A lot of GTA fireplaces were built in the 1920s to 1960s and have burned for decades. Firebrick cracks, the old cast iron dampers rust open or shut, and hearth tiles lift. A fireplace that smokes into the room usually has a draft problem: a flue that is too small for the opening, a cold chimney on an outside wall, or a house so airtight the fire can't pull air.
Small repairs like a new damper or a few firebricks are quick. Bigger jobs — rebuilding a firebox, replacing the hearth or a surround — are planned and priced in writing. Recent GTA quotes for a full firebox and tile rebuild ran between $3,800 and $5,700 plus HST.
When to call
- Smoke spills into the room
- The damper is stuck open or shut
- Cracked or missing firebrick
- Loose or cracked hearth tiles
- Draft of cold air when the fireplace is off
What the visit looks like
- Diagnose at the visitDraft, damper and firebox checked and photographed.
- Written priceParts and labour listed before any work.
- Repair and testFire-rated materials, then a burn test.
