We design and build custom brick fireplaces in Chattanooga, TN, from cozy indoor hearths to outdoor entertainment centers. Our masons create fireplace surrounds, chimneys, and fire pits that match your style and meet safety codes. Update an old unit or add a brand new brick fireplace that becomes the focal point of your space.
Legendary Masonry Chattanooga provides professional brick fireplace throughout Chattanooga, TN, Tennessee and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 423-289-4557 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces for Chattanooga Homes
A brick fireplace should feel like it truly belongs in your home, not like something that was just stuck on a wall. At Legendary Masonry Chattanooga, we start every brick fireplace project with a visit to your home so we can see the room, the wall structure, the existing chimney (if there is one), and how you actually use the space.
We look at ceiling height, furniture layout, TV placement, and how much heat you really want from the fireplace. Some Chattanooga homeowners want a high-efficiency wood-burning unit, others just want a beautiful brick surround around a gas insert. We also pay close attention to how your home is built, since many houses here on the Tennessee River and the surrounding hills have settling cracks or slightly out-of-plumb walls that affect how the brickwork should be laid.
During the consultation we talk through style in very concrete terms. That means specific brick sizes, color ranges, mortar color, joint style, and whether you want the brick to look crisp and new or more rustic and aged. We bring physical brick and mortar samples when possible, and we often pull up photos from past projects in areas like Hixson, East Brainerd, and Northshore so you can point to what you like instead of guessing.
Design Options, Brick Types, and Local Style Choices
Designing a brick fireplace is mainly about smart details. In Chattanooga, we see three main looks: traditional Southern, modern minimal, and rustic mountain. Each one uses brick a little differently.
For traditional Southern fireplaces, customers often choose a running bond pattern with red or rose brick, a white or light gray mortar, and a slightly recessed joint. These pair well with a painted wood mantle and built-in shelves. Rustic mountain styles, popular in homes on Signal Mountain and Ooltewah, often use a tumbled or wire-cut brick with more color variation and a flush or slightly raked joint to catch shadows from natural light. Modern designs lean on long, thin brick (sometimes called Roman brick), tight joints, and charcoal or color-matched mortar for a cleaner face.
We talk through practical choices too. Glazed or very smooth brick is easier to wipe clean around the firebox opening. Darker brick hides soot staining better, which matters for wood-burning units that are used heavily in winter. If your existing hearth is part of a wood-framed floor, we calculate the hearth extension and thickness carefully so it meets clearance rules and still looks proportional in the room.
Mantels and hearths are another big part of the design. Some homeowners prefer a solid brick hearth and a simple brick mantel ledge formed with corbelled courses. Others want a reclaimed wood mantle anchored directly into the brick. We install blocking and specialty anchors in the brickwork during construction so heavy mantels or TV mounts have real support rather than relying on hollow wall anchors that will eventually fail.
Our Step-by-Step Brick Fireplace Build Process
Once we finalize your design, Legendary Masonry Chattanooga follows a specific step-by-step process that keeps the job predictable and safe.
1) Site prep and protection. We cover floors with thick protective board, tape off nearby trim, and hang plastic to control dust. If we are modifying an existing masonry or framed chase, we remove the old surround and inspect the framing and chimney or vent path.
2) Structural and code checks. Chattanooga homes range from older bungalows to newer slab-on-grade builds, so we verify that the framing under the hearth can handle the weight of new brick and stone, and that clearances to combustibles meet current residential code and manufacturer instructions for any insert or firebox.
3) Layout and mockup. Before the first brick is mortared, we dry-lay a sample of the brick pattern on the floor and stand it up against the wall so you can see joint spacing, color blend, and how the brick lines up with mantels, windows, and TV niches. This early check avoids surprises and last minute regrets.
4) Brick setting. We mix mortar to the right consistency for indoor work and keep joints consistent using story poles and levels rather than eyeballing everything. Around the firebox opening we use fire-rated brick or refractory panels when required, and we slope the hearth slightly outward so any ash or embers do not roll toward the wall.
5) Mantel, hearth, and detailing. This is when we create corbels, arches, or accent soldier courses. If you are adding a reclaimed beam mantle or stone slab hearth, we install the support steel or blocking inside the masonry first, then set the visible elements so they look seamless rather than patched on after the fact.
6) Cleanup and curing. We sponge joints for the finish you selected, clean the face of the brick without using harsh acids that might lighten the color, and then allow proper cure time before starting full fires. We walk you through a burn-in schedule, especially for new gas or wood inserts, so you do not shock fresh mortar with a roaring fire on day one.
Costs, Timelines, and Common Chattanooga Fireplace Issues
Homeowners usually want a straightforward idea of cost before they get too far into planning. The price of a brick fireplace in Chattanooga is driven mainly by four things: whether we are building from scratch or refacing, the size and height of the fireplace, the brick and mortar you choose, and whether a new firebox or gas insert is involved.
Refacing an existing masonry fireplace with new brick, where the structure and chimney stay the same, is usually the most budget-friendly option. Full conversions, such as taking a blank wall in a newer subdivision home in East Brainerd and creating a new framed chase with a gas insert and brick from floor to ceiling, involve more framing, venting, and finish work, so they cost more and take longer.
Chattanooga homes often have a few recurring fireplace problems. One is staining from moisture getting into older chimneys, especially in houses near the river or on sloped lots where wind-driven rain is common. When we rebuild or reface, we look for any water entry points and recommend chimney cap, crown, or flashing repairs so your new brick face does not start streaking in a year.
Another local issue is settling. Many homes built on fill or near the base of the mountains develop small cracks in the hearth or surround. We determine whether cracks are cosmetic or structural, then either stitch them with new brick and reinforcement or design expansion joints into the new masonry so it can flex a little without new cracks showing.
Timelines vary from 2 to 3 days for a simple reface to about 1 to 2 weeks for a full new fireplace with framing changes and a custom mantle. We schedule noisy or dusty work like demo and grinding at specific times so it is less disruptive, and we keep you updated daily so you always know what is happening next.
What to Know Before You Hire a Brick Fireplace Mason
Choosing the right mason for a brick fireplace is not just about who can lay a straight line of brick. You are dealing with heat, structural weight, and long-term safety. Before you sign with anyone, there are a few things we suggest Chattanooga homeowners ask.
First, request specific examples of indoor brick fireplace work, not just exterior walls or mailboxes. Interior fireplaces need tighter joint control, cleaner cuts, and more precise layout around mantels and built-ins. At Legendary Masonry Chattanooga, we can show you local projects and walk you through what we did in each one.
Second, ask how the mason will protect your home from dust and debris and how they will verify clearances to combustibles. The crew should be comfortable discussing local building code, firebox manufacturer instructions, and chimney requirements, even when only the facing is being changed.
Third, get clarity on materials. You should know the exact brick name or supplier, mortar type, and how they plan to deal with color variation. We provide written material specs so if you ever need repairs or an addition, the new work can be matched more easily.
Finally, understand what is included in the quote. Does it cover demolition, disposal, framing adjustments, gas line or electrical coordination with licensed trades, and finish cleanup? A very low bid often leaves out key pieces, which leads to surprises once the wall is open.
If you want a brick fireplace that feels custom to your Chattanooga home and holds up to real daily use, Legendary Masonry Chattanooga is ready to plan it with you in detail and then build it exactly as designed.
