Smoke chamber repair in Lake Hart

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

Setting the coat thickness wall by wall

Directions for the coating we use allow application from one inch to several inches thick to achieve the desired result. That range matters, because chamber walls are rarely uniform.

A wall with deep steps needs more material to reach an even slope, while a wall that is already close needs less. We set the planned thickness for each wall from what the inspection shows and note it in the estimate, so the plan is visible before the work starts.

Keeping harsh cleaners off the coating

Some products sold for chimneys work by chemical action on deposits. The warranty conditions of the chamber coating we follow state that corrosive chimney cleaners must not be used on the repaired chamber.

If you use any chimney treatment, tell us what it is at the inspection. We will say whether it suits a parged chamber. In most homes, regular sweeping with the right brush and burning dry wood keep the chamber in good order without chemicals.

Protecting the room before chamber work

Chamber repair brings soot, mortar dust and wet material close to your living space. Before any tool comes out, we lay covers from the entry to the hearth and seal the fireplace opening around our work area.

Furniture near the fireplace is moved or covered with your permission. At the end of each day, the covers come up clean and the room is ready to use, even while the chamber is still curing.

• Floor covered from entry to hearth
• Fireplace opening sealed around the work
• Room left usable at day's end

When the chamber does not need work

Not every chamber inspection ends in a repair. Some chambers are parged and sound, some stepped chambers are clean and tight, and the concern that prompted the call lies somewhere else.

When that is what we find, we tell you and point to the part that needs attention, if any. The written findings still give you a record of the chamber's condition, useful for the next inspection or a future sale.