Smoke chamber repair in Keene's Pointe

What the smoke chamber does above the damper

A masonry fireplace has a wide firebox and a much narrower flue. The smoke chamber is the tapered space between them, rising from the throat and damper to the bottom of the flue. Smoke gathers there and is funneled upward.

Because it sits out of sight, the chamber is easy to forget until something falls onto the damper. Our pros treat it as its own part of the fireplace, with its own findings and its own line on the estimate.

• Collects smoke above the damper
• Narrows the passage toward the flue
• Carries the first flue tile at its top

Refractory mortar and ASTM C199

ASTM C199 is the test method the code names for refractory mortars, the heat-rated mortars used inside fireboxes and smoke chambers. The code calls for parging made from mortar that conforms to it, and for firebrick linings laid in medium duty refractory mortar.

In practice, that means the product in a bucket on our job has been made and rated for fireplace heat. Ordinary masonry mortar is made for walls and weather. We name the refractory product we plan to use in the written estimate, so there is no question about what goes on your chamber walls.

Why the coat is left alone once shaped

The directions warn against overworking the material once it has been placed, because too much troweling can break the suction bond between the coat and the wall.

Our crew shapes the coat, smooths the flat surfaces once and then lets it be. It takes discipline in a tight space, since the urge is to keep touching up. A coat left to set properly holds better than one that looks perfect for an hour and then lets go.

When the damper has to come out

A throat damper can block the way into the chamber. The coating directions we follow even mention leaving the damper off during curing so air can reach the new coat. On some fireplaces, the plate comes out easily and goes back in afterward.

On others, the damper is rusted in place or damaged, and removing it means replacing it. We check this at the inspection and tell you which case you have. Any damper parts are written up separately, with the reason explained.

Family-owned chamber repair, start to finish

Our business is family owned and locally owned. The people who inspect your chamber are the same kind of people who repair it, and they answer to a family name instead of a distant office.

That shows up in small ways, such as the room protected before work, the product named in writing, the cure steps explained and a phone call answered when you have a question weeks later.