How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Swannanoa, plenty of brass-and-oak fireplaces sit in Grovemont-area homes now being rebuilt or renovated after the storm — and homeowners here have learned firsthand what a working hearth is worth when the grid goes down for days. Updating the brass and oak is a chance to build in outage-proof heat, not just a new look.
Rebuilds are the right moment to upgrade
With so many Grovemont and Swannanoa Village homes under renovation after storm damage, the walls are often already open — the perfect time to move past cosmetics. The 1940s-to-'60s original masonry fireplaces here take a clean update: matte-black paint or a new door over the brass, and paint, restain, or a stone reface over the honey-oak.
Build in heat that survives an outage
The homes that stayed warm through the multi-day outages were the ones with a working hearth. A direct-vent gas insert with millivolt or battery-backup ignition gives you power-optional heat when the grid is down; a wood insert gives total grid independence. Either turns your updated fireplace into real backup heat, not just a prettier wall — central heat stops the moment the power does.
On the mains, permitted
Swannanoa is on the natural-gas mains, so a conversion is clean, but the line 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 in-home assessment.
Fireplace help in Swannanoa
We install and service fireplaces throughout Swannanoa and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
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