We build and restore brick fireplaces in Atlanta, GA, creating cozy focal points indoors and outdoors. From traditional hearths to modern fireplace surrounds, our masons handle firebox, chimney interface, and finish details. Enjoy safe, efficient, and attractive brick fireplace designs tailored to your space.
Legendary Masonry Atlanta provides professional brick fireplace throughout Atlanta, GA, Georgia and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 470-665-3867 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces for Atlanta Homes
A well built brick fireplace becomes the visual anchor of a room and a reliable heat source during chilly Atlanta winters. At Legendary Masonry Atlanta, we design and construct brick fireplaces that fit the style of your home, meet current building codes, and function safely for decades.
Most homes in Atlanta fall into a few categories: 1940s to 1960s bungalows and ranches inside the perimeter, newer two story construction in suburbs like Smyrna and Decatur, and larger custom homes in areas such as Buckhead and Sandy Springs. Each type has different structural and aesthetic needs. We look at your existing framing, roofline, and mechanical systems before suggesting an interior or exterior brick fireplace design.
Whether you want a traditional wood burning masonry fireplace, a gas insert surrounded by brick, or a full height brick feature wall with a modern firebox, we tailor the layout, brick selection, and hearth details to your space. Our goal is a brick fireplace that looks like it belongs to your house, not something that was dropped in as an afterthought.
How We Design Your Brick Fireplace
A successful brick fireplace project in Atlanta starts with planning and site evaluation. Legendary Masonry Atlanta begins with an in home visit where we measure the room, inspect the floor system, review roof and wall structure, and check access for venting or chimney construction. We also ask how you plan to use the fireplace. Daily heating, occasional ambiance, or primarily decorative use each suggest different firebox and flue designs.
Next, we sketch scale concepts that show firebox size, brick layout (running bond, stacked bond, herringbone), hearth height, and mantle proportions. In older intown homes with lower ceilings, we usually keep the firebox opening smaller and extend brick horizontally to avoid a top heavy look. In newer two story great rooms, we often run the brick surround all the way to the ceiling and integrate a TV niche or recessed art ledge.
We help you choose brick that matches or intentionally contrasts your existing exterior. Many Atlanta homeowners like to echo their front facade brick on the interior fireplace, then update the look with a different mortar color or joint profile. For modern interiors, we might specify a wire cut modular brick in a tighter joint pattern. For historic homes in Grant Park or Candler Park, we can source irregular or tumbled brick and use a slightly recessed joint to mimic older masonry.
Materials, Brick Options, and Fireplace Details
The durability and look of your brick fireplace come down to materials and detailing. Legendary Masonry Atlanta works with locally available Georgia clay brick in multiple textures and sizes, from standard modular to oversized king units. We review full size samples in your home so you can see how the brick looks in your actual lighting.
Mortar choice affects both appearance and performance. For interior fireplaces we typically use a Type N mortar that is strong enough for structural integrity, yet flexible enough to handle minor movement common in Atlanta homes built on clay soil. Color options range from bright white to buff to charcoal. A light mortar highlights the brick pattern, while a closer color match creates a more monolithic surface.
We also discuss hearth materials and mantel options. Many clients prefer a raised brick hearth that doubles as seating, especially in family rooms. Others like a flush hearth with a contrasting stone or tile inlay to minimize tripping edges. Mantels can be solid brick, a projecting brick shelf, a reclaimed wood beam, or a simple drywall return for a clean, minimal look. Behind the visible brick we use firebrick and appropriate fire clay mortar in the firebox itself, along with metal components like lintels and damper assemblies sized to your opening.
Our Step by Step Brick Fireplace Installation Process
Every brick fireplace Legendary Masonry Atlanta builds follows a clear process so you know what to expect, how long it will take, and where your investment is going.
1. Site preparation and protection: We protect floors and nearby furniture, set up dust barriers, and plan material delivery routes that minimize disruption. For retrofit projects in existing homes, this stage is crucial to keep dust and debris under control.
2. Structural work: If we are adding a fireplace where none existed, we may need to open walls, add framing, or install a concrete or masonry footing to support the weight of the new chimney or brick mass. Older Atlanta homes often require additional reinforcement because original framing was not designed for this load.
3. Firebox and flue construction: We build or install the firebox using firebrick and high temperature mortar, ensuring correct ratio of firebox opening to flue size for proper drafting. For wood burning units, we construct a full masonry chimney or line an existing one with appropriate flue tiles or stainless liners. For gas units, we follow manufacturer venting specs and current code.
4. Brick facing and detailing: Once the structural work is complete, we lay the visible brick surround, hearth, and chimney facing, following the agreed bond pattern and joint style. We tool the joints consistently so the finish looks clean and intentional.
5. Curing, cleanup, and final checks: Mortar needs time to cure before heavy use. We clean the brick with methods that will not damage the surface, then perform draft tests, damper checks, and (for gas) coordinate with your plumber or HVAC contractor to verify gas connections.
Cost Factors for a Brick Fireplace in Atlanta
Brick fireplace pricing varies widely, and understanding the drivers helps you budget and compare quotes realistically. Legendary Masonry Atlanta breaks costs down by components so you can see how each decision affects the total.
Key cost factors include:
• Type of fireplace: A simple brick surround around a factory built gas insert is typically the least expensive option. A full masonry wood burning fireplace with a brick chimney that penetrates the roof is more labor and material intensive.
• Structural requirements: If your home already has a suitable chimney or framed chase, costs decrease. If we need to pour a new footing, modify roof framing, and penetrate finished roofing, the budget increases. Many slab on grade homes in Atlanta require additional concrete work under the hearth.
• Brick and finish choices: Specialty brick, custom cuts, herringbone firebox backs, and elaborate mantels add time and material. Straight running bond in a standard brick usually costs less than complex patterns or extensive corbelling.
• Access and demolition: Removing an old dated fireplace, working in tight intown lots with limited staging area, or building on upper floors can add labor. We assess all of this during the initial visit instead of surprising you later.
We provide itemized estimates so you can see exactly what is included, from firebrick and dampers to scaffolding and disposal. If you are comparing bids, look closely at whether each contractor is building a true masonry fireplace or simply framing and covering a factory unit with brick veneer.
Solving Common Brick Fireplace Problems
Many Atlanta homeowners call Legendary Masonry Atlanta not just for new brick fireplaces, but to correct issues with existing ones. Our familiarity with local building practices from different decades helps us diagnose and fix problems efficiently.
Drafting and smoke issues are common in older intown houses where remodels have altered airtightness or added mechanical systems without adjusting the fireplace. We evaluate flue size, chimney height relative to the roof, and the relationship between open fireplace and exhaust fans or range hoods. Solutions might include resizing or relining the flue, adding a top mounted damper, or recommending glass doors to help control air movement.
Cracked firebrick, spalled facing brick, or crumbling mortar joints often result from thermal cycling and minor foundation movement on Atlanta clay. We replace damaged firebrick, grind out deteriorated mortar, and repoint joints with compatible mortar that allows for movement without premature failure. If the face brick was previously painted, we explain realistic options, since some coatings cannot be fully removed without damaging the brick surface.
For fireplaces that feel visually dated, we can modify the surround while keeping the working firebox. Examples include extending the brick to the ceiling, changing the hearth height, widening the surround, or adding a more substantial mantel. This approach often costs less than full replacement while still transforming the room.
What Atlanta Homeowners Should Know Before Hiring
Before you commit to a brick fireplace project, there are a few Atlanta specific considerations that will affect both process and long term satisfaction. Legendary Masonry Atlanta encourages homeowners to ask detailed questions so you get a safe, code compliant, and attractive result.
First, confirm that your mason understands local codes and permitting. In the City of Atlanta and many surrounding jurisdictions, permits are required for new wood burning fireplaces and chimneys, and sometimes for converting from wood to gas. Proper clearances to combustibles, flue sizing, and seismic and wind considerations must all be documented.
Second, ask how the contractor will protect your home during construction. Brick fireplaces involve masonry cutting, mortar mixing, and sometimes roof work. We specify dust control methods, protection for hardwood floors and stairs, and daily cleanup routines in our proposals.
Third, verify experience with true masonry fireplaces, not just brick veneers. A brick fireplace is a system that includes the firebox, flue, smoke chamber, and surrounding structure. Mistakes can lead to smoke problems, water leaks, or even fire hazards. Ask to see photos of similar projects in neighborhoods like yours and, when possible, speak with past clients.
Finally, think about how your fireplace may need to adapt in the future. If you may switch from wood to gas later, we can size the firebox and run concealed gas line stubs so the conversion is easier and less invasive. Planning for these possibilities upfront usually costs less than retrofitting later.
