Fireplace
Inside a fireplace restoration in Crystal Point
Restoring the lintel over an old fireplace opening
The brick over a fireplace opening rests on a noncombustible lintel that bears at least 4 inches onto the masonry at each end (R1001.7). In an old fireplace a steel lintel can rust and bend, and the brick above it shows the strain with a sag or cracks stepping up from the corners.
Restoring the opening means supporting the brick, replacing the failed lintel and relaying the brick above it, reusing the original brick wherever it comes out whole. Our crew in Crystal Point keeps the arch or flat top the fireplace was built with.
Restoring a stone fireplace surround
Stone surrounds age differently from brick. Joints loosen, pieces crack along their bedding, and some stones stain from smoke or old sealers. Restoring stone starts with finding which pieces are loose and why, then cleaning with methods the stone itself will tolerate.
Loose stones are reset in a suitable mortar, cracked pieces are repaired or replaced with the closest match available, and joints are repointed to the original width and profile. Our crew tests every cleaner on a hidden spot of your Crystal Point surround first. Stone that was painted or sealed in the past is handled like painted brick, with the gentlest method that works.
Ash dump doors in an old fireplace
An ash dump is a little metal trapdoor in the firebox floor, found in many masonry fireplaces, that drops ash into a pit below. In an old fireplace that door is often rusted shut, bent or missing, which can leave an open hole in the hearth of the firebox.
We clean out the old ash, check the chamber and its cleanout door outside or below, and replace a missing or seized ash door with one that fits the opening. It is a small part, and it is on your Crystal Point estimate as a small line.
Carbon monoxide alarms and a restored fireplace
A wood fire produces carbon monoxide along with smoke, which is why the NFPA advises venting all fuel-burning equipment outside and installing and maintaining carbon monoxide alarms. A fireplace coming back into use after years is a good moment to check that yours work.
If an alarm sounds while the fireplace is burning, get everyone outside and call 911 from outside. Once the home is safe, our specialists inspect the restored fireplace and the path the smoke takes out of your Crystal Point home before it is used again. A restored fireplace is used with working alarms in place, like any other.
