How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Candler, the brass-and-oak fireplaces sit in the older homes, while the fast-growing new subdivisions came with plain decorative fireboxes — both want a real upgrade. Painting or replacing the brass door and refreshing the honey-oak surround handles the looks; Hominy Valley's bowl-shaped air makes a clean-burning sealed unit worth considering underneath.
Two kinds of dated, one fix each
Older Candler homes carry the 1980s brass and honey-oak; the newer Enka-Candler and Sand Hill subdivisions carry basic decorative builder boxes that owners quickly want to make useful. For the brass-and-oak, paint is the high-impact move — matte black on the frame, a modern tone on the oak — or a full tile reface with a clean shelf mantel.
Hominy Valley's air favors sealed combustion
The valley sits in a natural bowl, so on still winter days smoke and combustion byproducts don't clear quickly. A sealed direct-vent gas unit keeps combustion out of your room and vents it outside entirely — cleaner air indoors and controllable heat, which is why so many owners here upgrade the firebox, not just the front.
On the mains, permitted
Candler is served by natural gas, so conversions are straightforward, but the line is licensed work — we permit it with Buncombe County and meet the inspector. We're 15 minutes west; call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home estimate.
Fireplace help in Candler
We install and service fireplaces throughout Candler and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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