The New Stack Stone Fireplace!

Being in a small town, it was difficult to find someone that had time and/or wanted to take on the huge task of taking down the rest of the fireplace, haul away all the bricks and build a new one.  Freezing temperatures and 3 major holidays complicated our efforts; it took another 2 months to complete the job.

We chose a very basic 36" wood burning fireplace. 
It's a cabin, nothing fancy allowed!

  http://www.efireplacestore.com/fsd-b36l.html

 

 

 

 

Solid cedar mantle being installed.  It didn't turn out as beefy as I wanted, but that will be an easy fix in the future.

 

 



Organized chaos!

 

 

Our first fire was on January 18, 2014.

 

We originally chose a stack stone that could be purchased off the shelf at Lowes.  When it was time to purchase, they had discontinued it.  Due to time constraints, we choose a stone based on the description and small photo on the internet.  Once delivered, the stones had more grey tones than expected.  I really wanted tan/brown tones, but in the end I think it turned out great! 

 

http://manufactured-rock.com/trad_stone.html 

Appalachian Ledge Stone



Updated - 1 year later.
 

Foundation Work and Collapsed Fireplace!

We knew going into this project, the whole cabin needed to be re-leveled, including the fireplace.  All the local contractors said, "take the fireplace down, and start over".  I was stubborn and wanted to save the brick fireplace.  So, I called in a foundation company from the big city.  They were confident that it could be saved.  After all, engineers were involved, what could possibly go wrong, right?

 

 

 

 

If you look at the base of the fireplace, you can see the right side is sinking.

 

I'm no engineer, but this doesn't look safe!

 

 

After jacking up (no pun intended) the fireplace, the interior bricks started to bulge out.  Work was stopped immediately as the foundation company was afraid the fireplace would collapse.  They told us that we would have to take the bricks down, then call them back out to finish the leveling...what?!?!

 

 

 

Our plan was to take the bricks down one by one.  Hubby wanted to see how hard and time consuming this task was going to be, so he decided to chisel out the first brick.  He told me it wasn't going to be as hard as he thought.  So, I headed to the store to pick up tarps to protect the floor.

 

Shorty after leaving, I received this picture in a text message!  The caption said, "no one got hurt".  Apparently, Hubby got to the 4th brick on the top row and the whole thing came crashing down!  Thank God, nobody was standing in front of it.  We won't discuss the large divots in the wood laminate floor or the amount of dust that covered every square inch of the cabin.  Can you see the daylight coming in?  During the leveling and collapse, the firebox, bricks and flue were damaged.  The entire thing had to come down.



 

Good thing I went to the store to purchase those tarps!  We tarped the fireplace as best as we could.  It took 2 months before work could begin.

 

 

 

 

Check back to see the construction of the new stack stone fireplace!

 

   

   

Mama Needs a Hot Shower and Air Conditioning!

If Mama ain't happy, nobody's happy!  As much as I love being in nature, I don't like to glisten (sweat).  A new water heater, a/c and heat were first on the list!  I can't even function if I can't wash my hair or cool off.  One of my favorite finds thus far, is the log of filter changes, dating back to May of 1975.  Without it, we wouldn't have been able to identify the approximate age of the cabin.

 

 

 

 Original A/C

 

The original A/C and heat pump system had to be replaced....Ewww!

 

The electric water heater was shot too!  It wasn't even connected during our inspections.



 

Isn't she pretty?!?!  Hey, who broke my Post Oak Tree?

 

Hot water!

 

Timber!

Shortly after closing, we had 13 dead pine trees taken down.  Some were 60+ years old and could have done some serious damage to the cabin if they had fallen on it.  The steep slope of the property posed a huge challenge during the process.  The tree guys worked very hard and did a great job.  Very few healthy trees were hit or damaged from the falling trees. 



 Darn Pine Beetles!

 

 This one was the oldest one,  I counted 60+ rings.

 

 

I did manage to get some great stumps for our future fire pit area!

 

 

Check back to see photos of the foundation work that resulting in the fireplace collapsing...OH MY!

Before the Renovations Began!

My husband and I had been looking for the perfect "weekender" for seven years. We considered a few different locations within an hour and a half drive time from home.  Finally, we decided on a cabin in the woods, located in a small town.  The cabin was about 40 years old and had been neglected for quite some time.  It needed everything, new roof, water heater, a/c and heat, leveling, appliances, new shower surround, plumbing, fixtures, electrical panel, window blinds, 13 dead trees removed, paint inside and out, and the list goes on and on.  It was crying out for new owners with vision.  Follow our progress as we renovate "Stone Creek Cabin".

 

 

It was this 60 foot porch and view that sealed the deal!

 

The sunsets are incredible! 

 

 

The creek was an added bonus.

 

 

Check back to view photos of the progress...