Restoring a neglected wood fireplace in Gladeview
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 patching an old fireplace stops working
- Loose or missing firebrick
- Cracked or loose hearth tiles
- Crumbling joints in the face brick
- Loose stones on a stone face
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Old fireplace restoration, step by step
A fireplace idle for years
A fireplace that has sat unused for years has a condition nobody has checked. The damper may be seized, the firebox joints may have opened and debris may fill the smoke shelf. None of that is obvious from the room.
Do not light a fire to find out. We inspect it cold, from the firebox up to the flue opening, and explain what we find. The restoration plan then covers what is needed before the first fire, and what can follow later as finish work.
The right mortar for the firebox
The mortar in a firebox is not the same as the mortar in a garden wall. The building code calls for firebrick to be laid with a refractory mortar made for high heat. Ordinary mortar can break down under direct fire.
Every firebox joint we set or refill uses a heat-rated fireplace mortar, applied and cured as its maker directs. If earlier repairs used the wrong material, we explain whether it has to come out. The mortar is hard to see once the work is done, so the estimate names it.
A fireplace kept for looks only
Some people want a fireplace restored for its look and never intend to burn in it. That is a valid goal, and it changes the plan.
Tell us if you will not light fires. We still check that nothing loose or damaged could fall, and that the damper closes to keep room air in. Finish items may take a larger share of the estimate. If you later decide to use the fireplace, the fire-facing items would need attention first, and we note which ones.
Restoring an open fireplace after an insert comes out
Some fireplaces spent years holding an insert, and the owner now wants the open fireplace back. When an insert comes out, the firebox, damper and smoke chamber behind it may need attention.
The damper may have been removed or fixed open for the insert, and the firebox may carry marks from the installation. We check each part and plan what is needed to return it to use as an open fireplace. Removing the insert itself, and any liner that served it, is described separately on the estimate.
Essential and optional restoration items
- Damaged face brick replaced with matches
- Clearance to nearby trim checked
- Model and serial number lookup
- Grate size and position checked
Common fireplace restoration questions
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.
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.
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.
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