OTB's Fireplace Adventure MLK Weekend 1/15-17/11
Joe and I left for Moab on Friday afternoon as soon as I got out of school. Our first stop was American Stone in SLC to pick up the Torrey Buff sandstone. American Stone was able to get the sandstone cut into 2 inch thick pieces in time for us to haul it down. 
These are the two pallets of stone before they were cut down to 2 inch thick pieces. 
As the stoneyard worker used the forklift to load the 2,000 pound pallet of sandstone into the back of the pickup, we both wondered how we were going to unload all of that rock at OTB.
The next stop on our journey to Moab was Hearth and Home in Orem to look at gas fireplaces and inserts. We really wanted to decide on the gas fireplace before meeting with Manuel (pronounced like instruction manual) Torres who is a local contractor and stone mason. All the dimensions for the fireplace opening hinge on the gas fireplace, and nothing can happen until we get that piece nailed.
The hunt for the perfect gas fireplace proved to be a challenge - a Crafstman period gas fireplace with a realistic logset, flame, and interior lining. I think we looked at a dozen models this past week before deciding on the Mendota DXV Prairie. The gas fireplace that we chose looks like this except the lattice overlay is vintage black rather than nickel.
Saturday morning we went to Smitty's Golden Steak for breakfast. After breakfast we went to Ace Hardware. We still had this little problem of unloading a ton of rock out of the back of the truck. Joe went inside and said he'd pay someone to drive the forklift to OTB and unload the pallet. The gentleman said he wouldn't take any money, but would do it as a favor. He followed us over to the house and a few minutes later had the pallet of rock removed from the truck and put away. One of the many pluses to living in a small town.
Later that day we met with Manuel to discuss the work to be done on the fireplace. Manuel had a lot of input on the small details of the job. We were impressed with Manuel's knowledge.
Another detail that needed to be addressed was the window on the north side of the fireplace. At some point in time the previous owner had removed the stained glass window to install a swamp cooler. On Saturday, we met with a gal named Dorina Krusemer who is original from Hamburg Germany and discussed making a replica stained glass window that looks like the original stained glass window on the south side. Dorina was comissioned to do stained glass windows in Robert Fulghum's Moab house. He was the author of All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Dorina's price was right, so we "commissioned" her to do the work.
Sunday was a day of work rather than a day of rest. Joe was locked and loaded with the heat gun and I was armed with chemical stripper, and the two of us attacked the white paint on the windows on each side of the fireplace. This is the window that the previous owner removed the stained glass and put in a swamp cooler.
We had the swamp cooler removed, and Clark, our handyman, made the temporary window until Dorina completes the replica stained glass window. 
This is the original 1916 stained glass window on the south side of the fireplace.
We were afraid that the intense heat of the heat gun might break the stained glass, so we used the chemical stripper on the frame. The chemical stripping was slow going! The paint was very stubborn and required multiple coats of paint stripper to get down to the bare wood.
The south window needs more work before it is ready for sanding.
The north window is ready for sanding.
Working steadfast by our sides were our faithful dogs. There is a reason why dogs are called man's best friend.
Chef worked hard at getting fed!
Ike's idea of work was playing ball!!
"I am helper dog!" said 'Cuda as his creative juices flowed while working on the design for the slate tile. 'Cuda liked the pinwheel pattern the best.
'Cuda was pooped after working so hard.
Here is another project completed this past week thanks to Clark. He put in a glass window where the swamp cooler was and constructed the wooden lattice frame. 
Joe designed the lattice work to complement OTB's original lattice frames.
When we left for Ogden on Monday afternoon this was the state we left OTB's fireplace. Over the three day weekend we chose the fireplace, we locked in our contractor, Manuel, we commissioned Dorina to design and make our stained glass window, we got Clark on board to build a wall which had been removed by the previous owner, and we stripped paint off the windows.
The drive home through the red rock country never gets old.
Joe made the drive home to Ogden safe and sound with his co-pilot, Ike, by his side.
These are the two pallets of stone before they were cut down to 2 inch thick pieces. 
As the stoneyard worker used the forklift to load the 2,000 pound pallet of sandstone into the back of the pickup, we both wondered how we were going to unload all of that rock at OTB.
The next stop on our journey to Moab was Hearth and Home in Orem to look at gas fireplaces and inserts. We really wanted to decide on the gas fireplace before meeting with Manuel (pronounced like instruction manual) Torres who is a local contractor and stone mason. All the dimensions for the fireplace opening hinge on the gas fireplace, and nothing can happen until we get that piece nailed.
The hunt for the perfect gas fireplace proved to be a challenge - a Crafstman period gas fireplace with a realistic logset, flame, and interior lining. I think we looked at a dozen models this past week before deciding on the Mendota DXV Prairie. The gas fireplace that we chose looks like this except the lattice overlay is vintage black rather than nickel.
Saturday morning we went to Smitty's Golden Steak for breakfast. After breakfast we went to Ace Hardware. We still had this little problem of unloading a ton of rock out of the back of the truck. Joe went inside and said he'd pay someone to drive the forklift to OTB and unload the pallet. The gentleman said he wouldn't take any money, but would do it as a favor. He followed us over to the house and a few minutes later had the pallet of rock removed from the truck and put away. One of the many pluses to living in a small town.
Later that day we met with Manuel to discuss the work to be done on the fireplace. Manuel had a lot of input on the small details of the job. We were impressed with Manuel's knowledge.
Another detail that needed to be addressed was the window on the north side of the fireplace. At some point in time the previous owner had removed the stained glass window to install a swamp cooler. On Saturday, we met with a gal named Dorina Krusemer who is original from Hamburg Germany and discussed making a replica stained glass window that looks like the original stained glass window on the south side. Dorina was comissioned to do stained glass windows in Robert Fulghum's Moab house. He was the author of All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Dorina's price was right, so we "commissioned" her to do the work.
Sunday was a day of work rather than a day of rest. Joe was locked and loaded with the heat gun and I was armed with chemical stripper, and the two of us attacked the white paint on the windows on each side of the fireplace. This is the window that the previous owner removed the stained glass and put in a swamp cooler.
We had the swamp cooler removed, and Clark, our handyman, made the temporary window until Dorina completes the replica stained glass window. 
This is the original 1916 stained glass window on the south side of the fireplace.
We were afraid that the intense heat of the heat gun might break the stained glass, so we used the chemical stripper on the frame. The chemical stripping was slow going! The paint was very stubborn and required multiple coats of paint stripper to get down to the bare wood.
The south window needs more work before it is ready for sanding.
The north window is ready for sanding.Working steadfast by our sides were our faithful dogs. There is a reason why dogs are called man's best friend.
Chef worked hard at getting fed!
Ike's idea of work was playing ball!!
"I am helper dog!" said 'Cuda as his creative juices flowed while working on the design for the slate tile. 'Cuda liked the pinwheel pattern the best.
'Cuda was pooped after working so hard.
Here is another project completed this past week thanks to Clark. He put in a glass window where the swamp cooler was and constructed the wooden lattice frame. 
Joe designed the lattice work to complement OTB's original lattice frames.
When we left for Ogden on Monday afternoon this was the state we left OTB's fireplace. Over the three day weekend we chose the fireplace, we locked in our contractor, Manuel, we commissioned Dorina to design and make our stained glass window, we got Clark on board to build a wall which had been removed by the previous owner, and we stripped paint off the windows.
The drive home through the red rock country never gets old.
Joe made the drive home to Ogden safe and sound with his co-pilot, Ike, by his side.
Comments