How much does it cost to reface or update the look of an existing fireplace?
In Leicester, a reface out on these rural large lots often pairs with the way homes actually heat here — propane and wood, sometimes with limited electrical capacity. Materials and demolition set the cosmetic price, well under a replacement, but the fuel and power realities shape what goes behind the new face.
Heat that doesn't lean on the grid
Many Leicester properties run on propane or wood, and some remote homes up Sandy Mush or Newfound have limited electrical capacity — which steers the choice behind a reface. A wood insert or a low-draw sealed gas unit makes more sense here than anything that depends on steady power. Cold-air drainage runs these valleys 5 to 8 degrees colder than Asheville on clear nights, so the hearth is real heat, not decoration. A Regency wood insert or a Valor gas unit that needs no electricity at all keeps a Leicester home warm straight through a grid-down stretch.
Wood, propane, and the license
If it's a wood insert, a correctly sized liner is part of doing it right and getting an overnight burn; if it's propane, the LP setup needs proper orifices, pressure, and a pressure test. Either way we permit through Buncombe County and stand behind the whole job — appliance, venting, and finish. Running or connecting gas is licensed work a mason legally can't do; we can, so you're not stitching a beautiful face onto a fireplace no one will connect. Leicester is 15 minutes west of our Emma Road showroom.
Bring the samples to you
On a rural lot it's easier to let us come to you — we'll bring stone, tile, and mantel options to a free in-home look and match them to a firebox we've confirmed is safe to build on. Or visit 629 Emma Road first to narrow the choices. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How much does the finishing work — stone surround, mantel, tile — add to a fireplace project?
- How much does it cost to replace an old builder-grade prefab (zero-clearance) fireplace with a new unit?
- How much does it cost to swap an old gas insert for a new one?
- How much value does a fireplace add to a home?
- Will a gas insert lower my heating bills compared to my open fireplace?