A restored fireplace, safe and true to its look, in North Miami

When one repair would do the job, we say so instead of proposing a full restoration.

Owned and run locally
Available for same-day service
Fully licensed and insured
Family owned and run

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Signs a fireplace needs restoring

Smoke stains above the opening
Patches in mismatched mortar
Rust on the lintel or firebox metal
Several small faults at once

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Fireplace refurbishing, item by item

Refilling open firebox joints

Open joints between firebricks let heat reach the masonry behind the lining. The building code limits how wide those joints may be and calls for a refractory mortar to fill them.

We clear loose material from the open joints and refill them with a heat-rated mortar, following the product instructions. Joints are kept tight and neat so the lining works as one surface. Where a joint has opened because a brick has moved, the brick is reset first. The finished joints are left to cure before any fire, as the mortar's instructions require.

A musty smell from an idle fireplace

Idle fireplaces often smell musty. Damp deposits in the firebox, on the smoke shelf and in the flue give off odor, and air moving down the flue carries it into the room.

Restoration often reduces that smell by cleaning the fireplace, clearing the shelf and restoring a damper that closes. We explain which of those steps are likely to help your fireplace. If moisture is getting in from outside, we note its likely source and list that repair separately. The smell often fades once the damper closes properly and the deposits are gone.

Dry wood after restoration

A restored firebox and a cleaned face stay that way longer when the fire burns cleanly. Wet wood burns cool and smoky, and that smoke darkens the face and coats the smoke chamber.

Burn dry, split, seasoned wood, and nothing else. Wood burning guidance warns against burning trash, painted wood or treated lumber, which can damage the fireplace and give off toxic chemicals. Those habits help the restored fireplace keep looking and working the way it did on the day we finished.

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.

Essential and optional restoration items

Firebox joints refilled with refractory mortar
Loose stones reset on a stone face
Clearance to nearby trim checked
Workmanship warranty on the completed work

Your restoration questions, in plain terms

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.

Will you keep the original look of my fireplace?

That is the aim. We keep sound features, match replacement brick, tile and mortar as closely as available materials allow, and tell you where an exact match is not possible before the work starts.

Is restoration worth it if I will rarely light a fire?

If you will light it at all, the parts that keep a fire safe still need to work. If you will not burn in it, tell us, and we explain which items still matter for a fireplace that stays closed.

Proudly American

Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.

Call Now (645) 465-4171

Book Your Free Inspection in Miami

(645) 465-4171

Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With

DuraVent
Olympia Chimney and Venting
Copperfield Chimney Supply
Rutland
Heatilator
Heat & Glo