Restoration for wood-burning fireplaces in Upper Eastside
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
Signs a fireplace needs restoring
- Heavy soot across the face brick
- Patches in mismatched mortar
- Loose stones on a stone face
- Several small faults at once
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Restoring what is there rather than replacing it
Cleaning with the gentlest method first
Masonry cleaning guidance says to choose the gentlest method that works for the brick and the soiling. Harsh methods can remove the fired surface of a brick, and that surface does not grow back.
We start with the mildest approach, such as plain water and a bristle brush, and step up only if needed. Chemical cleaners are used only where they suit the brick and the stain. Each step is judged before the next. The goal is a clean face that still looks like the original brick.
Refractory panels in factory-built units
Factory-built fireplaces often use refractory panels in place of firebrick. The panels can crack, crumble or come loose after years of fires and neglect.
Replacement panels must be the ones the manufacturer lists for your model. They are shaped to fit and tested as part of the unit. We read the model information and order the correct panels. If the panels are no longer made, we explain what that means for the fireplace before anything is removed. Panels are fitted as the manual shows, and any cracked piece we leave in place is noted with the reason.
Air loss through an idle fireplace
A fireplace with a damper that no longer closes lets room air leave through the flue. In a house that runs its air conditioning, that is cooled air you have already paid for.
Restoring the damper so it closes squarely reduces that loss. It will not make the fireplace airtight, because a throat damper closes metal against metal. We explain what the restored damper can achieve and whether another closure option would suit if you want a tighter seal.
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.
Restoration work priced before it starts
- Smoke chamber parged smooth where needed
- Face brick cleaned by the gentlest method
- Small hidden test area before cleaning
- Clearance to nearby trim checked
Restoration answers for old fireplaces
How do you clean soot off the face brick?
With the gentlest method that works, tried first on a small hidden area. Masonry cleaning guidance warns that metal brushes, strong acids and high water pressure can damage brick and joints, so we keep them away from your fireplace.
Do you replace every firebrick during a restoration?
No. Sound firebrick stays. We replace units that are loose, broken or badly eroded, and refill open joints with a heat-rated mortar. The estimate shows which units are to be replaced and where they sit.
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.
Proudly American
Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo