Fireplace
Inside a fireplace restoration in Astor Farms
Relining a worn firebox with new firebrick
The firebrick lining takes the heat of every fire, so it is often the first part of an old fireplace to wear out. The Florida Building Code calls for a lining at least 2 inches thick, of firebrick made to ASTM C27 or C1261, with joints no wider than 1/4 inch (R1001.5).
Where the old lining has cracked, spalled or thinned, our crew removes the failed bricks and relays the firebox in new firebrick, keeping the pattern the fireplace was built with where that is possible. A partial relining is quoted when the damage is confined to one wall of your Astor Farms firebox.
Removing smoke stains from an old brick fireplace
Smoke stains are the most visible sign of a neglected fireplace. The BIA's cleaning guidance says scrubbing with scouring powder and a stiff bristle brush is often effective on smoke, and that is where our crew starts on your brick.
Before the face is cleaned, we find out why the smoke escaped, since a fireplace that still spills will stain the fresh face again. Once the cause is repaired, the brick in your Astor Farms home is cleaned section by section and rinsed at low pressure, matching the test patch you approved.
Restoring an old tile fireplace surround
Old tile surrounds crack, loosen and lose pieces over the years. The noncombustible face around the opening matters, because the code keeps combustible trim at least 6 inches from the opening. A missing tile can leave a gap in that face.
Our pros reset loose tiles on a sound bed, replace broken ones with the closest match we can source and regrout the surround. If an original tile is impossible to match, we tell you before the work and suggest where a substitute will show least on your Astor Farms fireplace.
Burning habits that keep a restored fireplace looking restored
A restored face stays clean when the fireplace draws well and the fires are made from the right fuel. EPA wood-burning guidance says not to burn wet wood, trash, cardboard or painted or pressure-treated wood, and never to start a fire with gasoline, kerosene or charcoal starter.
It also notes that smoke you regularly see or smell points to a problem. If your restored fireplace in Astor Farms starts to spill smoke, stop using it and call us, and our pros will find out why before the new face is stained.
