Opinions on covering a chimney

[Micscience]

I have a chimney and a heating duct standing side by side as you can see in these pictures that I uploaded. I am not personally doing this project however this is for my mother. She either wants to cover the chimney and duct with a box frame like a sofet and cement decorative stone onto the outside of it. I was hoping I could get GJ member's opinions on what they would do if it were there house I'm just trying to get more ideas threw more experienced eyes. I apologize if this thread is unrelated, if inappropriate please let me know. Thank You.

 

[rlitman]

If that is a real chimney, you need a 1" clearance between it and combustible materials (such as that plywood sub-floor). So, you would need to build a wall around it, and enclose it.

If the chimney was abandoned (I've gone one like this), think about removing it to free up the space (a project I'm starting on next week).

 

[NUTTSGT]

Since it is in an odd place, while open. I'd box it back in and include it into the wall back to the cabinet wall.

 

[Micscience]

rlitman
It is a real chimney however it is only used for the gas water heater's carbon monoxide to exit the house and the home central heater also has a pipe fixed into the chimney probably for the same thing, although I'm not sure. Removing the chimney sounds interesting. I just need to figure out if it is ok or according to code to use tin or stainless steel ventilation for the water heater and central heater.


NUTTSGT
I am aware of the 1inch radius around the chimney however I always understood that it was for movement since the chimney sways, that is good to know.


My water heater outlet:

Other pipe from home heating system

 

[rlitman]

No, you cannot just use tin to replace it. There are metal chimneys you could replace it with, but they cost big bucks. B-vent -might- be appropriate. I'm not an expert on this.

Anyway, removing it doesn't get rid of the air duct, so it buys you very little space regardless.

It is in a weird place. If you box it all the way back to the wall, you would have a nice place for a closet however.

 

[WQ59B]

If the furnace/water heater is venting thru that, you're not eliminating it.

That kitchen space is pretty tight, to the point if it were me I would not wall off the chimney solid to the left wall- IMO it would make the kitchen too confined/dark. Looks like you just took a wall out of there, anyway.

What about if you stone-faced the masonry chimney, then boxed the duct in and add quarter-round knick-knack shelves floor-to-ceiling in the 'notch' to the right of the duct. Drawing the eye to this obstruction in a decorative way might 'feel' better/look more upscale than a giant box you're supposed to ignore, and the stone facing would make for a much smaller obstruction than a 1" air gap + 1.5" framing +.5"drywall (per side).

 

[Micscience]

I would like to re-route the heater vent as well maybe along side the wall in a sofit like you mentioned or threw another room re-routed from the basement.
The B-vent seems like a good idea.

I was curious why I couldn't use tin? is it because of leaks? because there is duct sealant which eliminates leaks but I'm not sure how efficient it is.

WQ59B I like that idea. I'll mention it to my mother if we some how have to keep the chimney.

 

[6768rogues]

Cannot use tin because it is not listed for venting a gas appliance in a concealed space. And it will probably burn the house down. You should be able to use B vent with proper clearances, which are likely an inch to combustibles.

 

[Micscience]

So it can be done! I need to research a little bit more. I need to figure out how to re-route the heating vent that is along side the chimney.

 

[rlitman]

If you're going to all that effort, you may as well try to re-route everything to be up against the wall in a bulkhead.

 

[bighead51]

I think that's what he is talking about moving heat duct /removing chimney. Yes it can be done just check out code requirements for relocating heating and water heater vents to the outside. That would be your best bet for more room.

 

[Micscience]

bighead51 that is what I'm talking about but instead of the bulkhead I mean threw the outer wall from the basement maybe all the way up to the roof depending on code. Thing is code is pretty hard to find I did a google search and didn't really find a website with all the construction code resources. Anyone know of a website or is it better done calling the department.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Most likely I would box it in, and run a lower cabinet to the wall with a counter top that ties in to the rest of the cabinets. Then I would put in upper cabinets to the ceiling, mounted to make a pass through opening tall enough to make it seem like a window. Doors on both sides of that cabinet, and it could L back to the stove. Your counter top would be as wide as the boxed in chimney.

Consider putting the sink where the stove is. I don't see where your fridge is located.

 

[Micscience]

Nice Idea I'll run it by my mother dukes the only thing about mounting cabinets to the ceiling is that the ceiling height is around 81/2 to 9ft in the kitchen. The fridge is located more to the right on the picture it is not visible because of a wall is blocking it.