Factory-built fireplaces repaired with listed parts in Otter Lake

Inside a factory-built chimney pipe

In one maker's system, each chimney section is a galvanized outer pipe around a stainless steel inner flue pipe, with a wire spacer holding the two apart. The sections snap-lock together as the chimney goes up, inner pipe first.

The space between the walls is part of the design. Dents that pinch that space, separated joints and rust on the outer pipe all go on our repair list with the section they affect.

• Galvanized outer pipe
• Stainless steel inner flue
• Wire spacer between the walls
• Snap-lock joints

The cap at the top of a metal chimney

A factory-built chimney ends in a listed termination, a round top or a chase-style top in one maker's system, and each termination comes with its own instructions. It keeps rain and debris out, and one maker's design includes a spark arrestor.

Rusted, dented or missing terminations let water and animals into the flue. We replace them with the listed part for your chimney and check the pipe below while we are on the roof.

Ash removal from a factory-built firebox

Shoveling ash out of a factory-built firebox takes a little care, since the floor under the ash is refractory and hard scraping can chip it. One maker's manual asks for ashes to go into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, placed on a noncombustible floor or the ground away from combustibles until the cinders are cold.

Chipped floor panels near the front often trace back to ash removal. We replace damaged floor panels during a repair and suggest a gentler routine for the next season.

Refacing a factory-built fireplace

Refacing a prefab fireplace with stone, tile or a new surround is a popular upgrade. The rules for the face, including what may overlap it, which mortar or adhesive may be used and which openings stay clear, come from the unit's manual.

We check those rules before the design is final and flag conflicts early. When a refacing project uncovers damage behind the old surround, the repair is priced separately so you can see both jobs clearly.