How Would You Remodel This Fireplace Without Blocking Vents?? TIA!

4 years ago

Hi there! I could use some help deciding how to bring new life to this 80s gas fireplace. It appears it used to be a wood burning Heatilator fireplace (hence the three vents) but was later converted to a gas insert. From what I've read, although the blowers are not in use, it's against code to cover the vents. (I've seen quite a few DIY stories online, where they covered the vents anyway, but we want this to be a functioning fireplace). We are currently remodeling the whole house and going with a modern farmhouse style. I know this fireplace is very much mid century modern, but there are other elements in the home (rustic wood beams and stained glass) that will help bring the look together without ignoring the character of the home. Plus, that's our style, and we're remodeling it for ourselves as we plan to live here a long time.
The easiest, lowest cost option would be to clean and paint the stone white or black and swap the old vents for decorative ones in the same color so they blend in. Then replace the painted 2x4 with a thick wood beam mantel. Also, paint the brass fireplace trim with high heat black paint.
BUT...we would ideally like to be able to mount our TV above the fireplace. There really is no other place where a TV makes sense in the layout of the room. The wall on the right is all floor to ceiling windows. However, the mantel is too high to mount the TV. I'm wondering if we can knock off the mantel supports and then add white shiplap. We would add a white decorative metal grate over the center vent in the brick, as well as two white decorative vents on the bottom and shiplap around those. Thoughts? It's so hard to work around the vents!
Any ideas are appreciated!

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Comments (4)

PRO
Hansen Wholesale
4 years ago
Here's a couple unique ideas. Running the shiplap right up to the opening may not be up to code as shown in the first option. Fortunately there is an aluminum shiplap that is non-combustible that is available for this purpose. So the solutions below can all be done with metal surfaces specifically designed for this type of application where there are heat restrictions. The reason your wood mantel is as high as it is, is most likely because you are required to have that clearance above the vents to the bottom of a wood mantel. The examples below have the mantel directly over the vents while still allowing airflow. A mantel will be important in order to block heat from the TV. I see no other way to do this than with a metal mantel.

This is a metal mantel shelf. The center section beneath the mantel is directly over the brick vent and pops out a couple inches to allow air to flow around it from the vents. You would see the air space from the sides.

This is a metal mantel surround with a metal facing using the same concept for the center piece under the mantel.

If you need a resource for these materials let me know.
Rachel Lee
4 years ago
What if you incorporate the vents into the design? I can’t do the fancy mockups, but do the fire resistant ship lap material, but in varying widths, and make bands of narrower widths conveniently land over the vents. You could do it either horizontally or vertically.
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User
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Shiplap and farmhouse is dead. Sleek and Modern is where its at. Which that does quite well with the stacked bond brick. If you do ansolutely nothing, youll be miles ahead of ripping out all that shiplap in a year’s time.

Otherwise, what needs to happen will not be cosmetic. The entire structure would need to be torn out and rebuilt, without the vents. That, and eliminating the raised hearth, and lowering the firebox, is the ONLY way to get a TV above that fireplace. Find a different TV room, and leave that for conversation and family time.
Sarah S
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks all for the opinions. The mock ups were super helpful, Hansen Wholesale. We may abandon the idea of mounting our TV above the fireplace. Even with a lowered metal mantel to cover and reroute the vent, I think we're short on space. I'm now leaning toward covering the brick with a white marble look tile that can be cut around the top vent. Possibly with shiplap incorporated.