Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - fireplace mantle cracks

Any advice please....I have a ventless gas fireplace in my home and we have a problem with the drywall area above it cracking. It is a common problem in my neighborhood (poor design by the builder) and we know why it is cracking, we just need some ideas on what to do with the area so it will not crack every time we use our fireplace! The builder designed the fireplaces with an area surrounding it and sticking out from the wall about 6 inches. The area (which is basically an extension of the wall...just drywall, drywall mud, and paint) above the fireplace gets so hot that the drywall seams start to crack. We do not have a blower, that has been suggested; but other neighbors that do have the blower still have the cracking problem. The builder subsequently started building the fireplaces with less of a recess (about 2 inches space) to help alleviate the problem. We have thought about covering the area with some type of molding, and someone in the neighborhood has covered the area with ceramic tile (but the fireplace itself is surrounded by ceramic tile and I'm not crazy about that idea). Any ideas out there?

wesettles3,

Options are none...you will have to cover this with something that won't be subject to potential cracking. Tile, mirrors - squares or solid one pc, decorative trim (to make a frame appearance and then place something inside, possibly a picture, portait,etc.)

Wallpaper might be an alternative - good fabric type, wouldn't be subject to cracking very easy - pattern or solid color.

Not knowing how the crack is going vertical or horizontal, nor the size of the crack, I'm sure with some imagination can come up with a good way to hide the continual nuisance crack.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the advice! We have decided it will need to be covered, I was just looking for some "more experienced" input on what we should cover it with. To give you a better idea of what I'm talking about...the cracking is more of a horizontal "fracture" (jagged edges) crack along where the corner bead meets the drywall. We have rounded corners (using plastic corner beads) in our house, and that is what was used in the decorative area around the fireplace. The fireplace area has sort of a "column" look with a mantle connecting the columns, and the "columns" run almost up to the vaulted ceiling, with an open area above the fireplace, where we have a big vase and some pictures. I also figured that we will not be able to keep the "rounded corner" look on the wall around the fireplace if we are to permanently correct the cracking problem. I figured the rounded corners will have to be covered up by whatever we encase it in.

Thanks again for the ideas, Doug, and we appreciate any other suggestions out there!:)

wesettles3,

You're very welcome and have a great 4th of July weekend! I'm sure others may have some ideas for you as well!

Good Luck!