What's Included
Firebox problems we fix in Geigers Landing
Why firebox joints stay thin
Joints between firebricks are meant to be tight. The Florida Building Code caps them at 1/4 inch wide, because a thick bed of mortar is the weak point in a wall that heats and cools with every fire. Where old joints have been packed fat with patching material, we cut them back and rebuild them to the right width.
Our firebox experts point out the joints that need work during a free inspection in Geigers Landing, and the price comes in writing before any mortar is touched.
Curing new firebox mortar
New refractory mortar has to dry and then be brought up to heat in stages. One manufacturer's directions call for air drying at least 24 hours, a low fire held under 210 degrees F until the mortar has dried through, then a hotter fire of about 500 degrees F for one to two hours. Other products set their own steps.
We leave the curing directions for the exact product used, so nobody in your Geigers Landing home has to guess before the first real fire. Questions afterwards are always welcome.
Leaving the throat where it belongs
Above the firebox the walls draw in toward the throat, where the damper sits. Under the code, the throat or damper sits no lower than 8 inches above the lintel. A firebox rebuild leaves that transition as it was, so the fire still drafts the way the fireplace was designed to. A worn damper plate or frame found during the job is priced as a separate item.
Our firebox pros explain what stays and what changes before work starts in your Geigers Landing home, and the first look is free.
Fuel that burns too hot
Scrap lumber, pallets, cardboard and wrapping paper flare hot and fast, and sudden heat is hard on firebrick. Seasoned firewood burned at a steady pace is kinder to the firebox. If the damage pattern points to very hot fires, we tell you, because a repair holds far better when its cause is dealt with too.
It is advice, not a lecture. Book a free firebox inspection in Geigers Landing and our family-owned team will talk it through with you.
Gaps that let heat through
A gap through the firebox lining exposes the masonry behind it to more heat than it was built to take. Florida's residential code keeps studs, joists and other combustibles at least 2 inches from a masonry fireplace's front and sides and at least 4 inches from its back, a margin that assumes the firebox is intact. Sealing gaps protects what sits beyond the wall.
Our firebox experts find gaps before they grow and price the repair clearly for homeowners in Geigers Landing. The inspection is free.
