I finally managed to finish the fireplace. We have decided to place a 2" piece of metal in front (which hasn't been done yet), though, to keep the glass off the ledge. We thought it would be deep enough, but that didn't quite work.
To enable me to keep the center area smooth, we had to place the burner on top of the wall pipe, which created a rather high burner placement. This ended up creating a bit of a problem because I had a steep slope to the hearth. This is why I need to add the metal strip in front--so the glass doesn't roll down and come out of the fireplace. We had decided to not have a glass door on it, although if we find something we really like, that could change.
The pics might come in 2-3 e-mails, but I'll describe them here. The first few pics are duplicates of ones I already sent you.
1. Original fireplace, emptied out.
2-3. After painting with the dark blue from the chart you guys gave us. The wall was painted to match, although, I'm not sure I really like it. I'm trying to reserve judgement until I see it for awhile.
The damper handle is a brass duck head which wasn't even noticeable when it was all black.
4-5.New burner in place. This created more problems than expected due to the wall pipe being higher than most. We ended up using regular lava rock, since we couldn't find the smaller rocks. Then we added small pea gravel to fill in gaps around the lava rock. After the burner was finally level, we added the sand.
6. Testing the burner with sand added.
7. Clear glass base added.
8. Rest of colors were added--Starfire, Azurlite, Cranberry-Pink, with a little Steel Blue Topper and a few Ice Cubes.
9-10. All finished and burning.
We're still working on the right side of this wall which has cabinets holding the TV and storage. Once the entire wall is finished, I'll send you one final pic of the entire wall. Not sure how soon that will happen, so don't wait for it, if you want to post these pics on your website.
I want to thank you for all your help. Your store was great to visit, so we could pick our glass out in person. Your staff was very helpful and we had a great time making our final color choices. I'll will definitely recommend you to others.
Senior Instructor for Art Clay
PMC Certified
crafterjudi@yahoo.com e mail any comments or questions to Judi
The fireplace below has a Clear base with Emerald Green Topper. As you can see with this self install how easy it actually is.
The fireplace below is a propane pan burner with a lava rock fill. You don't want to crush your own lava rock because of the time. You can use larger lava around the edges of the pan but you will want to use crushed lava in the pan up to the surface of the burners. The glass use in this fireplace was a Ford blue base with Ford Blue Reflective on top. Topped with Clear Pyrite and Amber accents. The install went very well except for the rock crushing episode.
The fireplace below is a direct vent self installation with a Starfire base and Hyacinth Topper. There are a few fireplace companies who say this can't be done, really! So I guess this doesen't really didn't happen, did it?
Above you see all the components that make a direct vent work
and below you see the finished product. This was completed by Teresa Leets, an attorney in Los Angeles. So much for those fireplace guys.
The fireplace below was done for
Nick Cannon (now married to Mariah Carey!)(http://www. nickcannon.com/ ) in Hollywood Hills California. We installed a remote control inside of the fireplace on the left side as you will see. The remote control was an IPI (Intermittent Pilot Ignition) so the pilot light only goes on when you turn the fireplace on with the remote control. We use a lava base filler and topped it with 1/8" Black for a very fine layered look. The fireplace was coated with a high heat concrete mix to make it look wider and lower. A very contemporary look and it looks great.
The remote is on the lower left side with crushed lava all around
We have turned it on to a low flame
Now we add the 1/8" Black
and now you have one very simple but unique fireplace. You almost can't see the remote because of the glass color. The remote was to go inside the left cabinet but the plumber forgot to show up, oh well. But it's done and everyone is happy.
The fireplace below was installed by the customer (Kim Clark) with a remote control, propane burner manufactured by us and topped with Starfire. The fireplace was transformed form an ordinary to work of art, nice job!
The picture below has the burner being tested
This is the remote control on the lower right with the pilot light assembly
We now have fire!
The fireplace below was modified to look like the HGTV fireplace did a while back for Pie Town Productions. We use Bronze Rust Copper base glass in the fireplace.
Ugly above and
Not ugly below, simple!
The fireplace below is a self install with a 2" base of crushed lava
painted with metallic warm brown paint
18 18 double burner
Bronze base glass
Bronze Reflective
Gold
Ice Ice Ice
Diamonds
Dark Red Orange Topper
The fireplace below is a propane fireplace. A bed of crushed lava was installed and a clear base glass was used to cover it all up.
Step 1, paint it!
Step 2, cover the old brick!
Finish the face and floor, very nice!
Install the propane pan burner
Fill in and all around the pan with crushed lava rock.
On the left side you can see the gas connection which will soon be covered as well. On the right side the control cover will be covered as well. This propane pan burner was fitted with a remote control, radio frequency.
Now that your finished your ready for FIRE! Have your spouse lite it in the event they didn't follow the instructions! (just kidding again)!
The fireplace below was installed in Palm Springs, California. The base glass is Starfire and then we topped it with 1 lb of Pirates Topper.
This is a typical fireplace but this one has lava rock stacked up inside, yuck!
Below you can see the flame hitting the back wall creating a soot mark, not very nice looking. The customer didn't want the fireplace painted, why?
There's that soot mark! If you do paint make sure the work is not spotty! That looks nasty as well.
Above you see the typical hard piped burner installed which is fine for logs or lava. But this does not really work well for glass.
Below you see the double burner installed with an 18" flex line.
Test the burner and pour the glass, now it looks nice except for the soot mark!
Now we added 1 lb of our Topper, Pirates!
The fireplace below has Azurlite base glass with Dark Red Orange and Yellow Amber on top.
The fire pit below has a Clear base glass,
Cobalt Blue Topper,
Copper Blue Topper and
Azurlite base glass for one very nice fire pit and back yard!
The fireplace below is in Palm Springs, California and is a self install
Clean and paint the walls in the color of your choice, we offer 25 colors!
Screw on the flex line adapter
Attach the flex line and burner with the flex line under the burner.
Test the burner to insure the flames are not hitting the back wall.
Pour on the glass, with or with out filler (sand or crushed lava rock)
and your done!
The fireplace below is a self install with a Hanover Red back ground, The glass that was used is a Clear base with Starfire on top. The Red and Orange Toppers were applied. Jon and Liz Kleinman even labeled their pictures for us.
Then the Starfire and toppers were added.
The fireplace below is a self install with out any filler. They used a Clear base glass with a 17 lb layer of Starfire base glass to cover the Clear base glass.
The fireplace below is in Santa Monica California. The fireplace is a Malm Fireplace which can be found at:
or
We used an 18" double stainless steel burner and a bed of Starfire topped with a few pounds of our Ice Ice Ice.
This is a very simple self installation as you will see.
The fire pit below was built by Mark Showalter in Washington state.
He used:
Gray and Gray Reflective base glass,
Gray Pyrite,
Copper Ruby Red Topper,
and Black base glass mixed in.
This is the stone pot with the bottom up.
They drilled for the trimming valve to be installed.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and here you have it.
The fireplace below is a self install in Palm Springs at Tim Rockwood's. About 2" of crushed lava was used and a 2" layer of Solex base glass was installed over a double 18" burner. Watch how simple this really is. From ugly to one really nice fireplace.
Above and below is what it looked like when the project was started.
Below you can see the grate (noting great here) and the remote control. Too much stuff in the fireplace if you ask me.
Above, if you use a remote control, let's find a better way of hiding it? You think?
Below all of the STUFF is removed, much better!
Above and below it is now painted and the double 18" burner is installed.
Very clean look! Uncluttered!
Above the lava was poured up to the gas stub on the left side just enough to cover the burner. Be sure to leave 3 to 4" in the front for the glass. You don't want the lava all the way up front.
Now pour the glass and you have a heat producing fireplace as you were supposed to have in the beginning and it looks pretty good too!
These pictures of the fireplace were taken in the daytime if you were thinking why they were so light.
Do it yourself fireplace remodel made easy, or at least it seems that way.
First, the tile that was installed is not rated for fire. This tile would of popped off as soon as the fire was turned on. So do a little research before you begin. We can help in many ways, just call and ask.
It may have of seemed to be a good idea at the time, but it wasn't!
When redesigning a fireplace we suggest card board mache'. A card board board mock up so you can see a basic preview of your project.
Below you can see the bottom, top and mantle in card board.
Now the rip and tear process begins!
Below we installed the extra electrical for the components and the TV. The components will be installed on the right side out of view with a black glass door. This will be installed later.
Below the framing begins.
Below we now added the Durock at the fireplace opening. This is key to the whole project. Math is very important when doing these layouts!
Below you can see the slate is being added.
Above and below the fireplace is 90% finished. The mantle needs to be installed and the door on the right to conceal the components needs to be installed as well. The inside of the fireplace will have 3 pieces of black galaxy granite installed. We will post these pictures of the fireplace when it is completely finished as well.
Now for the glass installation. We started with a satin black paint on the back walls, until we install the granite. Then we bulked up the base with 2" of white sand as this will save you a bunch of money! We used sand because we were pouring Starfire base glass in the fireplace. If we were to use a darker color of glass we would of used our crushed lava rock as a filler. When using sand, always make sure the burner is on top of the sand.
Test the burner/ location making sure the flames don't hit the walls.
Then pour the glass!
We added a few pink diamonds and then later added Ice Ice Ice and Clear Diamonds. These products because of the way they are made appear to be melting on the inside.
The sealer that was used was a stone enhancer, not just a regular cheap sealer. When using rock you always want to see the beauty of the stone you are using.
As you can see the mantle is still missing. We have a few more details to still do and as soon as we have time to post the pictures, they will be here.
We encourage imagination to all of our customers and we support you and your projects. Regardless how simple or how creative. This is one of the elements that spawned our success and continues to do so.
The next several fireplace pictures are from Andy Peeke from New Jersey. Andy did the self installation with his wife. Almost a complete fireplace make over once you see. They use a Starfire base, Amber Topper and Black Topper.
The house is very nice, the fireplace right now is "YUK"!
YUK again!
We used a double "H" to give a wider flame pattern as you will see.
We also used a sand base under the Starfire base glass and just up to the burners, not covering them.
Just so you know, this is a two sided fireplace.
Now 2" of Starfire base glass.
and your done!
The fireplace below belongs to Marcia and here is what we did to update her fireplace:
First here is what your fireplace may looks like now, nasty!
We reconfigure the pilot, burner, base plate, venturi and get it to burn properly.
Nice flames, then we continue.
If you look below we are showing you proper pilot light placement.
Paint is and your done!
The glass that we used was a Starfire base, Bronze Rust Copper and Bronze Reflective on top.
If your fireplace does not work this easy or look this simple, then we didn't do it!
Let us help you make your fireplace work right and look good.
The next fireplace was installed by Ken Kenoyer. He constructed his own pan for his Direct Vent Fireplace conversion with our supervision. We will go through the steps to complete his installation. The glass that was used was Starfire base glass and topped with Red Topping and Red Topper. We will explain as we move forward.
Above is your fireplace now (if you like logs).
Below is your burner system that came with your wonderful Direct Vent Fireplace and logs.
Below is a pictures of your pilot light system
Below we have removed the "stuff" and exposed the pilot and gas connection.
Royce built a pan to fit the fireplace.
Below he cut the pan out to accept the pilot light.
Connected the gas line.
Tested the burner.
Pour the glass and your done! If anyone has told you that you can't convert a direct vent fireplace then these pictures and project don't exist! Just because they don't know what or how to do it, doesn't mean it can't be done.
The glass face is back on and it looks much better. A very nice and simple Self Installation!
