Fireplace renovation- any advice or experience (Arlington: rent, houses, buyers)

[GreyDay]

This could influence home selection.

The brick is very rough and jutts out, dominating the living room.

It's a WBFP but has gas logs now.

Anyone have any insight into pulling the entire brick face, narrowing the opening and covering it with drywall to minimize the footprint? The living room would likely be more balanced afterwards.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

No experience but I have seen shows on HGTV that feature fireplace renovation. You could check into their topics online to see what tips they have.

[loves2read]

get it plastered and hang a flat screen in the indent would be my first inclination

but agree--plenty of fireplace renovations
check out site called gardenweb home forum and the sections about renovations

those bookcases along the back wall do not have the same height of bottom cabinets--what gives--was this room an add-on to the original house?

[ChristieP]

Most buyers WANT a fireplace...you will be cutting off a portion of your resale market. Don't forget there will also be attic/roof work due to the chimney.

You will need a licensed plumber to do the gas work for you.

[loves2read]

the OP nor I meant to take it out or to plaster OVER the firebox--just plaster the brick

[debtex]

We did it - not cheap. I'd say budget at least $7k. Can't be drywall, you have to have noncombustible material within 1 foot of the opening - that's why people are suggesting plaster. It will look almost the same as drywall, if you get a skilled tradesman. But the improvement to the space would be great. Too bad about that casework, looks pretty dated.

[Squirl]

I have used Stonecraft Mantle in Arlington (they have a website) for 2 fireplaces for investment properties and love their prices and the finished product. I think they also do the work for many fireplace stores, but you pay the fireplace store and they are the sub-contractors. This fireplace cost me $995. I did the faux finish myself. Very easy. But they also do it for an additional cost. The product has held up beautifully in my houses. They completely chip off the old brick and it is a mess. Only negative is there is a bit of mess/dust/brick chunks/residue that I have had to clean up. But their prices are great. Here's a photo of one done in a rent house I own.

[loves2read]

that is a nice look but it would not work with the finish of the wood cabs in the room--
they could be painted but that would mean doing all the trim--the wall panels and the ceiling trim as well--wood probably has a shellac finish that will have to be stripped before it can be painted--
that would be expensive based on my experience

[GreyDay]

Originally Posted by Squirl

I have used Stonecraft Mantle in Arlington (they have a website) for 2 fireplaces for investment properties and love their prices and the finished product. I think they also do the work for many fireplace stores, but you pay the fireplace store and they are the sub-contractors. This fireplace cost me $995. I did the faux finish myself. Very easy. But they also do it for an additional cost. The product has held up beautifully in my houses. They completely chip off the old brick and it is a mess. Only negative is there is a bit of mess/dust/brick chunks/residue that I have had to clean up. But their prices are great. Here's a photo of one done in a rent house I own.

Thanks. I've found a HP contractor that can do the fireplace as well as convert it to electric start. Now on to the foundation issues.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

If you have power outages, the fireplace won't work. When I lived in the South, due to ice storms I had to rely on my gas logs many times to heat the house.