Your local chimney and fireplace pros in Mayport

Clearance to combustibles is the gap between hot parts of a fireplace or chimney and anything that can burn, and it is checked on every fireplace we look at, whatever its age. For a masonry fireplace, the Florida Building Code asks for at least 2 inches between wood framing and the front faces and sides, and 4 inches at the back.

Combustible trim and mantels may sit on the masonry face but not within 6 inches of the opening, and within 12 inches of the opening they may project no more than one-eighth inch for each inch of distance. A masonry chimney inside the house needs 2 inches of airspace to combustibles, and one entirely outside the exterior walls needs 1 inch.

Factory-built fireplaces and chimneys have their clearances set by their listing, and the numbers are printed in the manual and sometimes on the rating plate. The hearth extension in front of the opening also has minimum sizes in the code. Clearances get lost over time, when a mantel is added, a wall is paneled, or trim is run up to the opening during a remodel.

We measure what can be reached from the room, the attic and the chase, and where a clearance falls short, the estimate marks the spot and what it would take to correct it. Some fixes are simple, such as trimming back a wood edge, while others mean rebuilding a surround. The estimate says who does any mantel or trim carpentry that a correction to the clearances needs.

Heat damage shows up as darkened or charred wood near the opening or in the attic beside the chimney, and either one means the fireplace stays cold until someone qualified has looked at it. Factory-built units also need their clearances checked at the chase, where framing, insulation and firestops sit close to the listed chimney sections.

The clearance check is part of every visit we make in Mayport, and anything too close is written up. Mayport homeowners can call (904) 920-5495 for a same-day visit when the schedule allows.