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Flooring Design Dilemma Woodworking

getting new hardwoods and have a dilemma

last year

We are getting new hardwoods and removing these old laminates next week. Looking at how the fireplace hearth will be much lower, how are we supposed to do baseboards? We have 5-1/4” baseboards but it will be higher than the hearth by quite a bit once it is all said and done.

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Comments (17)

Lynzy
last year
You’re going to need to post a much wider shot of your fireplace area to get helpful input. It’s impossible to see what’s going on/what you’re worried about with this zoomed in photo.
jdw7
Original Author
last year
Here’s a shot from further back. Sorry I’ve got plywood sheets in the way
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Lynzy
last year
On seeing the hearth, avoid the issue altogether and tear out the hearth and lay the new flooring in its place. That hearth is just an odd obstacle.
RTHawk
last year
I would check the code for fireplace hearths before deciding what to do with it
jdw7
Original Author
last year
Can you expound? We haven’t touched the fireplace yet and didn’t have plans to.
Lynzy
last year
There may be a code that requires you to have time or some other non-combustible beneath the fireplace box. It looks like a gas fireplace, so I doubt there is such a code, but check with your city codes. If you have to have a non-combustible, I’d still rip out what you have and inlay slate to be flush with your new floor to avoid your other issue. You’re doing the floors anyway. Now would be the time.
jdw7
Original Author
last year
Thanks. It’s a wood burning fireplace. We don’t use it but would be nice to
Lynzy
last year
Since it’s wood burning, I’m almost certain you’ll need a non combustible surface there, but definitely double check.
jdw7
Original Author
last year
Thanks for all your help!
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
You have a ship lap wall treatment, you don't need baseboards. Baseboards were designed to protect fragile plaster walls... Just use a simple square moulding or shoe at the bottom to hide the gap
kculbers
last year
I agree to check the code reguarding your fireplace. Safety around a fireplace should not be compromised. Please post pictures when your project is completed!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Then you need a hearth but check maybe a much lower one to match up with the new floor level can happen
PRO
G & S Floor Service
last year
Agree with Hallet, undercut the shiplap and slide the flooring under it. Looks more cleaner.
Lorraine Leroux
last year
NO baseboard around shiplap or hearth but yes to 1/4 round to cover expansion gap in flooring.
PRO
Frank and Frank
last year
The fireplace is already out of code, covered with combustible wood right up to the firebox. You're going to have to touch it, and remove all of that. How did the home inspector not catch that? It has to be a non combustible surface surrounding the firebox.
palimpsest
last year
The area in red needs to be non combustible material. In some locations it is more than 6".

There is a formula about how far the fireplace mantel can project at various heights above the firebox opening.
jdw7
Original Author
last year
Thanks all. We found out it is 8” of non combustible materials here. Our home inspector missed a lot. This house has been a huge headache. We won’t touch the fireplace until it is fixed with the proper materials.

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