How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Fletcher, the dated fireplace is often a step later than pure 1980s — early-1990s subdivisions along the I-26 corridor came with builder-grade brass-trimmed boxes and light oak trim. Updating them follows the same playbook: paint or replace the brass front, refresh or reface the oak, and decide whether the plain builder firebox is worth upgrading.
Builder-grade, and how to lift it
Fletcher's 1990s subdivisions and Airport Road-area builds went in with basic fireboxes, brass trim, and thin oak surrounds — perfectly functional, entirely dated. The fastest fix is paint: matte black on the brass, a soft white or charcoal on the oak. For a bigger jump on a gas unit, a clean-face or frameless front and a stone or tile reface make a builder box look custom.
Residential and commercial both
The steady I-26 and airport-area commercial growth means we update these fireplaces in offices and businesses too, not just homes — the same cosmetic menu scales up. A direct-vent insert drops into an existing opening if you want real heat behind the new look.
On the gas mains, permitted
Fletcher sits on the natural-gas mains, so conversions are simple, but the line is licensed work — a showroom or handyman legally can't connect it. We permit it with Henderson County and meet the inspector. We're 20 minutes south; call (828) 545-0525 for a free estimate.
Fireplace help in Fletcher
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fletcher and the rest of Henderson County — just 20 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
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