Skip to content
(645) 465-4171

Restoring a neglected wood fireplace in Boca West

Brick fireplace restoration follows a set order, from the firebox to the face and the hearth.

  • Owned and run locally
  • Available for same-day service
  • Fully licensed and insured
  • Family owned and run
Call Now (645) 465-4171 Book Online

Clues that point to a full restoration

  • Crumbling joints in the face brick
  • Loose stones on a stone face
  • Several small faults at once
  • Earlier repairs that keep failing
Jump to

How we restore a neglected fireplace

Support beneath a sunken or tilted hearth

The building code asks that a masonry hearth and its extension be concrete or masonry, supported by noncombustible materials. On an old fireplace, that support is rarely visible from the room.

If the hearth has sunk, tilted or cracked right through, we look at what lies beneath it where we can reach. Resetting the surface without fixing the support would not last. We explain what we can see, what we cannot, and whether the hearth needs more than a surface repair.

Resetting hearth tiles that have lifted

Tile hearths lose grip over time, especially where they take the most traffic and heat. A loose tile can crack further or let embers reach the bed beneath it.

We lift loose tiles, clean the bed and reset them in a material suited to the heat. Broken tiles are replaced with the closest available match. If the original tile is no longer made, we show you the options before choosing. The hearth tile work is its own line on the estimate.

Why metal brushes stay away from the brick

Metal brushes and scrapers can scratch brick and cut into joints. They can also leave small metal fragments in the surface that rust later and stain the face.

Masonry cleaning guidance warns against them for those reasons. We use stiff bristle brushes, wooden paddles and nonmetal tools instead. That takes a little more time, but the face is not marked by the cleaning. The same care applies around tile, stone and trim near the opening. Where a stubborn mortar smear needs removing, a wooden or plastic tool does the job without scarring the brick.

Removing old mortar without harming the brick

Old mortar has to come out before new mortar goes in. Done carelessly, that step widens joints, chips brick edges and changes the look of the face.

We remove deteriorated mortar by hand or with tools used carefully, to a depth that gives the new mortar a sound bed. Joints that are still sound are left alone. Preservation guidance warns that power tools used without care can damage brick, so we choose the method to suit the face in front of us.

What goes on a brick fireplace estimate

  • Face joints repointed with matched mortar
  • Room and floor protection
  • Essential and optional items priced apart
  • Walkthrough of the finished fireplace

Restoration answers for old fireplaces

Are same-day restoration visits available?

Same-day inspection visits are available when the schedule allows. A full restoration is usually planned over more than one visit, because materials must be matched and mortar needs time to cure.

Can a restoration be done in stages?

Yes. Essential safety repairs can go ahead before finish work. Each stage is priced separately, and we explain which items must happen before the fireplace is used and which can wait.

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

More about fireplace restorationEvery service in Boca West

Proudly American

Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.

Call Now (645) 465-4171

Book Your Free Inspection in Miami

(645) 465-4171

Send your details for a free Miami chimney or fireplace inspection. We will call to confirm the appointment.

Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With