Restoring a neglected wood fireplace in Palmetto Estates
You approve every restoration item before work starts, and you see the price of each one.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When patching an old fireplace stops working
- Damper that no longer moves
- Cracked or loose hearth tiles
- Musty smell from the fireplace
- Rust on the lintel or firebox metal
Jump to
Restoration work inside and around the firebox
Start from how you want to use the fireplace
Tell us what you want from the fireplace. Some people want regular fires again. Others want it safe for an occasional evening, or simply sound and good to look at. The goal changes which items matter most.
A fireplace that will burn often needs every fire-facing part in good order. One that will rarely burn may need the same safety items but less finish work. We write the goal at the top of the estimate, so every line below it can be read against that purpose.
Deciding which firebrick to replace
Firebrick lines the firebox and takes the direct heat of the fire. Over years it can crack, loosen or erode. Replacing all of it is rarely needed.
We check each area for units that are loose, broken through or worn thin. Those are marked for replacement. Units with fine surface lines but a sound body can often stay. The estimate shows which areas are affected, so you can see that the rest of the firebox is being kept on purpose.
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.
A fireplace inherited from earlier owners
A fireplace in a house you have just bought has a past you did not witness. It may have been well kept, neglected or altered by earlier owners.
Ask for any manuals or records that came with the house. The free inspection tells you what type of fireplace you have and what condition it is in. If restoration is worth doing, we explain what it would involve. If only one repair is needed, we say so, and you can plan from there.
Inside a fireplace restoration estimate
- Smoke chamber parged smooth where needed
- Surround tiles reset or matched
- Small hidden test area before cleaning
- Free written estimate before any work
Restoring an old fireplace, questions answered
Can a fireplace that has sat idle for years be restored?
Usually, yes. The process starts with a full inspection with the fireplace cold. Idle fireplaces often need cleaning, a freed damper and some firebox repairs. We explain what the inspection finds before any fire is lit.
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.
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.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Prefab and Zero-Clearance Fireplace RepairIdentify and repair manufactured fireplace components using the appropriate model information.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
- Chimney Chase Cover ReplacementReplace the chase top with a properly planned cover and clearly defined pipe connections.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
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