Metal fireplace and chimney repair in Storey Park

Alterations that take a fireplace out of its listing

Makers draw a clear line around changes to their units. One maker lists actions that void its warranty and that it disclaims responsibility for, including modification of the fireplace, its components, doors, air inlet system and damper control, and use of component parts it did not make or approve.

Past owners and past remodels sometimes altered a unit by trimming a panel, removing a shield or blocking an air inlet. We look for those changes, explain what each one affects and list what it takes to return the fireplace to its intended build.

Parts that cannot be replaced in your home

Parts lists for factory-built fireplaces mark some components as not field replaceable. In one maker's list, the face assembly, the firebox bottom, the firebox surround, the inner dome and the smoke shield are all marked that way.

When damage reaches a part like that, repair stops being the practical path. We explain the finding, show you where it sits in the parts list and lay out the realistic choices, which are replacing the fireplace as its own installation job or retiring it from use.

• Face assembly
• Firebox bottom and surround
• Inner dome
• Smoke shield

The ember strip at the front edge

An ember protector ships with some factory-built fireplaces, as a galvanized sheet metal strip fitted between the hearth extension and the bottom front edge of the fireplace. One maker's manual says it protects against glowing embers falling through that joint.

When a hearth has been redone, that strip is sometimes lost. We check for it and fit the maker's part or the specified strip before the joint is closed again.

• Strip present under the front edge
• Maker's part or the specified sheet metal
• Joint closed once it is in place

Parts for older and discontinued models

Factory-built fireplaces outlive their production runs. One maker states that it provides replacement parts, where practicable and if available, for a set period after the last date of manufacture of a model, which means some older parts do run out.

We check availability before scheduling the work, so your fireplace is opened only when the parts are in hand. When a part is gone for good, we explain the options, including replacing the fireplace as a separate installation.