Restoring the firebox, damper and face in Riverside Park
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
Clues that point to a full restoration
- Debris or nesting in the firebox
- Earlier repairs that keep failing
- Water marks inside the firebox
- A face darkened by old fires
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Restoring what is there rather than replacing it
The right mortar for the firebox
The mortar in a firebox is not the same as the mortar in a garden wall. The building code calls for firebrick to be laid with a refractory mortar made for high heat. Ordinary mortar can break down under direct fire.
Every firebox joint we set or refill uses a heat-rated fireplace mortar, applied and cured as its maker directs. If earlier repairs used the wrong material, we explain whether it has to come out. The mortar is hard to see once the work is done, so the estimate names it.
Rust marks from fireplace metal
Orange or brown streaks on the face or the firebox often come from metal parts nearby. A rusting lintel, damper or ash door can stain the masonry around it.
We trace the stain to its source before cleaning it. The metal part is treated, repaired or replaced as part of the plan. Once the source is dealt with, the stain can be cleaned with a method tested first. Cleaning alone, without fixing the metal, would leave the stain to return.
Easing back into use after restoration
The early fires after a restoration should be small. New firebox mortar may still be curing, and the damper and flue are being used again after a long gap.
Follow the curing steps we give you, using dry wood and a modest fire. Watch that smoke goes up the flue and that the damper stays fully open. If anything seems wrong, let the fire burn out and call us. Building up gradually protects the new work and shows you how the restored fireplace behaves.
Maintenance visits after a restoration
A restored fireplace stays in good order with regular attention. Maintenance visits let us check the firebox joints, the damper and the face before small issues grow.
We note what we see on each visit in the written record of the work. If a joint has opened or the damper feels stiff, it can be addressed early. Ask about maintenance visits when the restoration is done, and we suggest what makes sense for how often you use the fireplace. Keep the record of each visit with the restoration record.
Essential and optional restoration items
- Face joints repointed with matched mortar
- Lintel condition noted
- Mortar cure instructions before use
- Retained features listed on the estimate
Restoration answers for old fireplaces
Can you restore a painted brick fireplace?
We can repair the brick and joints under the paint. Whether the paint should come off is a separate decision, because removal can damage some brick faces. We test and explain before recommending anything.
What happens if you find hidden damage partway through?
We stop and explain it. The finding, the proposed repair and the price are set out before we continue. Nothing is added to the job without your approval, and the estimate is updated in writing.
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.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Flue RepairAssess repairs to damaged existing flue linings and distinguish them from a new liner installation.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
- Prefab and Zero-Clearance Fireplace RepairIdentify and repair manufactured fireplace components using the appropriate model information.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
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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