Top Knot said:
The top of the mantle looks almost more than half the height of the room...
Graham:
The mantle is more or less a standard height of 54". Whomever made this probably used this height to design the mantle surround.
Top Knot said:
The bottom of the fire place has also been raised way too high off the floor.
Ya, that looks weird to me too, I am not sure why they put it so high, probably because a larger fire box is more expensive. I can only conclude that the to make the insert look larger the previous owners of the house built a larger surround to compensate for that.
Top Knot said:
I would start with taking it out of the picture! Are you able to do that?
I agree, with a clean slate and larger budget the design would be different. I do enjoy the limitations/challenges these kinds of problems present. I am not able to take the fireplace out, well not at the current budget. I was hired to design and fabricate bookcases/desk for the space and suggest improvements for the mantle.
I do think the current homeowners like the idea of the fireplace/mantle.
Peter Halle said:
Here is another chart dealing with the height above. The fireplace in the thread is a pre manufactured one and the manufacturer would supply the details on the combustible clearance below if required.
Peter
Thanks, our regulations in Ontario are similar to yours.
Here is a mantle and surround diagram (from a manufacturer) for a direct vent fireplace (pre-manufactured) that gives the same clearance instructions.
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honeydokreg said:
Bottom requirements would be brick stone etc in front and must come out so far before carpet etc due to sparks flying. That code you should check
Kreg:
Thanks. There are no code regulations requiring a hearth for direct vent fireplaces however in this case they did build a hearth in front of the Mantle.
As you can see from my drawing, the tiled hearth extends about 10" from the front of the mantle and is bordered with transition molding that sits proud of the surface of the floor about 1/2".
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Tim