Restoring the firebox, damper and face in Margate
Our family team restores neglected fireplaces with upfront pricing and a written record of the work.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs a fireplace needs restoring
- Loose or missing firebrick
- Musty smell from the fireplace
- Loose stones on a stone face
- Water marks inside the firebox
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Restoration work inside and around the firebox
One plan for a neglected fireplace
Restoration returns a neglected fireplace to safe use and to the look it was built with, under a single plan. It is the right approach when several parts need attention at once. Treating them one by one, months apart, often means later work damages earlier work.
We look at every part together, from the firebox and damper up to the smoke chamber, and down to the hearth and face. The plan then sets an order and a price for each item. You can approve all of it or part of it. Either way, each repair is chosen to fit the ones around it.
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.
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.
Children and pets during restoration
Restoration brings tools, dust, mortar and loose materials into the room. Keep children and pets away from the fireplace while the work is going on.
At the end of each day we tidy the area and leave the opening covered. Fresh mortar and cleaning materials are stored out of reach. If the work runs over several days, we tell you at the end of each work day what state the fireplace is in. We also say whether anything should be avoided before we return. Materials that need to stay undisturbed while they cure are marked so everyone in the house knows to leave them alone.
What the free restoration inspection checks
- Face joints repointed with matched mortar
- Lintel condition noted
- Clearance to nearby trim checked
- Workmanship warranty on the completed work
Your restoration questions, in plain terms
How do you clean soot off the face brick?
With the gentlest method that works, tried first on a small hidden area. Masonry cleaning guidance warns that metal brushes, strong acids and high water pressure can damage brick and joints, so we keep them away from your fireplace.
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.
Can you restore a stone fireplace face?
Yes. Loose stones are reset and open joints are repointed with a mortar suited to the stone. If a stone is broken, we look for a match and explain the options before replacing it.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Masonry RepairRepair affected chimney brickwork and joints with materials selected for the construction already in place.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
- Chimney Cap Installation and ReplacementProtect the chimney opening with a cap chosen for its fit, attachment and compatible system.
Proudly American
Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
Call Now (645) 465-4171We 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