Chamber repair above the damper for homes in Coconut Grove
The smoke shelf is cleared, repaired where needed and left level with the damper base.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What you may notice below a failing chamber
- Brick chips fallen past the damper
- Heavy deposits on the chamber ledges
- An earlier coating flaking away
- A hole where a brick has fallen
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The chamber work above your damper
What the building code asks of a chamber surface
The Florida Building Code's section on smoke chambers asks for the inside surface to be parged smooth with refractory mortar of the grade it names. The walls themselves are solid masonry, grouted units, stone or concrete. The smooth inner coat is part of the requirement, not a finish.
Where a chamber was built with bare stepped brick and no parging, it falls short of that expectation. We explain what we see and whether parging would bring the surface closer to it. The estimate names the refractory material and the areas it would cover.
Protecting the room during chamber work
Chamber work happens inside the firebox, and refractory mortar marks what it lands on once it cures. Makers advise mixing away from interior finishes and covering the surrounding area. We cover the hearth, surround and floor before starting.
Tell us about finishes near the fireplace that need extra care. Soot and mortar are cleaned up as we go. At the end of the work, the debris is hauled away and the firebox is left ready for the curing steps. The room is left as we found it.
Mortar pieces found in the firebox
Crumbs of mortar or chips of brick on the firebox floor are one reason people ask about the chamber. They show that something is failing above, but not whether it is the chamber, the shelf, the damper area or the flue.
Keep a few pieces to show us. Their color and texture can hint at where they came from, since clay tile, brick and mortar each point to a different part. At the free inspection we trace them to their source before recommending any repair.
Telling whoever sweeps next about the coating
A coated chamber should be cleaned with a plastic or other non-metallic brush, according to one maker's care instructions. Metal bristles can wear the surface. The person who sweeps the chimney later needs to know the coating is there.
The written record of the work names the product and its care instructions. Show it to whoever sweeps the chimney next, including us. If a later visit finds damage to the coating, the record helps establish what was installed and how it should be treated.
Checked and priced before chamber work begins
- Areas to be parged marked out
- Inside corners rounded and smoothed
- Smoke shelf cleared and repaired
- Firebox repairs listed separately
Smoke chamber answers for your fireplace
Why does the chamber have to be cleaned before parging?
Chamber coatings bond to clean masonry. Soot and glazed deposits left on the walls would sit between the coating and the brick. Cleaning also shows cracks and loose units that the deposits may have hidden from view.
Does a smoother chamber change how the fireplace draws?
It can help where the chamber's roughness or shape is part of the problem. Draft also depends on the flue, the chimney height, the damper and the air in the house. We explain what the chamber contributes before proposing work.
Is there a discount on chamber work after the free inspection?
Yes. Chamber work you approve within 72 hours of your own free inspection is 10% off. The estimate shows the figure before you decide, and nothing is scheduled until you agree to it.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Chimney Flue RepairAssess repairs to damaged existing flue linings and distinguish them from a new liner installation.
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
- Chimney Chase Cover ReplacementReplace the chase top with a properly planned cover and clearly defined pipe connections.
- Chimney Cap Installation and ReplacementProtect the chimney opening with a cap chosen for its fit, attachment and compatible system.
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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