What is fireplace refacing and what does it involve?
In Waynesville, refacing means giving the fireplace a new outer skin — stone, tile, stacked stone, or plaster — over the same firebox and flue you already have. At nearly 2,650 feet, where these older Hazelwood-area homes lean hard on their hearths, a reface is often the moment to also solve the draft that's been pouring cold air into the room.
A cosmetic job with a heating opportunity
Much of Waynesville's housing stock runs to older open masonry fireplaces — great to look at, but they pull room heat straight up the chimney and let cold air spill back down. Because a reface already has us at the wall, it's the natural time to drop a sealed gas or wood insert in behind the new stone. You get the updated look and a firebox that actually heats, which matters when Haywood's heating season runs about three weeks longer than Asheville's and nights sit 10 to 15 degrees colder.
Working over old masonry
The good news is that these older fireboxes are usually solid masonry — non-combustible, load-bearing, and an ideal base for heavy natural stone or large-format tile. We confirm the brick and mortar are sound, prep or lath any painted surfaces so the new material bonds, set a scratch coat, and build up your chosen finish cut clean around the opening. Heavier stone coordinates with our mason partners; thin veneer rides on the prepped wall. The flue, venting, and fuel connection all stay right where they are.
Clearances, and who's licensed
The clearance to combustibles around the opening dictates the layout — non-combustible material inside the zone, wood mantel and trim outside it. And if the reface pairs with an insert or any gas line, that's licensed work, and we're the gas contractor who permits it with Haywood County and pressure-tests the line before it lights. A showroom or a mason can sell you the box; only a licensed contractor can legally connect it. Thirty-five minutes west of our Asheville showroom — call (828) 545-0525.
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.