Old fireplace restoration with a clear plan in Palmetto Bay
Restoration keeps the look of your fireplace. Changing the design is a different project, and we say so.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that point to a full restoration
- Heavy soot across the face brick
- Smoke stains above the opening
- Earlier repairs that keep failing
- A face darkened by old fires
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The parts of a fireplace restoration
Cracks in the hearth
The hearth in front of the fireplace catches sparks, embers and dropped logs. Over time it can crack, lose grout or develop loose units.
We check whether the cracks are on the surface or run through the hearth. Surface cracks and open joints can be repaired and refilled. A crack that runs through, or a hearth that rocks, points to a support problem. We explain which applies and list the repair separately. Repairs are matched to the hearth material, whether brick, stone, tile or concrete, so the surface reads as one piece once the work is done.
Mortar no harder than the brick
Repointing mortar should be softer and more permeable than the brick around it. Preservation guidance explains why. If the mortar is harder, stress and moisture move into the brick instead, and the brick edges can crack or spall.
We choose a mortar that suits the brick in the face, not the strongest one available. That choice is what lets the face last. If earlier repairs used a hard mortar that is now damaging the brick, we explain the problem and whether those joints should be redone.
The shape of the joints on the face
Mortar joints are finished in a particular shape when they are laid. Some are concave, some flush, some raked back. The shape affects how the face looks and how it sheds water and dust.
Preservation guidance on repointing treats the joint profile as part of the match. We look at the original joints and finish the new mortar the same way. A face repointed with the wrong profile can look patched even when the color is right, so this detail gets the same attention as the mortar itself.
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.
Inside a fireplace restoration estimate
- Surround tiles reset or matched
- Damaged face brick replaced with matches
- Debris bagged and hauled away
- Walkthrough of the finished fireplace
Before you approve restoration work
What does a fireplace restoration include?
It returns a neglected fireplace to safe use and to the look it was built with, under one plan. Typical items are firebrick and firebox repairs, damper work, smoke chamber parging, face cleaning and repointing, and hearth repairs, each priced separately.
Do I need to empty the room for restoration work?
No. Clear the area in front of the fireplace and move fragile items nearby. We cover the hearth and floor, manage dust at the opening and haul debris away when each stage is done.
Will restoring the fireplace fix a smoky fire?
It may, when the cause sits inside the fireplace. A damper stuck partway and a rough smoke chamber are common examples. We check those first and explain any cause outside the fireplace separately.
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