Old fireplace restoration with a clear plan in Boca Del Mar
We clean gently, repoint with matched mortar and reset loose units, one agreed step at a time.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that point to a full restoration
- Loose or missing firebrick
- Heavy soot across the face brick
- Water marks inside the firebox
- A face darkened by old fires
Jump to
Old fireplace restoration, step by step
An ash dump door in the firebox floor
An ash dump is a small hinged metal door set into the firebox floor of some masonry fireplaces. Ash swept through it drops into a chamber below. After years without use, the door can rust shut, lose its hinge or sit loose in its frame.
We check whether the door opens, closes and sits flush with the floor. A loose or broken door can let embers fall where they should not. Depending on its condition, we free, reset or replace the door, or explain the option of closing it off. The ash chamber itself is checked where it can be reached.
Old fireplace restoration in the right order
An old fireplace often has several problems that built up over the years. Tackling them in the wrong order wastes effort, because later work can damage earlier work.
Old fireplace restoration starts with the parts that affect safety and draft, such as the firebox, damper and smoke chamber. The face and hearth come after, once smoke and debris from the upper work are done. We explain the sequence at the free inspection so you know what happens first and why.
Describing your fireplace on the phone
Tell us how long the fireplace has been idle and how you want to use it. Mention what you want to keep, such as original tile or brick, and anything you already know is broken.
Say whether the fireplace is masonry or factory-built, if you know. For a factory-built unit, the model information from the label helps. You do not need to clean anything before the visit. A plain description is enough to plan the free inspection. If the fireplace has a history you are unsure about, tell us that too.
Comparing restoration proposals
If you compare restoration proposals, check what each one includes. One may clean and repoint the face only. Another may include firebox, damper and smoke chamber work. They are not the same job.
Ask each company what will be kept, what will be replaced and in what order. Ask which mortar they will use in the firebox and on the face. Our written estimate covers each of those points, which makes a fair comparison easier. Ask too how hidden damage would be handled and priced if it appears during the work.
What the free restoration inspection checks
- Firebox joints refilled with refractory mortar
- Smoke chamber parged smooth where needed
- Workmanship warranty on the completed work
- Open flue covered at the close of each day
Restoring an old fireplace, questions answered
How do you clean soot off the face brick?
With the gentlest method that works, tried first on a small hidden area. Masonry cleaning guidance warns that metal brushes, strong acids and high water pressure can damage brick and joints, so we keep them away from your fireplace.
Do you replace every firebrick during a restoration?
No. Sound firebrick stays. We replace units that are loose, broken or badly eroded, and refill open joints with a heat-rated mortar. The estimate shows which units are to be replaced and where they sit.
Is the restoration covered by a warranty?
Our workmanship warranty covers the work we carried out. If a repair we made does not hold, tell us and we come back to look. We explain what the warranty covers for your job before you approve.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Prefab and Zero-Clearance Fireplace RepairIdentify and repair manufactured fireplace components using the appropriate model information.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
- Stone Chimney RepairRepair affected stone chimney surfaces with the supporting construction and visual match considered together.
- Ventless Gas Fireplace ServiceService the identified vent-free appliance without bypassing its required safety components.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo