Things You'll Need:
- tape measure, saw, level, hammer.
- 3/4" OSB, 2x4s
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Step 1
The first step is to figure out your layout for the fireplace unit, where do you want it to start and how high you want it off the floor. These factors all make a difference for the finish materials being used around the gas "fireplace" unit its self.
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Step 2
Building the front wall with the R/O [rough opening] of the fireplace is built just like a standard window is built in a wall. There should be a header above the fireplace [R/O] to transfer load from above around the opening. The height that the fireplace [R/O] starts at all depends on how you want to finish it. Example: if there was 12" tile going around the R/O or face of the fireplace unit it would need to be 12" or 24" or 36" off the ground so the finish work goes faster/smoother.
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Step 3
After the basic frame/box is built for the fireplace you have to build a floor and ceiling inside of the walls where the unit sits in. The floor can be framed out of two 2x4 knee walls with 3/4" OSB covering the hole floor that the unit sits on. [if you can't sheet the hole floor around the wall studs just block them in] The ceiling is the same way for sheeting everything needs to be closed off just simply frame in the ceiling with 2x4s and sheet it with 3/4" [see the details in this drawing]
