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Fireplace restoration for homes in Shenandoah

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
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Signs a fireplace needs restoring

  • Fireplace unused for many years
  • Loose or missing firebrick
  • Damper that no longer moves
  • Several small faults at once
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How we restore a neglected fireplace

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.

Smoke stains that tell a history

Dark stains above the opening record smoke that did not go up the flue. They tell us the fireplace had a draft problem at some point, even if nobody remembers it.

We look for the cause before cleaning the stain. It may be a damper that did not open, a rough smoke chamber or a fire built too far forward. Cleaning the face without fixing the cause would only prepare it for new stains. The plan addresses the cause first and the face after.

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.

Small fires to cure new work

Some heat-resistant fireplace mortars finish curing with heat. One maker calls for air drying first, then a low fire, before the fireplace is used at full strength.

We give you the curing steps for the products we used. Following them lets the new joints harden properly. Skipping them risks cracks in fresh work. If you are unsure about any step, ask us before lighting the fire rather than after. We would rather explain twice than repair the same joint again.

Restoration work priced before it starts

  • Firebrick replaced where units have failed
  • Hearth cracks and loose units repaired
  • Room and floor protection
  • Essential and optional items priced apart

What people ask about restoring a fireplace

Is the chimney part of a fireplace restoration?

The focus is the fireplace itself, from the firebox and damper to the hearth and face. Findings on the chimney above are noted and listed as separate items, each with its own reason and price.

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.

Is there a discount on fireplace restoration work?

Yes. Restoration items booked inside 72 hours of your free inspection come with a 10% discount. The inspection and the written estimate stay free whether or not you go ahead.

More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace

More about fireplace restorationEvery service in Shenandoah

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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With