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Restoring a neglected wood fireplace in Coral Gables

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
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When patching an old fireplace stops working

  • Open joints on the firebox walls
  • Cracked or loose hearth tiles
  • Several small faults at once
  • A face darkened by old fires
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What restoring a fireplace involves

The steel support above the fireplace opening

Across the top of the opening runs the lintel, a noncombustible support that is often a steel angle. It carries the masonry above the opening. Rust can swell it, bend it or crack the brick above.

We check the lintel for rust, sag and cracks in the brick it supports. Surface rust can be treated. A lintel that has lost strength or pushed the face out of line is a larger repair and is priced separately. We explain what we see before any work above the opening begins.

Bringing the damper back into use

A neglected fireplace usually has a neglected damper. The plate may be seized, rusted through or missing, and the control may no longer reach it.

Damper work is part of the restoration scope. We free and clean a sound damper, re-hang a dropped plate, or replace parts that have failed. The finished damper should open all the way, shut evenly and answer to its control from the room. The damper is listed as its own item, so you can see its share of the work.

A painted brick face

Some fireplaces have been painted over the years. The paint may be peeling, stained by smoke or hiding damage underneath.

Whether to remove paint is a separate decision from repairing the brick. Removal can damage some brick faces, and the method has to be tested first. We can repair loose brick and joints under the paint, and we explain what a removal would involve if you want the brick showing again. The choice is yours once the options are clear.

When an exact match is not available

Sometimes the original brick, tile or stone is no longer made. Restoration then needs a judgment about the closest available option.

We show you the options before any original material is removed. Where a replacement will be visible, we suggest placing it where it shows least, or moving original units from a hidden area to a visible one. The choice is yours, and the estimate records what was agreed. Whatever is decided, the replacement units are listed on the written record, so later repairs can use the same material.

What goes on a brick fireplace estimate

  • Firebox joints refilled with refractory mortar
  • Smoke shelf cleared of debris
  • Listed parts for factory-built units
  • Retained features listed on the estimate

Restoration answers for old fireplaces

How long does a fireplace restoration take?

It depends on how many parts need work and on mortar curing times. We give you a sequence with the estimate. If the job runs over several days, the open flue is covered at the close of each work day.

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.

What should I mention when I call about restoration?

Tell us how long the fireplace has been idle, how you want to use it and what you want to keep. Mention past repairs if you know of any, and whether the fireplace is masonry or factory-built.

More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace

More about fireplace restorationEvery service in Coral Gables

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