How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Fairview, that 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace often fronts a wood-burner on a wooded rural lot where propane, not a natural-gas main, is the norm. Updating the brass door and oak surround is the cosmetic half; the real choice is whether to keep burning wood or convert the box to propane gas.
Keep the wood, or convert to gas
Fairview's large wooded lots make wood heat a natural fit, and plenty of owners want to keep it. If you do, a modern EPA wood insert — from the Regency line we install — burns far cleaner and hotter than the old open box behind the brass. If you'd rather have flame at the flip of a switch, a propane direct-vent insert drops in and gives you power-optional heat without hauling wood or cold-start smoke.
The cosmetic update and a creosote reminder
Either way, the brass paints matte black or gets replaced, and the honey-oak takes paint, a restain, or a reface. If you keep burning wood, pair the update with a fall sweep — creosote buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires on these wooded lots, and a clean flue is not optional.
Propane setup, permitted
Most Fairview homes are on propane, so a gas conversion means an LP setup with the tank coordinated through your supplier. The piping is licensed work — we permit it with Buncombe County and meet the inspector. We're 15 minutes east; call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Fairview
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fairview and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
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