Part 1: Installing a Granite Countertop and Kitchen Cabinets Part 2: Mahogany Deck and Kitchen Appliances Part 3: Installing a Gas Fireplace and Refinishing the Hardwood Floor Joe Murphy installs a direct vent gas-driven fireplace (from Vermont Castings), demonstrating how the direct vent uses outside air for combustion. Howard Brickman is marrying the antique floor with the new reclaimed floor. The focus is on sanding, before Brickman applies a water-based finish by Bonatech, which is used with a Bonatech sealer. The sealer and finish protect the floors and are abrasion- and water-resistant. ALL EPISODES IN ELMWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD 3,525 posts, read 6,581,089 times Does a gas fireplace require something like tile in front of it in case of sparks? I plan to have a laminate floor and wondered if that's ok. Home Depot didn't know . 8,922 posts, read 33,173,370 times 2,730 posts, read 4,658,081 times 2,054 posts, read 2,741,445 times Originally Posted by adventuregurl

When I said fixed glass it's not permanently attached, it just a single piece as opposed to "glass doors" that people put on f/pl's. As for everything you described, no hearth would be required.Bathtubs Finished On Two SidesDoes My Gas Fireplace Need a Hearth If I Put in Hardwood Floors?Where To Buy A Bathroom Vanity In Toronto Safety codes regarding hearths, mantels and surrounds for wood-burning fireplaces are clear. Where To Buy Oversized Mirrors In TorontoAnd there is a good reason for that clarity; embers and sparks flying from an open flame can easily burn flooring laid too close to the firebox. Gas fireplaces, on the other hand, are less of a fire hazard and aren't governed by such strict codes.

"Zero-clearance" units will not need a hearth, but other types will. Types of Gas Fireplaces The flame in a gas fireplace is contained within a glass-fronted firebox in order to combine easy viewing and safety. Some gas fireplaces are only used for aesthetics and do not offer any heat output. Other models combine beauty and efficient heating capabilities. Natural-vent gas fireplaces are vented through the roof, often using an existing, wood-burning chimney. Direct-vent fireplaces are vented through a wall behind the fireplace. Vent-free gas fireplaces do not require venting and can be placed almost anywhere in your home. Benefits of Gas Fireplaces Fueled by either natural gas or propane, gas fireplaces are clean-burning and efficient. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, "heater-rated" gas fireplaces offer similar heat output to a central furnace and can even be vented to channel heat to surrounding rooms. Many gas fireplaces will run during a power outage, offering a reliable source of back-up heat for your home.

Gas fireplaces are considered gas appliances, not true fireplaces. As such, they are not regulated by the same safety codes as wood-burning fireplaces, and each model has its own requirements. Some gas fireplaces are built with "zero-clearance" fireboxes, meaning you can put combustible materials right up to the sides, front and bottom. Not all gas fireplaces are zero-clearance, however, and some may require a hearth. Check your owner's manual for clearance specifications. If you don't have the manual, locate the fireplace model name or number and contact the manufacturer. Your retailer or installer may also be able to help you determine whether or not you need a hearth. Whenever you need to move, modify or in any way alter your fireplace or the area around it, contacting your original installer, or another reputable installer, is recommended. In addition to concerns regarding combustible materials in proximity to the firebox, you may need to address other issues. Fireplaces suck air from the room where they are placed and some, like the vent-free models, can severely deplete the oxygen in a room.

Before you move your fireplace, it is important to ensure the room is big enough to support it without becoming oxygen-deficient. Vent-free fireboxes can also release toxins into the air, like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, that may become problematic in small spaces. Mantel Depot: Fireplace Mantels Building Codes - National Standard Regency Fireplace Products: P36 Zero Clearance Direct Vent Gas Fireplace Heat and Glo: ST-36TR-IPI Owner's Manual HMI Fireplace Shop: Frequently Asked Questions Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association: Gas Firplaces Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada: Guide to Gas Fireplaces Rules of Fireplace Surrounds Building Codes for a Residential Fireplace How to Put a New Hearth Over an Old Hearth How to Install Tile Over Plywood Around the Fireplace How Do I Install a Fireplace Screen? Gas only fireplace hearth requirments Become a home inspector in Maryland Re: Gas only fireplace hearth requirments

Washington State Licensed Home Inspector # 221 President, Washington Association of Property Inspectors (WAPI) (253) 241-0602 calls answered until 10pm Puyallup Home Inspectors - Olympia Home Inspectors Pierce County -Thurston County - King County - Snohomish County Originally Posted by sstanczyk I almost feel sorry for the Realtors in your area, nit-picker! Jeffrey R. JonasOwatonna, Minnesota "I am not a teacher, but an awakener." - Robert Frost, American poet (1874-1963). "We Respect Our Clients Right to Privacy" Originally Posted by jjonasWhen they want it done right, like for their own home, they call. When they want it done fast and cheap, they don't. Thanks for the reply and good information. The interior hearth and exterior hearth extension designations will help me be more accurate in reporting. The unit I am asking about is not equipped or sealed with a glass plate or doors. Stephen, It is an original gas unit. I see them a lot in condos but most have some hearth extension.

The gas valve,flex pipe and control valve are located directly under the fire box behind a removable metal plate. There is a place there to light the pilot light etc. The lower part is almost like a radiant heat wall heater in a 50's home. The gas flame operates from a wall switch. Maybe it is just missing the original glass doors but Ive seen these before and all have been without the doors. I would send a photo but am new with NACHI and don't have the know how. There's a paperclip above? I always use "Manage Attachments" below my post where all the other stuff is. By George I think I've got it. Does this photo help at all. Hope it is here. In any case thanks again, Claude Originally Posted by crhead1Attachment 47850 In any case thanks again, Claude Yep, looks like you got it. Go into the MB Control Panel at the top left to edit your location, signiture, and other info. That gas only fireplace is typical, except for there being no glass. You will need to check for local requirements.