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Single sided fireplace to double sided in/outdoor-Can it be done?

17 years ago

I have an existing woodburning fireplace in my living room. We recently added a screened porch on the fireplace wall of this room and would like to open up our fireplace to the porch. Most of what I've seen concerns new construction. Can I turn a single sided fireplace into a double sided fireplace? My husband is a specialty contractor, but has never done anything like this. Thanks for any help.

Comments (4)

mountainstoveguy
17 years ago
Its possible, but not likely. If its masonry, the fireplace offers alot of support for the chimney above. Double sided fireplaces have double lintels to support both sides if the fireplace. Also, it might not draft properly, the chimney size is realated to the fireplace opening. If you introduce more air ( a second side ) it could dilute draft and draw poorly. Also do you realy want a double sided fireplace open to a screened in porch? Fireplaces dont offer much R value and that sure would be a cold place to have open to the main living area, not to mention insects and rodents. Glass doors dont seal that well.
Xanndra
17 years ago
Also, even if you should construct a brand-new double-sided fireplace, they are notorious for smoking. It's a very poor design that doesn't work.
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If the alteration you are thinking about can be done, it would be a major and costly project. I would get the opinions of at least 3 different fireplace experts. If they all agree that it can be done, and on how it should be done and the cost, then it's up to you to decide whether you want it badly enough to spend the money and live with the mess while they're working. But if even one of the 3 experts advises against it, I would not do it. You do incur a risk of "expert" opinion that is wrong (not so expert), or worse, a so-called expert who is just looking to make some money, and he can't make money if he says it can't be done. There is also a risk that, once they start the alteration and dig into this or that, that they find womething they did not expect, and they tell you that it will cost more to do it because of the unexpected finding. You might also check with the forum in hearth.com. The people there love and breath fireplaces. You might get some interesting opinions from them. I wonder if they would agree or not.
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It's a wonderful blank slate to work with! You could have worse problems;) I'd avoid doing the same thing on both front and back. I'd start with an anchor piece on each side and work around that. Maybe a meaningful piece of artwork, large photo canvas, even a beautiful wreath for one side. Maybe a mirror on the other side. They would have to be large enough to take up a fair portion of your wall. I love the look of multiple photos stacked against each other (one big in the middle) but each in different heights and frames for lots of good height and depth variation. You could also have fun on one side, maybe your sitting room as conversation pieces - a large framed map of a country you may have visited with vintage travel books stacked on one side and a compass and globe. Whatever you pick, have fun! Looking forward to seeing photos once you complete it!
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It could be done but likely at a higher cost than just purchasing new cabinets. Biggest obstacle would be matching the doors. (Walzcraft has some designs that are very close, close enough.) Inset doors require more skill to hang. Other cost factor is painting because it will be impossible, or next to, to match the existing finish. Judging from your inspiration pix, looks like you're planning to paint them anyway.
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mountainstoveguy
17 years ago
If you are in the process of a remodel, look at the "twilight" by heat-n-glo. Its a gas fireplace that is double sided and designed for a interior/exterior application.
http://www.heatnglo.com/products/fireplaces/gasFireplaceDetail.asp?f=05950
deirdreb2000
8 years ago
Can I turn my living room prefab fireplace box around and open it to the outside? I want to seal and drywall the living room fireplace opening I no longer want a fireplace in my living room

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