Cracked firebrick replaced in Broadview Park fireplaces
We protect the room, contain the dust and haul the old brick and mortar away when the firebox is done.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Firebox problems to mention when you call
- Open joints between firebricks
- A brick that rocks when touched
- Uneven or sunken firebox floor
- Thick, lumpy joints from past repairs
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Firebox rebuilds and repointing explained
Keep fresh firebox mortar dry until it is cured
Refractory mortar makers say to protect new mortar from direct water until it has been heat cured. Water dripping into a freshly repaired firebox can soften the new joints before they ever see a fire.
If water has been reaching the firebox, the source needs attention before the repair, not after it. We note any staining or damp and name the chimney service that traces leaks. Repairing the firebox under an active drip wastes the work and leaves you paying twice. Once the chimney side is dry, the firebox repair can go ahead on a firm footing.
How repaired joints will look
Refractory mortars come in a limited range of colors, often gray, buff or black. New joints may look different from old ones that have darkened with use.
If the firebox is on show, ask about color before the repair. We choose from what suits the product and the firebox, and explain how the joints will change as they season. Performance comes first, but color is worth a moment of discussion when it is a free choice. Color choices do not override the product the firebox needs; they are made within it.
A firebox floor that is no longer level
A floor that dips, rocks or has lifted at one edge suggests the base beneath it has moved. Loose floor units can simply be reset, but a sunken area may point to the hearth support under the firebox.
We check whether the unevenness is in the units or below them. Lifting a floor unit or two can show what the bed looks like. If the support has failed, we explain what that means and hold the floor repair until it is understood, because new units on a moving base crack again.
Cleaning soot from the lining after a repair
Once a firebox repair has cured, some owners want the rest of the lining cleaned so old and new units look closer. Brick industry guidance favors the gentlest cleaning method that works, tried on a small area first.
Harsh methods can damage firebrick faces and loosen fresh joints. If cleaning is wanted, we list it as a separate item with the method and schedule it after the curing fires. The lining will darken again with use, so cleaning is a matter of appearance, not repair.
Your firebox estimate, wall by wall
- Repair boundary set at sound material
- Failed joints raked to sound depth
- Deep voids built up in layers
- Thin, full joints matching the lining
Firebox repair, the questions people ask
Do dark stains mean the firebrick is damaged?
No. Soot and smoke staining are normal in a working firebox. What matters is material loss, open joints and loose units. We look past the color to the condition of each brick and joint.
Is fine crazing on firebrick faces a problem?
Usually not. Very fine surface lines are common after heat cycles and do not loosen the unit. Cracks that open, run through the brick or come with looseness are different, and those units are replaced.
What does the workmanship warranty cover on firebox work?
It covers the units we set and the joints we filled, cured and used as directed. Damage from overfiring, an unrepaired leak or parts outside the repaired area are not included. The written record shows the covered work.
Proudly American
Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo