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Fireplace Remodel in Seattle, Tacoma & Everett
Change how the fireplace looks and how it works in one job: surround, mantel, hearth, insert conversion and firebox update, done in the right order. Free quote.
- Free 2nd-opinion quotes
- Price match + 10–25% discount
- Same-day service often available
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A fireplace remodel changes the look and the function of the fireplace together. That is what separates it from a repair, which fixes one failed part, and from refacing, which only changes the visible surface. A remodel might mean a new stone surround and mantel plus a wood insert, a hearth raised or extended to meet the clearance a new unit needs, a dated brick face taken back to the firebox, or a firebox updated while the wall is open.
The reason to do these things together is sequencing. The firebox, damper and flue work has to happen before the surround is closed up; the hearth has to be sized to the unit before the tile goes down; the mantel height depends on the clearance the fireplace is listed for. Done in the wrong order, a beautiful remodel ends up with a mantel too low, a hearth too short, or a surround that has to come off again for a liner. If all you want is a fresh face over a sound, working fireplace, our fireplace refacing page is the smaller job.
We remodel fireplaces in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and the road-accessible Puget Sound. The quote is free, a second-opinion quote is free, and we price match a written quote and take 10–25% off. Call 206-453-2045.
Symptoms
Signs you need fireplace remodel
- The fireplace is the first thing people see and the last thing that has been updated
- You want an insert for heat but the surround, hearth or mantel will not fit one
- The hearth is flush with the floor and you want it raised, extended or in a new material
- A 1970s floor-to-ceiling brick face is dark, dated and taking over the room
- The mantel is too low for the fireplace or for the television going above it
- The firebox needs work anyway and you would rather finish the whole wall once
- A remodel of the room made the existing fireplace look out of place
Common causes
- Original builder fireplaces were finished in whatever brick or tile was cheap at the time
- Open masonry fireplaces built for looks waste heat, so owners add inserts that change the clearances
- Hearths were built to the minimum for the original fireplace, not for a newer or larger unit
- Mantels were set before flat-screen televisions and modern clearance listings existed
- Decades of use leave the firebox, damper and smoke chamber due for work at the same time the look is due for a change
How It Works
Our fireplace remodel process
A remodel starts with what is behind the face. We inspect the firebox, damper, smoke chamber and flue, because if any of them need repair the time to do it is before the new surround goes on. We measure the opening, the hearth and hearth extension, and the wall, and we check what the existing face is attached to and whether removing it exposes framing that needs clearance. If you are adding an insert or changing the unit, we check the chimney and liner for it. Then we sketch the sequence: what must happen first, what can wait, and what may need a permit, which we tell you about on the quote.
Free design and quote visit
We look at the fireplace, the chimney and the room, talk through what you want it to look like and how you want to use it, and give you a written quote with the work in order.
Fix the inside first
Firebox repair, damper replacement, smoke chamber parging or a new liner are done while the wall is open, so nothing has to be reopened later.
Change the unit if wanted
A wood insert or a factory-built replacement is set and vented; see our installation pages for the details. This step sets the clearances for everything that follows.
Rebuild the hearth
The hearth and hearth extension are raised, extended or resurfaced to the size the unit needs and the material you chose.
Build the surround and mantel
The old face is removed or covered, the new stone, tile, brick or wood surround is installed, and the mantel is set at a height that clears the fireplace's listing.
Finish, test and walkthrough
Trim and paint are completed, we run a test fire, and we show you the new controls and clearances.
Options
Repair and service options
A remodel is built from a short menu, and you can take as much or as little of it as the fireplace needs:
- Surround and mantel: natural or manufactured stone, large-format tile, new brick, painted or stained wood, or a drywall-and-plaster modern look, with the mantel set to clearance.
- Hearth changes: raising a flush hearth to seating height, extending it to meet the clearance a new unit needs, or changing the material to stone, tile or soapstone.
- Open fireplace to insert: adding a wood-burning insert with a full-height stainless liner so the fireplace heats the room; gas inserts are covered under gas fireplace insert.
- Firebox and damper update: repointing or rebuilding the firebox, a new damper, or a new set of glass doors while the wall is open; see fireplace repair.
- Face removal and reframing: taking a floor-to-ceiling brick face down to the firebox and rebuilding the wall around a smaller, lighter surround.
Each piece is quoted separately so you can see what the look costs and what the function costs. Free quote, price match plus 10–25% off.
Pricing
What affects the price
- Whether the fireplace unit changes (insert or new unit) or stays as it is
- Surround material: manufactured stone and tile versus natural stone or custom millwork
- Hearth work: resurfacing only versus raising or extending the hearth
- Condition of the firebox, damper and flue found behind the old face
- Whether the existing face is removed or covered over
- Mantel type and the clearance the fireplace is listed for
- Permit and inspection needs for the unit or venting portion
Every chimney is different, so you get a written quote after we look at the system. Ask about our price match and free second-opinion quote.
Safety & Seattle Conditions
Safety considerations
Every material that goes near a fireplace has a clearance: combustible mantels and trim have to sit a certain distance from the opening, hearth extensions have to reach a certain depth and width in front of it, and inserts and factory-built units have their own listed clearances that override rules of thumb. A remodel that ignores these looks fine the day it is finished and becomes a problem on the first long fire. We build to the listing and to NFPA 211, which recommends that any change to the fireplace or its venting be followed by an inspection before use.
If your fireplace is gas, the valve, pilot and logs are left to our qualified technician during the remodel; do not move or adjust them yourself. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911.
Seattle & Puget Sound conditions
Fireplace remodels around Puget Sound tend to be in homes from the 1960s and 1970s. Seattle's median home was built in 1976, Tacoma's in 1967, Shoreline's in 1969 and Edmonds' in 1974, and that era's full brick faces, flush hearths and low mantels are what most owners want to change.
The chimney above those fireplaces has been through a lot of weather. Sea-Tac averages 40.34 inches of precipitation a year with about 73% of it from October through March, and Seattle sees around 60 days a year touching 32°F with daytime thaws. That is why we inspect the flue and firebox before the new face goes on: the damage is usually already there.
Our Work
Fireplace Remodel in action
Want a fireplace that looks new and works better?
Free design and quote visit, price match plus 10–25% off. If you're not happy, we're not done. Call 206-453-2045.
☎ 206-453-2045 Request a QuoteQuestions
Fireplace Remodel FAQ
What is the difference between a fireplace remodel and refacing?
Refacing changes only the visible surface of a fireplace that already works: new stone, tile or paint over a sound structure. A remodel changes function as well, such as adding an insert, raising or extending the hearth, updating the firebox or moving the mantel, and then finishes the face. If nothing behind the face needs to change, refacing is the cheaper job.
Can I put a television above the fireplace during the remodel?
Often, but it depends on the fireplace's clearance and how hot the wall above the opening gets. We measure the clearance the unit is listed for, and a remodel is the right time to add a deeper mantel or a heat deflector and to run the wiring before the wall is closed. We will tell you honestly if the heat above your fireplace makes it a bad spot.
Do I have to replace the fireplace to remodel it?
No. Many remodels keep the existing masonry fireplace and change the surround, hearth and mantel around it, with any firebox or damper repair done first. Adding an insert is an option when you want heat as well as looks, but it is not a requirement, and we quote the remodel both ways if you are undecided.
Why do you inspect the chimney for a cosmetic project?
Because once the new surround is on, the firebox and damper are behind it. If the firebox needs crack repair or the flue needs a liner, doing it now costs far less than reopening a finished wall later. A camera look at the flue is part of every remodel quote.
Can you raise my flush hearth?
Yes. A raised hearth is built up on the existing hearth slab and finished in stone, tile or brick, and the extension in front of the opening is sized to the clearance the fireplace needs. If you are adding an insert, the hearth is often extended at the same time, because inserts frequently need more depth in front than the original open fireplace did.
How long does a fireplace remodel take?
A surround, mantel and hearth remodel on a sound fireplace typically takes a few days. Adding an insert and liner, or taking a full brick face down to the firebox, adds time. We give you a schedule in the written quote, and the inspection visit that starts it is free and often available same day.
Does a fireplace remodel need a permit?
The cosmetic part usually does not, but changing the fireplace unit, adding an insert or altering the venting may need a permit in your city or county. We tell you which parts of your remodel may need one on the quote visit and handle the paperwork with you.
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