I need to build a dog house over it. PS this is a gas fireplace! The exterior block wall is 30' long and I will be knocking out block for the opening 7' from one end of the wall. No other load points directly above the fireplace opening. This is a two story home. Once I bust out the block there will be 6 courses of block above the new opening which will be 3' wide by 3' high. Do I need to use and steel plate or I-beam etc. to carry the load above the fireplace opening, or do I take out one more course of brick and put in 2x8 header, or is the opening small enough that I can just box in the framing for the fireplace and be done with it? Should the framing of the fireplace in the block wall be treated lumber? Lastly, when framing would be complete there will be 1/2" gap to each side of the fireplace. Will this void need to insulated or sealed? If so what material should be used? Remember the rear of the fireplace will then be in an enclosed pit, so not sure if the 1/2" void needs to be filled.
A heating and cooling co. will be installing the fireplace, gas line, and B-vent all I'm doing is knocking out the block and framing the opening.
Hope I have full explained the situation, if there is any other information needed please, ask me!
Thank you ALL in advance, Shane!!
Here is the question????
I'm looking to put a 36" fireplace through a 12" block exterior wall, and there is an existing block fireplace pit. From the exterior wall the pit extends out 18" x 5' wide and 5' deep, that was put in when the house was built but has since sat empty. So I need to build a dog house over it. PS this is a gas fireplace! The exterior block wall is 30' long and I will be knocking out block for the opening 7' from one end of the wall. No other load points directly above the fireplace opening. This is a two story home. Once I bust out the block there will be 6 courses of block above the new opening which will be 3' wide by 3' high. Do I need to use and steel plate or I-beam etc. to carry the load above the fireplace opening, or do I take out one more course of brick and put in 2x8 header, or is the opening small enough that I can just box in the framing for the fireplace and be done with it? Should the framing of the fireplace in the block wall be treated lumber? Lastly, when framing would be complete there will be 1/2" gap to each side of the fireplace. Will this void need to insulated or sealed? If so what material should be used? Remember the rear of the fireplace will then be in an enclosed pit, so not sure if the 1/2" void needs to be filled.
A heating and cooling co. will be installing the fireplace, gas line, and B-vent all I'm doing is knocking out the block and framing the opening.
Hope I have full explained the situation, if there is any other information needed please, ask me!
Thank you ALL in advance, Shane!!