Masonry and factory-built fireplace repair in Hyde Park

Why a fireplace smokes at the face

Smoke at the front of the fireplace has a short list of usual causes. The damper may be partly closed, the flue may still be cold, fans may be pulling air out of the house, the wood may be damp, or the fireplace and flue may be out of proportion.

Our pros work through that list in order during the visit, with the house set up the way you normally use it. The repair that follows targets the cause they find, so you are not paying for guesses.

Hearth extension thickness and raised fireboxes

Thickness matters as much as size. A masonry hearth extension is normally at least 2 inches thick, and the exception in code section R1001.9.2 allows 3/8 inch of approved noncombustible material only when the firebox opening's bottom edge is raised 8 inches or more above the extension.

That matters when tile or stone is replaced over an old hearth, because a thin new surface can look finished while falling short underneath. Our pros check the build-up before recommending a new face for the hearth.

Wood trim and shelves near the opening

Combustible trim needs distance from the fire. Under the exceptions to code section R1001.11, exposed combustible trim may not sit within 6 inches of the opening, and within 12 inches it may project no more than 1/8 inch for every inch of distance.

A shelf 8 inches above the opening, for example, may project only 1 inch. New trim, deeper shelves and decorative surrounds sometimes break that rule without anyone noticing. Our pros measure the face of your fireplace and explain what the clearances allow.

What your fireplace repair estimate lists

A useful estimate names each part of the fireplace, what was found and what the repair involves, so you can compare it with any other quote. Ours covers the pieces below when they apply.

• The firebox lining and its joints
• The damper, handle and linkage
• The lintel and the brick above it
• The hearth and its extension
• Doors, screens and the grate
• Curing and first-use steps