Brick fireplace restoration for Seminole Heights homes

Restoring a cracked hearth

A masonry hearth has to rest on noncombustible support that carries its weight, under code section R1001.9. Cracks and settling on an older hearth can be surface wear or a sign that the support below has moved.

Our pros check which one it is before quoting. Surface repairs restore the look with matching brick, stone or tile, while a hearth with failed support is rebuilt on a sound base and finished to match the original.

Cast iron fronts, grates and ash doors

Many older fireplaces carry iron pieces, including decorative fronts, grates, ash dump covers and cleanout doors. Rust, broken hinges and missing covers are common once a fireplace has sat unused.

Our pros clean and restore iron parts that are still sound, repair hinges and latches, and replace pieces that have rusted through. Where a part is decorative and original, keeping it is the first choice.

Checking the draft once the work is done

Good looks are only half of a restoration, because the fireplace also has to draw. Once curing allows, our specialists check that the damper opens fully, the smoke rises cleanly and nothing spills at the face.

If the draft is weak, the cause may be the size of the opening compared with the flue, the air supply in the room or the flue itself, and the next step is explained in plain terms.

What your restoration estimate lists

Each stage of a restoration appears on its own line with its price, so you can approve the plan whole or in parts. Here is what the lines usually cover.

• Cleaning of the face and firebox, with the method
• Repointing, with the mortar type and color
• Firebox relining or rebuilding
• Smoke chamber and damper work
• Hearth, tile and ironwork repairs
• Curing steps before the first full fire