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Fireproof Wood?
When one thinks of fireproof materials, metal, stone and brick readily come to mind. Wood definitely would not. So one has to wonder, why would anyone build part of a fireplace using wood. There is no doubt wood belongs in the fireplace. But as a part of the structure?

While inspecting a not very old colonial style house, about 45 years, I arrived at the second fireplace in the house located in the family room above the garage. The smoke stained mantel grabbed my attention first. Often a sign of venting issues. I snapped a picture and moved in closer.
Something else was not right my brain nagged. 
The mind is a funny thing, when our consciousness can not grasp something because it so absurd, the unconscious mind is busy screaming to wake up and smell the coffee.
I finally heard the shout.
The mantel, a very large timber, was not set above the fireplace separated by bricks the required minimum distance. No, instead the wood had been made a part of the actual fireplace, set right inside the firebox.
Was this some insane experiment concocted around a dimly lit table in an altered state of consciousness ... more

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