Fireplace Repair in Winnipeg
A wood-burning fireplace takes a lot of heat, and the firebox and damper take the most, so they're usually the first parts to wear out. We'll repair your masonry fireplace from the hearth up through the smoke chamber, so it's safe to use again.
Ballpark
- Firebox repair
- $900 to $2,500
- New damper
- $350 to $900
- Work time
- Half a day to 2 days
- Before a fire
- Wait 1 to 2 days
What we fix
Common Fireplace Problems
These are the repairs that come up most on older wood-burning fireplaces around Winnipeg.
Cracked or loose firebrick
The firebrick lining the firebox cracks and loosens from years of heating and cooling. Damaged bricks are cut out and replaced, or the whole firebox is relined if it's past patching.
Open joints in the firebox
Ordinary mortar can't take fire. Joints are ground out and refilled with refractory mortar, which is made for the heat.
A damper that won't close
Old cast-iron dampers rust, warp and stick. They can sometimes be freed up, but a top-sealing damper on the chimney usually works better.
Smoke in the room
A rough or stepped smoke chamber above the damper slows the draft. Parging it smooth helps, and so can matching the flue to the size of the fireplace.
Cracked hearth or surround
Cracked hearth stone, loose tiles and heat-damaged brick or stone around the opening, repaired or replaced to match.
Sagging lintel
The steel or stone over the fireplace opening can rust or crack, and the brick above it starts to sag. It's replaced and the brick above relaid.
Fireplace repairs run about $900 to $2,500 as a ballpark. See the cost guide for every repair.
Before the first fire
Bought a House with a Fireplace?
A fireplace that hasn't been used in years needs a look before the first fire, even if it seems fine. Birds and squirrels nest in unused flues, old creosote can still be stuck to the walls, and a cracked flue tile is invisible from the room. Have it swept and checked, and if anything turns up in the firebox, the flue or the chimney, we'll take care of it.
Fire codes and insurers generally recommend having a wood-burning chimney checked once a year, and more often if you burn a lot of wood.
FAQ
Fireplace Repair Questions
If your question isn't here, call and ask. It's a quick conversation and there's no charge for it.
(431) 441-8780Is it safe to use a fireplace with cracked firebrick?
Fine hairline cracks in firebrick are normal and usually nothing to worry about. Wide cracks, missing chunks or open joints let heat reach the brick and framing behind the firebox, which is a fire risk, so those should be repaired before the next fire.
Why does my fireplace smoke into the room?
It's usually a cold chimney that hasn't warmed up yet, a house so airtight the fireplace can't draw enough air, a damper that isn't fully open, or a flue that's too small for the fireplace opening. Opening a window a crack when you light it is a good test. If that fixes it, the house needs more air, and if it doesn't, the fireplace or the flue needs work.
What's a top-sealing damper?
A damper that sits on top of the chimney and closes against a rubber gasket, worked by a cable that runs down to the fireplace. It seals much tighter than an old cast-iron damper, so less heated air goes up the chimney all winter, and it acts as a cap when it's closed.
Do you repair gas fireplaces?
We work on the masonry: the firebox, the chimney, the hearth and the surround. Gas valves, igniters, pilots and fans on a gas fireplace or insert need a licensed gas fitter, and we're happy to point you to one.
How much does fireplace repair cost in Winnipeg?
As a ballpark, firebox, smoke chamber or hearth repairs are about $900 to $2,500, and a new top-sealing damper is about $350 to $900. Rebuilding a whole firebox sits at the top of the range.
Free estimate
Tell us what your chimney is doing
Describe what you're seeing, or give us a call. We'll come out, get on your roof for a proper look, and give you a written price before anything is booked.
Rather talk it through? Call or text(431) 441-8780