How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Black Mountain, cold-air inversion off the Swannanoa Valley can leave mornings 10 to 15 degrees colder than Asheville, so a brass-and-oak fireplace here is worth updating into something you'll actually run. The brass door and honey-oak surround are cosmetic to paint or replace, but the update is a good moment to make the hearth a dependable heat source.
Cold mornings make heat the point
Down in the valley the sun clears the ridges late and frost lingers into spring, so the fireplace you're updating gets used hard. Painting the brass matte black and refreshing the oak — paint, restain, or a stone reface — modernizes the wall, but pairing that with a sealed direct-vent gas insert means real warmth on those inversion mornings, at the flip of a switch.
Wooded, damp lots need a closer look
Around Montreat and Ridgecrest the heavily wooded lots keep houses shaded, cool, and moisture-prone, which is hard on masonry chimneys. If you're refacing a masonry surround, we check for moisture and liner damage behind it rather than sealing a problem in.
Natural gas, close to home
Black Mountain is on the natural-gas mains, so conversions are clean. Any gas line is licensed work — we permit it with Buncombe County and meet the inspector. We're just 15 minutes east of the Asheville showroom; call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Black Mountain
We install and service fireplaces throughout Black Mountain and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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- Can I stain or paint my existing mantel to update it?
- How can I update my fireplace on a budget?
- Can I replace just the doors or screen front to freshen up my fireplace?