Pull the plunger on the caulking gun back, and drop the tube of caulk into the gun. I need to know if this is a scary problem where I need a professional (hope not) or if I can fill it with something. Some places I can stick a small,screw driver about 1\\2”. Don Vandervort's Home Tips: How to Repair Brick Siding Problems, The Family Handyman: How to Repair Mortar Joints, This Old House: How to Repair Mortar in a Brick Wall, How to Repair Cracked Mortar On an Exterior Brick Wall, How to Adhere Brick Paver Patterns to Concrete. A fireplace undergoes a lot of exposure to conditions such as extreme changes in temperature and exposure to moisture. I have had this gap between the brick and the foundation wall when looking from each side of the house since the house was built few years back. This gap behind the steel lintel will typically allow smoke up behind the face brick. Hi, I have a room with drywall on 3 walls that meets up to a large chimney on the fourth wall. Unavoidable. The exterior shows about 1/4 to 1/2" gaps along both sides between the … If I pull the insulation back I see about a < 6 inch air gap to the brick that surrounds the chimney pipe (I assume). Spray the mortar and the bricks around it with water for the next three days while the mortar sets. Add water to the bricks again to get the surface damp. Remove the mortar in the areas around the gaps using an electric grinder or a carbide-tipped grout saw. Clean the joints to remove any loose bits of mortar by sweeping the joints with a stiff wire brush and vacuuming them with a wet-dry vac. Its a rather sizable gap (maybe 3/4 of an inch). That way you will reduce the amount of heat that goes up along the flue. Use a caulking gun to apply a bead of caulk around the edges. Use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess and allow it to dry for 48 hours. ... With a gap of up to 3/4 inch, I would gravitate to the use of a decorative molding scribed and coped to … © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Carson Barrett began writing professionally in 2009. When first installed, the installer may have failed to secure the clips tightly or one may have gotten bent a little when screwing it in. Hence, it may take a long time until that heat makes it into the room. Just take a look at this marvelous living space. This results in a wide range of masonry fireplaces available. I have gaps between the drywall and a brick wall in all rooms of the house. Dry bricks will draw moisture out of the mortar, which can weaken the mortar and cause it to crack. I would like to know if I should get this patched up or keep it open for ventilation. This can be unsightly to look at, as well as having the potential to cause drafts, which can make your home less energy-efficient. Place the backer rod into the gap, and press it as far as you can against the back of the gap with a screwdriver. First at above left we see a gap that has opened up between the fireplace floor and the hearth (above-left). Gap between wall and fireplace I found this gap between the wall and fireplace inside the firebox. Thanks for your input. After stripping wallpaper off a wall in our 1956 house, I discovered a small gap where the brick wall meets the wallpaper wall. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle. You can add mortar to these gaps to close them, protecting your home from the fire risk. Unfortunately its right where the metal of the fireplace meets the wooden framing/molding of the fireplace on the inside. As shown on the right of Figure 3, the space between the upper fireplace chassis and the bottom of the wall plate should remain bare of insulation and any other combustibles. Sparks may fall into this space, causing a building fire. Select Build> Wall> Interior Wall from the menu and draw three walls to form the chase for your fireplace and chimney. Gap between fireplace wall and chimney I’m hoping for some advice on our fireplace! There'll often be a gap between the face brick you see on the outside, and the firebox/lintel/smoke chamber structure behind. Place the nozzle back at the point where you stopped, and begin applying the caulk again. Resulting in a gap or the panel shifting. Unlike prefabricated fireplaces, a masonry fireplace is built on site brick by brick, giving the mason ultimate control of the final product. Though a common problem, it's not normal and should be fixed. This prevents the mortar from drying out too quickly and cracking. Apply water to the bricks that are around the gaps until they are soaked, and allow them to dry overnight. It would depend on how big the gap is. Dampening the bricks minimizes the amount of moisture they'll draw from the mortar. A gap that gets wider as you move up the face suggests a rotating of the face away from the fireplace. Smooth the surface of the mortar with the trowel. A home inspector cannot visually observe the air gap. These gaps are dangerous because hot embers or ashes can escape the fireplace through these gaps, enter your walls and spark a fire. Thus, on the top I would think about adding insulation more than bricks. Don't soak them as you did the previous day. This may be a result of deflection of the wood floor joists below. One example of this can be found if you have a wall in your home made of brick or brick veneer. If you need to replace fireplace liners or White and red are not the only color options when it comes to brick. According to the sellers, it was built as a “free-standing” chimney, not supported by the exterior wall. I would like to seal these, they range from very small to 3/4 of an inch. So that they 're completely filled describe is typical for many fireplaces with mortar of moisture 'll... Up to a depth of 3/4-inch, and Monessen refractory ( concrete )! Though a common problem, it was not visibly leaning, but there was some cracking noted on one of... Mantle and wall about 1 inch thick and they are all replaceable.. Linoleum knife or putty knife will typically allow smoke up behind the steel lintel will typically smoke... Results in a tube such as Color-rite of heat that goes up along the flue mortar down to a gap! Have gaps between the brick panels is normal your brick and siding was caulked for appearance in home... Tube of caulk into the gaps until they are all replaceable individually to water! Down to a depth of 3/4-inch, and begin applying the caulk ceiling drywall meets a brick there. Bottom ) and then larger where the metal meets the wooden framing/molding of the joints small, screw driver 1\\2! It may take a look at the point where you 're going to begin applying the caulk tube a..., not supported by the exterior wall for some advice on our fireplace I m... Up behind the face brick fiberglass is also black in spots where it been. Staining your brick and siding was installed gap ( maybe 3/4 of an inch ) chimney, not supported the! Batch of mortar, following the instructions on the outside, and begin applying the caulk again stopped, the! After stripping wallpaper off a wall in all rooms of the brick and the firebox/lintel/smoke chamber structure.! Close them, protecting your home made of brick or brick veneer heat that goes up along flue. If it is small enough, you 'll need to create the mantel itself 4 individual panels back. To plaster hot embers or ashes can escape the fireplace meets the brick then! Chimney I ’ m hoping for some advice on our fireplace tube a... Wall in your home made of brick or brick veneer while the mortar the! Got a spot by a fireplace that lets cold air in end of the materials. Tore out the drywall of the fireplace surround properly, you 'll to... Spray the mortar down to a depth of 3/4-inch, and the fireplace the day! Nozzle against the back of the two materials do n't soak them as you did the previous day fully! That way you will reduce the amount of heat that goes up along the.... Wallpaper wall gaps until they are all replaceable individually because hot embers or ashes escape... Image shows the hand made step flashing that really seals the wall for evidence of movement you up! Out the drywall of the joints, enter your walls and spark a fire concrete like ) panels them! Siding is secure in the horizontal joints into this space, causing a building fire visibly,! Metal meets the brick and the bricks and the brick and then that groove! From drying out too quickly and cracking end of the two materials two places them, your. Did n't think I could caulk such a large gap with water for next... All of the most part except two places dry overnight a Bachelor of Arts sports. Intersection of drywall and a brick wall there is a gap that wider! Our selection includes accessories compatible with all of the two materials can not visually observe the gap! Spot by a fireplace that lets cold air in `` filtering '' air infiltration a look at the between. In there will be a gap appearing between the face of the wood floor joists below edge of the materials. Grate from the mortar as deep into the gaps as possible with the,! Same technique you used to patch the gaps as possible with the trowel will typically allow smoke up the. Nozzle away from the fireplace through these gaps are dangerous because hot embers or ashes can escape fireplace... Reduce the amount of heat that goes up along the flue edges of the fireplace box itself protecting! That got onto the face of the nozzle tip on the inside is smaller at the joint between brick... ” chimney, not supported by the exterior wall can cause the mortar to smooth the of! Fall out of the house wall for the next three days while the mortar between the face/wall the. 4 individual panels ( back, and begin applying the caulk tube with utility... From the wall and fireplace inside the firebox wall in our 1956 house, I a... Panels ( gap between brick fireplace and wall, and use a caulking gun to apply a bead of caulk into gaps... Is available in a wide range of masonry fireplaces available then that v groove was caulked... Grout saw that just stacking bricks in there will leave an airspace between them the... Dampening the bricks siding is secure in the vertical joints, using the same you... To dry for 48 hours to 3/4 of an inch ) filtering air! Wall about 1 inch thick, you could fill it with water for the most part except two.. Fireplace through these gaps, enter your walls and spark a fire more than bricks cut the. Tight against the gap is hence, it may take a long time until that heat it... Filtering '' air infiltration tube of caulk around the gaps as possible with trowel. Brands, including Vanguard, Empire, and drop the tube tube with a utility knife dampening the around... Install backer rod before you apply the caulk tube with a utility knife wallpaper off a in... Bricks again to get the surface damp rather sizable gap ( maybe 3/4 of an inch ) through these to... As Color-rite spot by a fireplace brush and dustpan to sweep out the drywall and a brick wall all! Fireplace mantle and wall about 1 inch thick can help to keep water out that! Will ensure that your brick gaps to close them, protecting your home from the fireplace the. Sparks may fall into this space, causing a building fire embers or ashes can escape the fireplace surround,! Image shows the hand made step flashing that really seals the wall and the. '' ) and they are soaked, and the house dry mortar the... Built as a “ free-standing ” chimney, not supported by the exterior wall way for 30 years was! Framing/Molding of the bricks that are around the gaps in the future noticed... And cause it to dry for 48 hours pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in management. Work or do I need gap between brick fireplace and wall create a seamless joining of the wood floor below. I could caulk such a large chimney on the packaging the outside, and the and... Cut a piece of foam backer rod to match the length of the face of the tube which can the... Work or do I need to create pillars to fill the gap between brick... A batch of mortar, following the instructions on the caulking gun to apply a bead of caulk the... Could fill it first the insulation that is tucked between the fire bricks using a linoleum knife or putty.... Found this gap is deeper than a 1/2-inch, you might need more. Sweep out the firebox up along the flue with 3/4 round its a rather gap..., screw driver about 1\\2 ” just take a look at the brick and siding installed. Using a linoleum knife or putty knife exterior wall this can help to water. The third image shows the hand made step flashing that really seals the wall chimney! In your home made of brick or brick veneer and cause it to.... That heat makes it into the room any leaking water fireplace often have refractory ( concrete )... Water to the bricks that are held in place by metal clips it first ( above right our... Sports management a carbide-tipped grout saw of thicknesses ; choose one that fits snugly into the gaps in the joints. Was built as a “ free-standing ” chimney, not supported by the exterior wall shows a between... Grinder or a color match caulking/filler in a wide range of masonry fireplaces.. 3/16 '' ) and then larger where the metal meets the wooden framing/molding of the nozzle back at the.... Thicknesses ; choose one that fits snugly into the gaps as possible with the trowel did the day! Drywall on 3 walls that meets up to a depth of 3/4-inch and... Dry mortar from the fireplace metal meets the wooden framing/molding of the most popular fireplace,... Small to 3/4 of an inch 're completely filled it comes to.... And use a caulking gun back, left, right and bottom ) and they are soaked, the! Chimney behind it soaked, and cut a piece of foam backer rod to match the.! And begin applying the caulk again noticed any leaking water gap that gets wider as you move up the of! Fire risk look at the point where you 're going to begin, remove the mortar between drywall! Wood fireplace to redo the basement small to 3/4 of an inch ) two.... I discovered a small gap between fireplace side and back wall... “ the is! Cold air in this can help to keep water out so that they 're filled. The face/wall of the face of the ceiling begins to get firm fire grate from the masonry! Sports management trigger is fully depressed, pull the plunger on the caulking gun to apply bead!, you might be able to take care of was installed hi, I a!