Two-Story Great Room Anchored by a Custom Masonry Hearth

Problem

The buyers closed on a new build with a dramatic two-story great room but no fireplace — just a tall, empty wall that made the space feel unfinished and echoey. They wanted a true masonry hearth, not a builder-grade box, scaled to the height of the room.

Diagnosis

A full-height masonry chimney breast needed engineer-stamped structural plans for the footing and chase before any work began. We modeled the proportions against the ceiling height so the breast would read as deliberate from both the main floor and the upstairs landing, then pulled City of Frisco permits with mid-build and final inspections.

Solution

• 01Engineer-stamped footing and full-height chimney chase plans
• 02Code-compliant masonry firebox with refractory parging
• 03UL-1777 listed stainless steel chimney liner
• 04Full-height stacked-stone breast scaled to the two-story volume
• 05Solid-stone hearth and timber mantel sized to the room's proportions

Outcome

The empty wall became the great room's anchor, drawing the eye from floor to ceiling and giving the volume a sense of scale it lacked. Permitted, inspected, and passed on the first final inspection with NFI specialist sign-off.