Q: I plan to set up a gas stove in a fireplace built in 1800. But the floor of the fireplace has an ugly black area, I think from creosote that washed down the chimney when it rained. How do I remove ...

Q: I have a question regarding my old fireplace, built in the 1920s with a brick facade that was added in the 1950s. The brick facade has been painted white and is as ugly as can be. The fireplace ...

This blog post is about fireplace hearth extension rules, but first, a quick story to explain why I'm blogging about such a boring topic. I've said it before and I'll say it again; one learns from ...