Restoring the firebox, damper and face in Country Walk
You approve every restoration item before work starts, and you see the price of each one.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Restoration needs you can spot from the room
- Cracked or loose hearth tiles
- Loose stones on a stone face
- Firebox floor worn or broken
- A face darkened by old fires
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Restoration work inside and around the firebox
A smooth refractory coat for the smoke chamber
Above the damper sits the smoke chamber, the space that funnels smoke into the flue. The building code asks that its inside surface be parged smooth with refractory mortar.
In a neglected fireplace the parging may be cracked, missing or never applied. We parge rough and open areas with a heat-rated material, following the product's instructions. A smooth chamber lets smoke move up without catching on ledges. This is a separate line on the estimate, with the area described. Parging is done before the face is cleaned, since the work above drops debris onto the hearth and face.
Working around the mantel you already have
Most restorations leave the existing mantel exactly where it is. The work around it is planned so the mantel is protected during cleaning and repointing.
We cover the mantel and its finish before any cleaning starts. If the mantel is loose or sits closer to the opening than the code allows, we tell you. Changing or replacing it is outside our services. Our job is to restore the fireplace beneath it and keep the mantel as it was. Any concern about it is written on the estimate, so you can decide how to handle it.
The shape of the joints on the face
Mortar joints are finished in a particular shape when they are laid. Some are concave, some flush, some raked back. The shape affects how the face looks and how it sheds water and dust.
Preservation guidance on repointing treats the joint profile as part of the match. We look at the original joints and finish the new mortar the same way. A face repointed with the wrong profile can look patched even when the color is right, so this detail gets the same attention as the mortar itself.
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
- Smoke shelf cleared of debris
- Separate notes on chimney-side findings
- Walkthrough of the finished fireplace
- Workmanship warranty on the completed work
Restoration answers for old fireplaces
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.
Can you restore a factory-built fireplace as well?
Yes, within its listing. Panels, grates and other replacement parts have to come from that model's own parts list. The label on the unit gives the model and serial number we order by.
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.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Stone Chimney RepairRepair affected stone chimney surfaces with the supporting construction and visual match considered together.
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