How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Hendersonville, updating a 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace is often paired with a switch to quiet, low-maintenance sealed gas — a favorite among the town's many retirees. The brass door and honey-oak surround are purely cosmetic to paint or replace, but it's the ideal moment to rethink the firebox behind them, and the chimney around it, too.
The cosmetic layer, and why owners here go further
The quick wins hold true anywhere: matte-black paint or a new door over the brass, and paint, restain, or a tile reface over the honey-oak. But many Hendersonville homeowners — especially those downsizing along Spartanburg Highway or near Downtown Main Street — use the update to trade a fussy wood box for a flip-switch sealed gas unit. No hauling wood, no cold-start smoke, exactly what a quieter household wants.
Look at the chimney while you're in there
Henderson County's clay-heavy soil settles foundations and stresses older masonry chimneys — a cracked flue or a leaning stack isn't a cosmetic problem. If you're refacing a masonry surround, it's worth having us check the liner behind it. A direct-vent insert sidesteps a tired flue entirely by venting straight out a sidewall, no chimney needed.
On the mains, and permitted
Hendersonville sits on the natural-gas mains, so a conversion here is straightforward. Any new or extended gas line is licensed work in NC — we permit it with Henderson County and meet the inspector so your home sale and insurance stay protected. We're 25 minutes south of our Asheville showroom; call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Hendersonville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Hendersonville and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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