Fireplace Built-in / Structural Help
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:37 pm
I posted over in the remodeling portion of the forum and haven't had any responses. I decided to post here and see if anyone who works in the business can provide a little advice.
Below I have done a drawing of how I would like to restructure the space to make it nearly symmetric or at least make it look closer to being intentional so it does not look off.
The cubby that is on the right side now has been nothing more than a catch-all for junk and is a real eye sore because with the column on one side and the cubby on the other, it just looks BAD. What I was wanting to do was basically extend the walls on either side of the fireplace and on the outside across the marriage line to create a fairly even look. Inside these "walls" I was going to create a built-in look with shelving. The right side of the fireplace would become an alcove for the upright freezer with a cleaning closet in the end that will have a door to match my kitchen cabinetry.
I am aware of the problems and the no-no's of removing marriage line walls. However, I was hoping to find out if extending the walls across the marriage line would provide more support than the 8"x6" column that is there now (in my mind it seems that it would anyway). We own the home and land so the house will most likely never need to be moved anyway. We considered purchasing a new home instead of trying to fix all the problems with our current home, but found that the terms were ridiculous. So we decided that if we were going to have to fix everything, and yes I mean everything from the subfloors to the roof, windows, and doors, then we were going to make our home work for our family and just put that 20K into our house and pay it off in 8 yrs. Since the home will be brand new by the time we are done with it, there is no need to worry about ever having to move it. It should last us as long as we need it to.
Input is appreciated. Ideas would be more than welcome as well. Thanks and God Bless!!
Below I am placing a before rough mock up of our fireplace which is in our living room. To the bottom of the photo is our living room, to the top is the kitchen. The fireplace, itsself, is actually on the kitchen side of the double wide. However, there is a "column" which is to the left of the fireplace that is on the living room half of the home. I have been told that it was most likely there as support during transportation. Below I have done a drawing of how I would like to restructure the space to make it nearly symmetric or at least make it look closer to being intentional so it does not look off.
The cubby that is on the right side now has been nothing more than a catch-all for junk and is a real eye sore because with the column on one side and the cubby on the other, it just looks BAD. What I was wanting to do was basically extend the walls on either side of the fireplace and on the outside across the marriage line to create a fairly even look. Inside these "walls" I was going to create a built-in look with shelving. The right side of the fireplace would become an alcove for the upright freezer with a cleaning closet in the end that will have a door to match my kitchen cabinetry.
I am aware of the problems and the no-no's of removing marriage line walls. However, I was hoping to find out if extending the walls across the marriage line would provide more support than the 8"x6" column that is there now (in my mind it seems that it would anyway). We own the home and land so the house will most likely never need to be moved anyway. We considered purchasing a new home instead of trying to fix all the problems with our current home, but found that the terms were ridiculous. So we decided that if we were going to have to fix everything, and yes I mean everything from the subfloors to the roof, windows, and doors, then we were going to make our home work for our family and just put that 20K into our house and pay it off in 8 yrs. Since the home will be brand new by the time we are done with it, there is no need to worry about ever having to move it. It should last us as long as we need it to.
Input is appreciated. Ideas would be more than welcome as well. Thanks and God Bless!!