Restoring the firebox, damper and face in Lauderdale Lakes
A long-idle fireplace gets a full look before any fire, then a plan to make it usable again.
- 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
- Open joints on the firebox walls
- Patches in mismatched mortar
- Rough stepped masonry above the throat
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A restoration plan built around your fireplace
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.
White deposits on the face
White, powdery deposits on masonry usually mean water has moved through it and left salts behind. Masonry guidance on these deposits says to find and correct the water source before the deposit is removed.
Inside a house, that source may be a leak higher in the chimney or a damp wall behind the fireplace. We note the deposits, look for the water and list the source as a separate item if it lies outside the fireplace. Cleaning the deposit without stopping the water would only bring it back.
Reopening a covered fireplace opening
Some fireplaces were closed off with a board, a panel or even masonry across the opening. Reopening them shows a firebox nobody has seen for years.
We check what lies behind the cover before planning any restoration. The damper, the firebox and the flue all need to be looked at before a fire is considered. Removing the cover is listed as its own item, and the estimate explains what the restoration would involve once the fireplace is open again. The cover may also have hidden a missing damper, so the throat is checked closely.
The throat and its shape
The throat is the narrowing between the firebox and the smoke chamber, where the damper sits. It guides smoke upward, and its shape affects how well the fireplace draws.
In a neglected fireplace the throat can be partly blocked by debris, rust scale or a damper frame that has shifted. We clear and check it as part of the restoration. If the throat masonry is damaged, we explain the repair and how it affects the damper work above it. Clearing the throat often improves draft on its own.
The restoration scope in writing
- Surround tiles reset or matched
- Face brick cleaned by the gentlest method
- Face joints repointed with matched mortar
- Lintel condition noted
Common fireplace restoration questions
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.
When can I light a fire after the restoration?
Once the new mortar has dried and cured as its maker directs. Some heat-resistant mortars call for small fires before full use. We tell you how long to wait and how to build those early fires.
Is there a discount on fireplace restoration work?
Yes. Restoration items booked inside 72 hours of your free inspection come with a 10% discount. The inspection and the written estimate stay free whether or not you go ahead.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Damper Repair and ReplacementRestore a usable damper mechanism after checking the plate, frame and control linkage.
- Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert InstallationFit a wood-burning insert after assessing its host fireplace and full connection requirements.
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
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