Realtor, General Contractor, and Developer · Redding, CA · Member since 2009 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
We are doing a remodel on a house in Sunriver, OR. Most of the homes there were built in the 70's and have an overabundance of wood and volcanic rock everything! The rock is a black and dark gray color, not appealing. At the top of the chimney, it's cracking and needs repaired, but otherwise in good shape.
Taking it out isn't an option as it would never get approved by the HOA. What does it take to remove all that rock? Has anyone done one of these before? As for the surround, the hearth is concrete and in pretty good shape, but the lava rock looks ugly. It's cemented to the wall and not sure of best way to remove rock .. or do we? @hat materials do you use for the heat resistance to adhere tile to?
We've built new construction for 30 years, this remodeling is new, and much more challenging in some ways.
Real Estate Agent · Grand Junction, CO · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 736 votes
8y
@Karen Margrave can you just box it in (around the rock)? Don't get rid of the fireplace just visually get rid of the rock. Maybe add some built-ins on one or both sides to make it tie in. Then you can have your choice of finishes... Surely the HOA doesn't have a say on what is inside your house? Here is a picture of a fireplace I dealt with a few years ago. The wall was real pine (and only one wall in the room) but the previous owner had ripped out some pieces over the fireplace and painted a mural. I couldn't match the pieces since they were from the 1950s. So I took out a few more to balance it and then sheetrocked that area.
Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
8y
The HOA has control over interior finishes? Or do you just mean they would not allow you to remove the chimney?
Removing the rock wouldn't be that big of a deal. Its mortared onto something. With enough elbow grease I'm sure it can be knocked loose. They rent small jack hammers at rental stores. Its still a workout, especially using them on a vertical surface like this. But it can be done. You may be able to go all the way to the studs and remove the stone and whatever its attached to at once.
I think you're absolutely correct about remodeling vs. new construction. Working around existing stuff can be much more challenging than building from scratch where you can lay out things the way you need them. After you remove the rock, you're going to have a bunch of damage. Hopefully this rock is mortared to backer board or (since this is older) sheetrock. Then you can just re-sheet rock after removing it. But who knows? At the least, you going to need to do something on the hearth.
Realtor, General Contractor, and Developer · Redding, CA · Member since 2009 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
8y
@Jon Holdman The HOA doesn't have any input on interior finishes, it's the chimney in that regard. I talked with someone that does chimneys and they said to just frame around it, and put siding.