Repair Options

Smoke chamber problems we fix in Wekiwa Springs

The tapered space above the damper

Above the throat and damper, the fireplace narrows from the width of its opening to the size of the flue. That tapered space is the smoke chamber, shaped roughly like a funnel turned upside down, and every bit of smoke and heat passes through it. Because it cannot be seen from the room, damage there tends to go unnoticed for years.

Our smoke chamber experts look at it with a strong light during a free inspection in Wekiwa Springs and tell you what they find.

Working around the damper

The damper sits right at the bottom of the chamber, and its plate can block the view and the reach. On some fireplaces the plate lifts out for access and goes back in once the work is done. If the damper itself turns out to be worn, rusted or warped, that repair is priced as a separate item so you can decide.

Our smoke chamber pros explain what they will move and put back before starting in your Wekiwa Springs home.

Clearing what lands on the shelf

Leaves, twigs, old nesting material and chunks of mortar can pile up on the smoke shelf where nobody sees them. Clearing them is cleaning. Repairing the shelf underneath is a separate step, and it is only needed when the surface is damaged. We tell you which one your fireplace needs.

If an animal is still living up there, removal comes first and is priced on its own. Call (645) 465-4122 for a free look in Wekiwa Springs.

Protecting the room below

Smoke chamber repair is done through the fireplace opening, so soot and old mortar have to be kept in the fireplace. We cover the hearth and nearby floor, seal the opening around our work and keep a vacuum running while we scrape. At the end of each work day an open chimney is covered, and we always clean up and haul the debris away.

A clean room is part of our 100% satisfaction guarantee in Wekiwa Springs.

Insulating refractory parging

Some parging materials made for smoke chambers are insulating refractory mortars, which seal and smooth the chamber while also slowing the heat that passes into the masonry behind. Whether that matters for your fireplace depends on how the chamber was built and what we find. We explain the options and the reasons behind our choice.

Nothing starts until you approve the material, which our family-owned team names in the written estimate for Wekiwa Springs homeowners.