Our Process

The work behind restoring your Wagner fireplace

Hearth extension size in a fireplace restoration

The hearth extension in front of the opening has minimum dimensions for good reason. Under R1001.10, a smaller opening needs 16 inches of extension out front and 8 to each side, and an opening of 6 square feet or more needs 20 and 12.

Some old fireplaces were built with a short extension, and some lost part of it to a flooring job. We measure yours and tell you where it stands. If your Wagner fireplace is to be used again, extending the hearth is part of the restoration plan, finished to suit the original.

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 Wagner home is cleaned section by section and rinsed at low pressure, matching the test patch you approved.

Stripping paint from a fireplace surround

Many brick fireplaces were painted at some point, and some owners want the brick back. BIA guidance is to try nonabrasive paint removal first and to use a poultice, paste or gel that clings to the surface when a coating has soaked into the masonry.

Paint removal is slow, and some brick never gives up every trace. Our specialists test a hidden area of your Wagner fireplace, show you the result and tell you honestly how close the full face is likely to come before you commit to the work.

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 Wagner fireplace within 72 hours of it. If something unexpected turns up once work begins, we stop, show you and price it before going further.