Our Process
How fireplace restoration is done in Geneva
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 Geneva keeps the arch or flat top the fireplace was built with.
Restoring a wood mantel at the right distance
An old wood mantel is often the part of the fireplace people love most. The code allows combustible mantels and trim on the fireplace front, but not within 6 inches of the opening, and closer than 12 inches, combustible pieces can project only 1/8 inch for every inch they sit from the opening (R1001.11).
Our specialists measure the mantel and trim on your Geneva fireplace against those limits before planning the restoration. A mantel that sits too close can often be reset higher on the same face, keeping the piece you want while making the fireplace fit for use.
Sandblasting and grinding on old fireplace brick
Abrasive blasting removes dirt fast by removing some of the brick with it. Brick Industry Association guidance does not recommend abrasive blasting for cleaning brickwork apart from limited cases, and it advises trying nonabrasive methods first on paint and coatings.
Once a brick face has lost its fired surface, it soils faster and cannot be put back. Our specialists restore fireplace faces in Geneva with brushes, suitable cleaners, poultices and low-pressure water, and keep grinders and blasting media away from original brick. If the face was blasted in the past, its surface may already be soft, and it is cleaned with even more care.
A fireplace restoration estimate item by item
A single price for restoring the fireplace tells you very little. Our estimates split it up: firebox relining, damper work, smoke chamber parging, hearth repair, cleaning, repointing, brick replacement and surround work, each on its own line with its own price.
You approve the lines you want, and the price does not change unless you agree to more work. There are no hidden fees, the inspection is free, and 10% comes off when you book the restoration of your Geneva fireplace within 72 hours of it. If something unexpected turns up once work begins, we stop, show you and price it before going further.
