How do I update a dated 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace?
In Waynesville, a 1980s brass-and-oak fireplace is usually doing real work — at nearly 2,650 feet, with a heating season weeks longer than Asheville's, that hearth earns its keep. So while the brass door and oak surround are a quick cosmetic fix, the smarter update here also tackles the drafty open box behind them.
Refresh the looks, but don't stop there
The brass frame paints matte black in a weekend, and the honey-oak mantel and surround take paint, a walnut restain, or a stone reface just as well. In older Hazelwood homes, though, that open masonry firebox pulls more warm air up the chimney than it ever throws into the room — a fresh coat of paint doesn't fix that.
Make it heat, not just look good
At this elevation a sealed appliance changes your winter. A direct-vent gas insert or a cold-climate wood insert like the Kozy Heat line — built in Minnesota for exactly these temperatures — drops into the existing opening and turns a decorative box into a genuine heater you can run all season. Waynesville is mixed-fuel country: natural gas serves parts of town, propane the homes out toward the coves, and we set the appliance up for whichever you have.
Permit and timing
Any gas line is licensed work — we permit it with Haywood County and meet the inspector. Because your cold snaps land earlier and harder here, book the update in late summer, not the week you first need heat. We're 35 minutes west; call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home estimate.
Fireplace help in Waynesville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Waynesville and the rest of Haywood County — just 35 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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