Our Process
The work behind restoring your Winter Springs fireplace
Deciding what to keep during fireplace restoration
The point of restoration is to keep what is still good. Sound firebrick, a damper that only needs freeing, a hearth that needs its joints repaired and a brick face that needs cleaning all stay. Material that has cracked through, crumbled or lost its bond is what gets replaced.
Our pros mark each part of your Winter Springs fireplace as keep, repair or replace, and the estimate follows those marks line by line. If a part you love has to go, we explain why and show you the replacement that comes closest to it before you decide.
Refractory mortar for a restored firebox
Firebox joints are laid in refractory mortar, and the code names medium-duty refractory mortar that meets ASTM C199 for the job. Many old fireboxes have been patched over the years with ordinary mortar, caulk or cement, which may not stand up to the heat of a fire.
During restoration those patches come out and the joints are rebuilt in refractory mortar, kept thin and tight. The product and its curing instructions are written on your record, so you know exactly when the restored fireplace in Winter Springs is ready for its first fire.
Why harsh acid stays off old fireplace brick
Strong acid is a quick way to strip a brick face and a quick way to ruin one. Brick Industry Association guidance says not to use unbuffered muriatic acid on brickwork, and it notes that lighter-colored brick is more prone to acid burn and staining.
Our restoration crew uses the gentlest cleaner that removes the stain, tested first on a hidden spot. If a stubborn mark will not lift without harming the brick in your Winter Springs fireplace, we tell you and leave it rather than trade a stain for permanent damage.
Restoring an old outside air vent in the firebox
Some fireplaces have an outside air supply with an outlet in the firebox. The code calls for a corrosion-resistant 1/4 inch mesh at the intake and an outlet that closes and keeps burning material out of hidden spaces (R1006.2, R1006.5). In old fireplaces the outlet is often rusted open or shut and the screen long gone.
During restoration our crew checks the outlet, the duct and the intake, frees or replaces the outlet cover and restores the screen. The work on your Winter Springs fireplace is listed separately, so you can see what it adds.
