Restoring the firebox, damper and face in Cutler Bay
Tell us how you want to use the fireplace, and we plan the restoration around that goal.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When an old fireplace needs more than one repair
- Cracked or loose hearth tiles
- Rough stepped masonry above the throat
- Musty smell from the fireplace
- Broken or stained surround tiles
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Old fireplace restoration, step by step
Stepped masonry above the throat
Some older smoke chambers were built with each course of brick stepped in, leaving a rough, ledged surface. That shape slows smoke and gives deposits places to collect.
Smoke chamber product makers describe resurfacing these chambers to give smoke a smooth path. We explain whether your chamber is stepped and whether parging would improve it. The work is done from inside the fireplace with the right access and protection. It is priced as its own item. If the chamber shows cracks or loose units behind the steps, those are repaired before any parging goes on.
Opening up the route from firebox to flue
In the building code, the throat, damper and smoke chamber form a single route for smoke, and that route may not be narrower in area than the flue above it.
In a neglected fireplace, debris, a half-open damper or rough masonry can narrow that passage. Restoration aims to open it back up to its intended size. We check each part of the passage and explain what is narrowing it. Clearing and repairing it is often what turns a smoky fireplace back into a usable one.
Strong acids and brick
Strong, unbuffered acids are sometimes used to strip mortar smears and stains from brick. Masonry cleaning guidance advises against them, because they can burn the brick surface, eat into joints and leave new stains.
If a stain needs a chemical cleaner, we choose one suited to the brick and the soiling and test it first. The surrounding surfaces are protected, and the area is rinsed as the product requires. We explain the cleaner we plan to use before the work begins, so nothing surprises you.
Judging cleaned brick once it is dry
Wet brick looks darker than it will once dry, and it can hide a stain that is still there. Masonry cleaning guidance recommends judging a cleaned area after it has dried, not while it is still wet.
We let cleaned areas dry before deciding whether another pass is needed. That avoids over-cleaning, which can wear the brick surface. When the face is done and dry, we look at it with you. If a stain remains, we explain whether a further step is safe for the brick or whether it is better left.
Line items for an old fireplace
- Model and serial number lookup
- Retained features listed on the estimate
- Written record of the restoration work
- Open flue covered at the close of each day
Before you approve restoration work
What if parts for my factory-built unit are discontinued?
We check for manufacturer-approved alternatives. If none exist, we explain what that means for the fireplace. Unlisted parts are not fitted, because the listing depends on the tested components working together.
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.
Can you restore a painted brick fireplace?
We can repair the brick and joints under the paint. Whether the paint should come off is a separate decision, because removal can damage some brick faces. We test and explain before recommending anything.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert InstallationFit a wood-burning insert after assessing its host fireplace and full connection requirements.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
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