I recently noticed something concerning in my garage. The photo attached shows the wall between the garage and the living room where spray foam has been used to seal the area around the masonry chimney. This chimney is part of the outer wall and surrounds clay liners for the two fireplaces in my home, which was built in the 1960s. I've lived here for ten years and never thought twice about it until I came across some advice warning against using spray foam around fireplaces and chimneys. I'm planning to build a new wall to enclose the masonry but I'm unsure if I should remove the spray foam first. Can anyone advise if this is safe, or do I need to worry about it catching fire?
2 Answers
Generally, standard spray foam can be flammable, so it's good to be cautious. You might want to look for a type specifically designed for fire resistance, like fire block foam, as it's safer for areas around fireplaces. Just remember that even some of those fire block foams can still be flammable, so double-check the product details!
Appreciate the heads up! I'll definitely do my research before proceeding.
Before making any changes, think about how hot the blocks get when you're using the fireplaces. If they stay relatively cool, it might not be as serious of an issue as it sounds. Just keep monitoring things and you'll be fine!
Thanks for the tip! That makes sense. The last thing I want is to complicate things further.