Fireplace Repair in Tulsa: Fireboxes, Dampers & Smoky Fireplaces
Cracked brick inside the fireplace. A damper that won't open. Smoke coming back into the room. These are signs your wood-burning fireplace needs a repair. Our certified techs find the cause, fix it with materials made for fire, and tell you when it's safe to use again.
- Veteran Owned
- Founded by Firefighters
- CSIA & NFI Certified
- Fully Insured
- Est. 1979
- Wood-burning, masonry and factory-built fireplaces
- Photos of what we find, before any work starts
- Firebrick set in heat-rated mortar made for fire
- Workmanship guarantee on every repair
Have a gas fireplace or gas logs? That's a different repair. See gas fireplace service
Tell Us What Your Fireplace Is Doing
Smoke in the room. Gaps in the brick. A damper that's rusted shut. Send us a quick note. A certified tech will call you back, usually the same business day, and walk you through what your fireplace needs. No pressure.
"He showed up on time, installed my logs and gave me instructions on how to use them. He also gave me tips on what else to do with my fireplace. If I ever need any more help with my fireplace I plan on using him again."
Donna M. • Angi review
Prefer to book online? Schedule service through our request form.
Know the Warning Signs
What Is Your Fireplace Doing?
If any of these sound familiar, have it checked before your next fire.
Smoke Comes Into the Room
Smoke should go up the chimney, not into your house. A broken damper, a blocked flue, or rough brick above the damper can all cause it. We find the real cause before we fix anything.
Cracked or Missing Firebrick
Firebrick is the brick inside the fireplace that takes the flames. When it cracks or falls out, heat can reach the wood framing behind it. That is how fireplace fires start.
Damper Stuck, Rusted, or Won't Close
The damper is the metal door that opens for a fire and closes when you're done. Stuck shut, it fills the room with smoke. Stuck open, it lets warm air out all winter.
Mortar Falling Out Between the Bricks
Regular mortar can't take fireplace heat. It dries out and crumbles. The gaps it leaves let heat and sparks get where they shouldn't.
Cracked Hearth or Loose Brick Around the Opening
The hearth is the floor in front of the fireplace. Cracks in it can let hot embers fall through. Loose brick around the opening means something is moving. Both can be fixed.
Broken or Burned-Through Firebox
Brick that has broken loose inside the fireplace, or metal panels with holes burned through them, mean the firebox isn't protecting your home anymore. Don't build another fire until it's fixed.
What We Fix
Fireplace Repairs We Do Every Week
Firebox Repair & Rebuild
The firebox is the part of the fireplace where the fire burns. We replace cracked and broken firebrick and set it in heat-rated mortar made for fire. When the back wall is too far gone to patch, we rebuild it.
Right call when: brick is cracked, loose or missing, or mortar is falling out.
Smoke Chamber Repair
The smoke chamber is the space just above the damper, where smoke gathers before it goes up the chimney. In many older Tulsa homes it was built as rough, stepped brick that catches soot and slows the smoke down. We seal it smooth with a heat-rated coating from the Heat Shield® system, so smoke goes up and out.
Right call when: the fireplace smokes, or an inspection finds cracks or heavy soot above the damper.
Damper Repair & Replacement
We fix dampers that stick. When a damper is rusted through, we replace it. One option is a top-sealing damper that sits at the top of the chimney. It closes tight to keep out cold air, rain and animals, and you open it with a chain inside the fireplace.
Right call when: the damper won't open, won't close, or is rusted.
Factory-Built Fireplace Repair
Many newer homes have a factory-built (prefab) wood fireplace, a metal box lined with panels. We replace cracked or burned-through panels, hearth panels and grates. When the unit is worn out, we remove it and install a new one. Some panels are special order, and we'll tell you up front if yours are.
Right call when: panels are cracked, warped, or have holes in them.
Hearth & Fireplace Opening Repair
We repair cracked hearths and loose brick, stone or tile around the opening. We also fix and seal the metal bar across the top of the opening, which can rust and sag over time.
Right call when: there are cracks in front of the fireplace or loose pieces around it.
Fireplace smoking and you don't know why? We check the damper, flue, cap and smoke chamber together and fix the actual cause. Problems higher up get our chimney repair team, and flue damage gets our Heat Shield® repair.
Founded by a Firefighter, for a Reason
Cornerstone was founded in 1979 by a Tulsa Fire Department captain who saw what a failing fireplace can do to a home. We still work that way. We don't call a fireplace safe until the firebox, damper and flue have all been checked. If it isn't safe to use until it's repaired, we'll tell you straight, and show you photos of why.
The national fire safety code (NFPA 211) says to have your chimney and fireplace checked once a year. If it's been longer than that, or you just bought the house, start there.
Schedule an inspectionHow It Works
From Problem Fireplace to Safe Fire
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Step 1
We Look at Everything.
A certified tech checks the firebox, damper, smoke chamber and flue, and takes photos of what they find.
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Step 2
You Get It in Writing, With Photos.
A clear list of what needs fixing, what can wait, and why. You see what we saw.
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Step 3
We Make the Repair.
Firebrick, damper, smoke chamber or hearth work, done with materials made for fire. We cover your floors and clean up when we're done.
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Step 4
Walkthrough & Guarantee.
We walk you through the finished work. Every repair comes with our workmanship guarantee.
Why Cornerstone
A Fireplace Is Part of a System. We Fix the Whole Thing.
A handyman can patch a crack. But a fireplace only works together with the damper, the smoke chamber and the chimney above it. A repair that skips those can look fine and still be unsafe. Our techs are CSIA and NFI certified chimney professionals, and they check the whole system.
- Founded in 1979 by a Tulsa Fire Department captain
- Veteran owned, and we hire veterans
- CSIA Certified · NFI Certified · fully insured
- Firebox, damper and flue checked on every fireplace repair
- We repair over 150 fireplaces a year
Ask about our military and first responder discount.
Get My Fireplace CheckedFireplace Questions
Fireplace Repair FAQs
Is it safe to use my fireplace if the firebrick is cracked?
Tiny hairline cracks are common and usually not urgent. Bigger cracks, missing brick, or gaps where the mortar fell out are different. They let heat reach the wood behind the fireplace. Stop using it until it's been checked.
Why does my fireplace smoke?
The most common causes are a damper that's closed or broken, a blocked chimney, rough brick above the damper, or a chimney that's too small for the fireplace opening. A cold chimney on the first fire of the year can smoke too. We check each one so you only pay to fix the real cause.
Can my firebox be repaired, or do I need a new one?
Most fireboxes can be repaired. We replace the damaged firebrick and redo the mortar. Rebuilding the whole back wall is for fireboxes with damage all over. We'll show you photos and tell you which one yours needs.
Do you work on factory-built wood fireplaces?
Yes. We replace panels, hearth panels and grates, and we replace the whole unit when it's worn out. Some panels are special order. We'll tell you up front if yours are.
Do you repair gas fireplaces too?
Yes. Gas fireplaces and gas logs have their own page. See our gas fireplace service.
Will insurance pay for fireplace damage?
If a chimney fire, lightning or a storm caused the damage, it may be covered. We take photos of everything. If it looks like storm or fire damage, we'll tell you and give you the paperwork your adjuster needs.
How much does fireplace repair cost?
It depends on what's wrong. Resetting a few bricks and replacing a damper are very different jobs. You'll get a written list of the work, with photos, before anything starts. So you know what you're paying for and why.
When is the best time to schedule a repair?
Fall is our busiest season. Booking in the spring or summer, or as early in the fall as you can, gets you on the schedule faster. If you've seen any of the warning signs above, don't wait for cold weather.
Get Your Fireplace Ready Before the Next Cold Snap
One visit tells you exactly where your fireplace stands. Call now or send the short form, and we'll take it from there.
Mon-Fri 8-5. Or book online through our request form.