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marina_lehane100

Fireplace wall heat crack

Marina Lehane
last year

Remodeled my fireplace and reinstalled my gas insert only to discover a long hairline crack in the wall after running the unit a few times. Need help understanding what went wrong and how to fix it.


Facts:

1) Direct vent gas insert for existing firebox of old wood burning fireplace

2) Old fireplace wall was extended out with metal studs and hardiebacker, insulated with fireblock foam

3) Hardiebacker was skim coated with drywall mud and painted with regular interior eggshell Benjamin Moore paint

4) Fireplace ran for a few hours without the fan, the crack appeared as the wall started to cool once the fireplace was turned off. The wall area above the fireplace was hot to touch.


Was anything done wrong? How should I fix it? I would prefer not to install tile, I love the minimal look of a painted white fireplace wall against the black surround.



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