Fireplace cont.
The front was supported with a steel angle above the front of the throat.
The sides were built up and a platform was made to set the damper and smoke chamber on.
Then everything was put on hold waiting for an inspection. I really hope Jim Buckley emails me back with some ideas on what to tell the inspector about some design changes that I made.
4/21/01
Fireplace work has been held up for a week waiting for the building inspector to check out the throat and smoke chamber. I lost some sleep worrying about the flue size. I could only fit a 13x8" where the Rumford plans called for a 13x13". I emailed the Rumford fireplace designer, Jim Buckley, and he said that it would be ok. The code requirement is that the flue must be at least 10% of the fireplace opening, it just makes it. I had to modify the first flue section to adapt to the smaller size.
When the inspector (a long hair named Vinnie) finally showed he was ok with all that stuff, but he blindsided me with something else. There must be a 2" clear space between the masonry chimney and any combustables, like wood framing. The basement flue that was added in the 50's was laid up against the existing house and siding, so that didn't make it. The framers (Scotty and crew) ran the new framing up to the chimney so that didn't pass either. I don't know why the inspector waited until now to tell me this. I called Scotty to come back and trim back the framing. There is another issue with the siding outside the chimney. There must be a clearance also, I think that there is. Otherwise the inspector will make me take that down also.
The fun never ends. I don't know what the inspector will come up with next.
Then the rest of the face had to be bricked up.
The bricks in the center of the chimney had to be corbelled in to support the rest of the chimney above. This will be filled in when the face is finished.
From here the work continued on the 2nd floor in the future southeast bedroom.