u/AloneNeighborhood323

We bought a 4x10 Arrow Shed last year (this model). It works well for what we use it for but we find that we would really like to modify it to be longer for the frequency at which we pull out our bikes and the paddle boards that we store in it. We are hoping to extend it by 4 feet or so. The platform we built for it will allow it at least.

Has anyone modified one of these using extra parts from the manufacturer or a mix of such and other pieces? Looking for tips on how to do so. So far have had a time trying to find the extra parts to pull this off and really am not looking to buy a whole extra shed just to leave a bunch of pieces unused. Also just want everything to look seamless.

Parts, schematics, and assembly instructions here.

We own a very old home in the PNW that, up until a bit ago, had a non working fireplace due to the fact that the flue was jammed and pretty much un jammable without extensive demo. We removed the chimney stack for good from the roof down through the second floor / to just above our first floor (it was taking up space on our upstairs floor plan and creating more problems than it was worth over all). All that is currently left is a fireplace which we would now like to place a gas insert into.

We are debating the merits of a vented gas insert vs a ventless one. Our upstairs is still torn up so we can still route venting but we still want it to be minimal if we go that route, to avoid the problems we previously had with our chimney and floor plan.

We don’t NEED it for heat but we want it to be cozy and for ambiance. I run cold and usually run an electric space heater for a bump in heat near me in the living room (same room as fireplace) in the winter. Either way whatever we get we would like whatever we get to be relatively efficient, quiet, and to put out some warmth without delay or have some temp control/ variability

Overall we care a lot about aesthetics and since we have an old home, modern units will not jive with the overall traditional vibe that our house has…so with that we want logs, not glass or rocks, and we would love it to look as much like a “real fire fireplace” as much as possible but also don’t want it to come at a ridiculous price tag… maybe our expectations are unrealistic so we are looking for suggestions in either category of vented vs ventless.

Safety’s obviously a concern as we have kids and animals… and I’m lost in the weeds on the pros and cons of either.

There are measurement constraints of course, the existing space is about 30” wide, 27” tall.

We went to a fireplace store but the guy was big time salesman and wasn’t interested in listening or helping us work through the different options. Any recommendations are welcome and appreciated.