How to build a display table over unused wood heater?

TaraK

so this heater is not used and won’t be, but we are not ready to go through major upgrade of removing and repairing ceiling and floor yet. WHAT I WANT TO DO… is completely box it in ( safety in mind) with a secure and fixed panel at front and a top then sitting on top of heater with flue coming through. Planning to use to display photos in frames etc. Rather than a dust collecting corner.

MitchellMc

Hi @TaraK ,

Before building any sort of display unit or enclosure around the heater, I would strongly recommend having it professionally decommissioned first.

At the moment, even though you don’t intend to use it, it is still technically a functional heater and doesn’t meet the required clearances/setbacks once structures are built around it. While you may only be using it as a display feature during this period, the concern is that in the future someone could potentially attempt to use it again without realising it has effectively been enclosed.

Due to those safety concerns, the heater should at least be properly decommissioned before considering any DIY structure built around it.

It’s also worth considering that it may actually end up being more work trying to build around the heater than simply removing it. A professional can usually remove the flue quite quickly, and once the heater itself is removed, you’d have a much cleaner and more usable corner to work with. You could then potentially install some corner cabinetry or a proper display unit in the space.

The ceiling penetration could also be temporarily covered quite neatly with a decorative timber panel until you’re ready to carry out more permanent ceiling repairs later on.

If the long-term plan is ultimately to remove the heater anyway, it probably makes sense to do that first rather than designing and constructing something around it now.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell