After a bit of a hiatus on WW projects, I restarted this year - with the first project just clearing out accumulated misc materials from the shop. That was done to a sufficient level that I could actually do some work on a few things. Having this project under my belt I am looking forward to more projects (and more clearing out).
My son and DIL bought a house a few years ago that had the remains of a fireplace. The first-time house flippers that sold the house to them had done what anyone would do (or NOT) and covered this brick facade with LVL flooring - "Well hey, at least it matches the floor!"; there's plenty of other stupidity that went on, at least this one did not violate code. Upon purchase they peeled off the weird flooring on the wall and discovered the non-working fireplace (facade); the brickwork outside and chimney had been removed and that side of the house has new siding (so this change not particularly visible from the outside).
Sometime later my DIL sketched a fireplace surround and asked if I could build it - sure! Eventually I decided to build it as 5 pieces; the base, 2 columns, a 'lintel' below the mantel, and the mantel. I'd build and pre-finish at my shop, then transport the pieces for assembly and install.
Here's the result.
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4 of 5 pieces (except the mantel) are 3 sided boxes, open at the back, and made of 4/4 poplar. I used the Domino to align pieces of the boxes, and to create the consistent reveal (face of each box is set back 1/8").
The 4 non-mantel pieces were assembled and screwed together and slid into place in one piece. 2x4 cleats had been screwed to the walls at the 4 corners, and the open backside of the boxes were slid over them; simple finishing nails hold this in place. The mantel rested on the columns and is actually not attached to the wall at all. A couple of screws anchor it to the columns. The crown molding hides all of this from view.
The "clients' and I were both very pleased with the result; I had the pleasure of building something for them that I know they wanted but couldn't afford to have custom built. Build itself was fun, the pieces were sprayed here before install; I really enjoyed doing the install in part because the plan came together the way I had hoped, and in part because I got to do this with my son (teaching him some along the way, he asked a lot of questions).
I have still the board to inset into the opening, but I have not yet cut it to fit. 
Henry
Creator of sawdust, occasional shavings, and sometimes a finished project
New project: Fireplace surround completed and installed
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Re: New project: Fireplace surround completed and installed
#2Henry, very nice. I had a flashback. When I was doing home inspections for buyers I went to a house that had a similar surround with a very realistic firebox painted into the opening. At the end of the inspection the buyer asked about the fireplace. Was the flue safe, could they use it? (trick question?) I pointed out that there was no flue and it was not a real fireplace. just a picture.. The buyer and agent were stunned. The house was listed and being sold as having a fireplace. They made me show them that there was no chimney on the roof and none in the attic. They were deflated. ... to this day I wonder if they ever really thought there was a fireplace?
Re: New project: Fireplace surround completed and installed
#3Barry Irby wrote:Henry, very nice. I had a flashback. When I was doing home inspections for buyers I went to a house that had a similar surround with a very realistic firebox painted into the opening. At the end of the inspection the buyer asked about the fireplace. Was the flue safe, could they use it? (trick question?) I pointed out that there was no flue and it was not a real fireplace. just a picture.. The buyer and agent were stunned. The house was listed and being sold as having a fireplace. They made me show them that there was no chimney on the roof and none in the attic. They were deflated. ... to this day I wonder if they ever really thought there was a fireplace?
Well Barry, that is hilarious (if it wasn't deliberately deceptive). Your home inspection experience has provided insight into a lot of 'stuff' that goes on in real estate - sometimes exposing the truth. The only fraud/trickery was listing this with a fireplace - and the realtor may have simply been fooled (or been deliberately deceptive!). Good thing they asked. Can you imagine them going to build a cozy fire on that first cold fall evening? "This log just won't go into the firebox. I keep hitting some sort of protective shield!"
You do raise the expectation level on the paint job of this yet-to-be-placed panel. I have it finished in the same white - as requested, it just isn't installed. I personally like the current gift wrap motif.
Henry