Home › Services › Fireplace Remodel
Fireplace Remodel Seattle, WA
Complete fireplace remodels across Seattle, Tacoma and the Puget Sound that change how your fireplace looks and how it works, planned in the right order.
- 25+ years in business
- CSIA certified
- Licensed, bonded & insured
Request Fireplace Remodel
Tell us what's going on — we'll confirm a time by phone or text.
A fireplace remodel changes the look and the function of your fireplace at the same time. It usually combines several pieces of work into one project: a new surround and mantel, a raised or extended hearth, an updated firebox, and often converting a drafty open fireplace into an efficient insert. James Chimney Sweep plans and sequences that work for homeowners in Seattle, Tacoma and throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, with 25+ years in the trade and CSIA certification behind every project.
This is different from fireplace refacing, which is a cosmetic-only update of the visible surface while the firebox, hearth and venting stay exactly as they are. It is also different from fireplace repair, which fixes a specific broken part, and from fireplace installation, which builds a fireplace where there was none. A remodel is for a fireplace that already exists but no longer fits your home, your heating needs, or current safety clearances.
Because a remodel touches the firebox and often the venting, it starts with an inspection, not a tile sample. Knowing what is behind the existing surround decides what the finished project can safely be.
Symptoms & Problems
Signs your fireplace is ready for a remodel
- The fireplace looks dated and the surround or mantel no longer matches the rest of the room
- The open fireplace sends most of its heat up the flue and the room still feels cold
- The hearth is too small or too low for the mantel, surround or insert you want
- The firebox is worn, cracked or undersized for how you actually use the fireplace
- You want to switch from wood to gas, or from an open fire to a sealed insert
- Previous updates were done piecemeal and the parts do not work together
- Clearances to combustible trim or mantel are tighter than current recommendations
- You are renovating the room and want the fireplace done right at the same time
How It Works
How a fireplace remodel works
Inspect and plan the scope
We inspect the firebox, smoke chamber, damper, flue and hearth before any design decisions are locked in. That tells us what the existing structure can support, whether an insert is a good fit, what clearances the new mantel and surround must respect, and whether any repair has to happen first. You get a written scope that lists each phase in order.
Do the work in the right sequence
Structural and firebox work comes first, then any insert or liner, then the hearth extension, and the surround and mantel go on last so they are never damaged by the heavier work. Sequencing this way avoids the common mistake of finishing a beautiful surround and then discovering the firebox behind it needs to be opened up again.
Final check and handoff
When the finish work is complete we confirm the damper, draft and clearances, walk you through operating any new insert or doors, and give you a report with what was done and a maintenance schedule. If any part of the project needs a permit or inspection, we explain that up front rather than at the end.
Options
Fireplace remodel options
- Surround and mantel replacement — when the structure is sound and you want a new look in stone, tile, brick veneer or wood, sized to safe clearances from the firebox opening.
- Hearth raise or extension — when you want a raised hearth for seating, or the existing hearth is too shallow for the firebox or insert going in. Often paired with a new surround because the two meet at the same line.
- Open fireplace to insert conversion — when you want real heat and a sealed firebox. A wood, gas or electric insert slides into the existing masonry firebox, usually with a new liner, and the surround is rebuilt around it.
- Firebox update or rebuild — when the firebox itself is cracked, spalled or undersized. This is where a remodel overlaps with fireplace repair and fireplace panel replacement; in a remodel it is one planned phase rather than the whole job.
- Full remodel — when all of the above happen together, typically during a larger room renovation. One plan, one sequence, one crew accountable for how the pieces fit.
Pricing
What affects the price
- How many phases the remodel includes (surround only, hearth and surround, or full firebox and insert)
- Whether an insert is part of the project and whether it needs a new flue liner
- Condition of the existing firebox, smoke chamber and damper found during inspection
- Surround and hearth materials, from tile and brick veneer to natural stone
- Size of the hearth extension and whether the floor framing needs reinforcement
- Demolition and disposal of the existing surround, hearth and mantel
- Permit and inspection requirements in your city or county
We don't publish flat prices because every chimney is different. You'll get a written quote after we look at the system — no surprises.
Timing & Safety
When a remodel is necessary, and when it is optional
A remodel becomes necessary when the existing fireplace has a safety or function problem that cosmetic work cannot solve: a cracked or deteriorated firebox, combustible trim too close to the opening, a hearth that does not extend far enough in front of the firebox, or an open fireplace you rely on for heat that simply is not delivering it. In those cases, refacing the surround would only hide the issue.
- Necessary: firebox damage, inadequate clearances, undersized hearth, or converting to an insert for heat or to stop smoke spilling into the room.
- Optional but worthwhile: a sound fireplace that looks out of place, or a planned room renovation where doing the fireplace at the same time avoids disturbing finished work later.
- Probably not a remodel: if you only want a new face on a fireplace that works well, fireplace refacing is the lighter, faster project. If one part is broken and everything else is fine, fireplace repair is the right call.
If you are not sure which category you fall into, the inspection at the start of the process answers it, and we will tell you honestly if a smaller job is all you need.
Safety considerations
Fireplace remodels involve heat, combustibles and venting, so a few rules shape every project we take on:
- Mantels, surrounds and trim are placed to respect clearance recommendations from the firebox opening. A beautiful mantel installed too close is a fire hazard, not an upgrade.
- Inserts are matched to the firebox and vented through a properly sized liner. Slipping an insert into an oversized, unlined flue is a common shortcut we do not take.
- Hearth extensions are built from non-combustible material and sized to the firebox opening so sparks and embers land on stone, not flooring.
- Any conversion involving gas is coordinated with a qualified gas technician. Gas lines and valves are only serviced by a qualified technician. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911.
- NFPA 211 recommends an annual inspection of chimneys and fireplaces. A remodel is the natural time to bring the whole system up to that standard.
We do not ask homeowners to open up the firebox, access the roof or inspect the flue themselves before we arrive. Describe what you see from the room and we take it from there.
Seattle & Puget Sound conditions
Puget Sound homes have a few remodel-specific realities. Many older Seattle and Tacoma fireplaces were built as open masonry boxes in a mild climate, which means they were never designed to be efficient heat sources. That is why insert conversions are the most common reason homeowners here call about a remodel. Our long, damp heating season also means moisture has often found its way into the firebox or smoke chamber over the decades, so spalled brick or deteriorated mortar behind an old surround is something we plan for rather than hope against. Finally, a lot of local homes have had piecemeal updates across several owners, with a surround from one decade and a damper or liner from another. A remodel is the chance to make those parts work together as one system.
Real Work
Fireplace Remodel in action
Plan your fireplace remodel with one inspection
Call 206-207-3974 or request a quote and we will inspect the existing fireplace and map out the surround, hearth, firebox and insert work in the right order.
☎ (206) 207-3974 Request ServiceQuestions
Fireplace Remodel FAQ
What is the difference between a fireplace remodel and fireplace refacing?
Refacing replaces only the visible surface of the surround and leaves the firebox, hearth and venting untouched. A remodel changes the function as well as the look, which can include the firebox, the hearth, an insert and the venting. If the fireplace works well and you just want a new look, refacing is the lighter project.
Can I keep my existing surround and just convert to an insert?
Sometimes. It depends on the size of the opening, the condition of the firebox and whether the existing surround and hearth meet the clearances the insert calls for. We check that during the inspection. Often a modest surround adjustment is needed to make the insert fit cleanly.
Do I need to raise the hearth if I add a new mantel?
Not always, but the two are related. The hearth extension in front of the firebox has to be large enough for the opening, and the mantel has to sit far enough above it. If either is short, we address it as part of the same phase so the finished fireplace is both safe and proportional.
In what order is a remodel done?
Inspection first, then any firebox or structural work, then insert and liner if included, then the hearth, and the surround and mantel last. Finishing in that order keeps the decorative work from being damaged and avoids reopening anything once it is done.
Will a remodel require a permit?
It depends on the scope and your city or county. Cosmetic surround work usually does not, while inserts, liners, gas conversions and structural hearth changes often do. We identify what applies during planning so nothing holds up the project later.
How do I get started?
Call 206-207-3974 or request a quote online. We start with an on-site inspection of the existing fireplace, then lay out a written scope you can review before any work is scheduled.
Related services
Service areas
Helpful reading