Local gas fireplace installation in Bryceville

Above walks, drives and the ground

A termination has to sit high enough above the ground to stay clear of plants, debris and anything stacked against the wall, and the manual gives a minimum height above grade. Where the termination sits over a paved walkway or driveway between two houses, the clearance table drawn from NFPA 54 sets a much greater height, because people pass close to it. We check what is below the chosen spot, including walks, drives, steps and patios, and move the termination if the height cannot be met on that stretch of wall. Mulch beds that build up over the years reduce the height, so we leave some margin.

Framing the enclosure and the header

Framing starts from the manual's drawing, which gives the width, height and depth of the enclosure and the header height above the unit. The header matters because the space above a gas fireplace gets hot, and the manual sets how high framing can come. Some units have drywall support tabs on their face, and the manuals point out that those tabs are for holding the drywall edge and never for carrying framing or a header.

We build the enclosure to the drawing, square and plumb, so the unit sits where the clearances assume it does. A header set too low means reframing, so it is measured twice.

What the unit sits on

The manuals we install from let a unit sit directly on wood flooring or a subfloor. When it would sit on carpet, tile or another combustible surface other than wood flooring, the manuals call for a metal or wood panel under the full width and depth of the unit. The unit is then secured to the floor or to the framing with the fasteners and points the manual shows, so it cannot shift when the facing is installed or the glass is removed for service. Raised platforms are built to the same rule, with the panel on top. The panel goes on before the unit is slid into place.