Firebox work behind an original Beverly Hills surround
Where a period room keeps its original surround, carved stone, cast stone or decorative tile often runs right to the edge of the firebox. The repair happens just behind that face, and the surround is protected throughout.
Rebuilding a firebox usually means taking out damaged firebrick from the inside. If the damage reaches the masonry behind the surround, the question becomes whether the surround has to come off, and that is worth knowing before anything starts.
Refractory mortar belongs in a firebox; ordinary mortar does not. A patch in the wrong material is a common find on older fireplaces, and it fails under heat.
Gas logs fitted into fireboxes built for wood
Many older wood-burning fireboxes now hold vented gas logs. These rely on the flue staying open while they burn, which is why the damper is often held partly open with a clamp or stop. A damper closed fully, or a clamp that has been removed, sends combustion gases into the room.
Gas devices are not subject to South Coast AQMD's residential no-burn alerts, which is one reason owners convert. The conversion does not change what the firebox and damper need, and the burner, valve and pilot bring faults of their own.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds while the fireplace is running, get everyone out and call 911.
Tell us whether the fireplace burns wood, runs gas logs or is a factory-built unit, and what it is doing, and we'll come back to you. Estimates cost nothing — describe the job and we will come back to you.
Factory-built fireplaces in rebuilt and newer houses
Where an older house has been replaced with a new one, the fireplace is often a factory-built unit. The California Residential Code requires those to be listed, tested to UL 127 and installed according to their listing, so a repair means the manufacturer's parts rather than improvised fixes.
South Coast AQMD Rule 445 does not allow a permanently installed wood-burning device in new development, meaning construction begun on or after March 9, 2009. A newer house with a gas-only fireplace is usually that way by design, and converting it to burn wood is not a repair option.
Cracked refractory panels are replaced, not patched. Fine surface crazing that has not changed is normal wear.
Cost factors for Beverly Hills fireplace repair
Where the fault is decides most of the cost; parts and access decide the rest.
- 1Whether the fault is in the firebox, the damper, the gas components or a factory-built unit.
- 2Availability of manufacturer parts, particularly for older factory-built models.
- 3Protecting and working around an original surround.
- 4How much firebrick is affected, and whether the masonry behind it is sound.
- 5A replacement throat damper versus a top-sealing damper, which needs roof access.