When we bought the house, there was a cast iron wood stove in the wood burning fireplace. The previous owner cut a hole in the back of the firebox and vented the wood stove through the existing chimney. We wanted to turn the fireplace back into a traditional wood burning fireplace, so we had Two Friends Masonry remove the stove for us.
The existing wood stove.
When they pulled the stove and flue out, vermiculite starting pouring out of the hole! This was the insulation around the flue.
We filled three bags with vermiculite!
This is the old chimney cap which had to be removed in order for the renovated fireplace to work.
Our shiny new stainless steel chimney cap.
Renovating 'The Pocket' 