We design and build brick fireplaces in Savannah, GA that become the centerpiece of your home or outdoor living area. Our masons handle everything from firebox and chimney layout to decorative brick patterns and mantels. Whether you want a cozy indoor hearth or an outdoor brick fireplace, we create safe and beautiful results.
Legendary Masonry Savannah provides professional brick fireplace throughout Savannah, GA, Georgia and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 912-445-7840 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces Built for Savannah Homes
A brick fireplace should feel like it has always belonged in your home, not like an afterthought. At Legendary Masonry Savannah, we design and build brick fireplaces that fit Savannah’s mix of historic and newer homes, from early 1900s bungalows in Ardsley Park to contemporary houses around Pooler and Richmond Hill.
We start every project with an on site visit. We look at your existing structure, ceiling height, floor framing, and wall layout to determine whether a full masonry fireplace with chimney is practical or whether a brick fireplace surround around a gas or electric insert makes more sense. In older Savannah homes with pier and beam foundations, we pay close attention to load bearing points and crawlspace access because a real masonry firebox and chimney can add significant weight.
Once we understand what your house can safely support, we talk through how you want to use the fireplace. Some clients want a working wood burning fireplace as a backup heat source, others want a low maintenance gas unit with a brick face and hearth for visual warmth. That use case drives everything from firebox type to flue design to mantle height. Our goal is to make sure what we build not only looks right in your room, but also vents correctly in Savannah’s humid, coastal climate.
How We Build a Brick Fireplace, Step by Step
Legendary Masonry Savannah follows a clear, practical process so you know exactly what is happening in your home.
1. Planning and layout: We mark the proposed fireplace footprint on your floor and wall, confirm clearances to windows, doors, and ceiling framing, and locate any plumbing or electrical that might need to be moved. For chimney builds, we map a straight or minimally offset path through the roof that meets code.
2. Structural support: If we are installing a true masonry firebox and chimney, we often pour a dedicated concrete footing or pad under the fireplace location. In many Savannah homes with raised wood floors, this means opening the floor, reinforcing joists with additional support, and tying into existing beams. This step is critical so the brickwork does not settle or crack later.
3. Firebox and flue: For wood burning units, we build a firebox with high temperature firebrick and refractory mortar, not the same brick and mortar used on the exterior. We shape the firebox to reflect heat back into the room and construct a proper smoke chamber and flue connection so smoke goes up, not into your living space. For gas or electric units, we frame and fireproof the enclosure to the manufacturer’s specs, then build the brick surround around that shell.
4. Brick facing and hearth: Once the functional core is complete, we lay the visible brick. This includes the surround, return walls, and the hearth extension on the floor. At this stage we also integrate any wood or stone mantle support, using concealed steel lintels where needed.
5. Curing and finishing: We allow masonry to cure properly before final cleaning and sealing. Joint tooling, mortar color matching, and surface cleaning all happen in this stage so the fireplace looks sharp from day one.
Brick Options, Styles, and Details That Matter
The brick you choose for your fireplace strongly affects how it feels in your room. Legendary Masonry Savannah helps you pick materials that work with the age and style of your home instead of fighting it.
For historic Savannah properties or homes near the Historic District, many clients want a reclaimed look. We can source tumbled or salvaged style brick that mimics older handmade brick, then use a slightly recessed or brushed mortar joint to create a timeworn surface. For newer construction in areas like Georgetown or Southside, smooth modular brick with tight, clean joints often fits better with modern trim and flooring.
Color also matters with Savannah’s natural light. North facing rooms that stay cooler benefit from warmer reds and browns with cream mortar, while bright coastal light can handle darker brick and gray mortar without making the space feel heavy. We show you physical samples instead of only photos so you can see how the brick reacts to your actual daylight and interior lighting.
We can lay brick in running bond, stacked, herringbone (often used on the firebox back or hearth), or basketweave patterns for visual interest. Mantle height, hearth depth, and surround width are all sized to your specific furniture layout so the fireplace anchors the room without crowding circulation paths.
Costs, Timeframes, and What Affects Your Budget
Brick fireplace projects in the Savannah area vary widely in cost depending on how much is structural versus decorative. Legendary Masonry Savannah is straightforward about what drives the number.
The largest cost factor is whether we are building a full masonry firebox and chimney or creating a brick surround for a prefabricated gas or electric insert. A true masonry system requires structural footing work, more labor, and more material, so budgets are higher and timelines longer. Brick surrounds over an existing or new factory built insert are more economical and often quicker.
Access and demolition also affect cost. Removing an outdated stone or tile surround, cutting through brick veneer, or reframing a wall for a wider opening all add time. In older Savannah houses with plaster walls and original heart pine floors, we may need extra surface protection and more delicate demolition, which we plan for up front.
Typical build times range from a few days for a simple surround around an existing gas unit to a couple of weeks for full masonry construction including foundation work and chimney. Weather can impact exterior chimney work, since we avoid roof penetrations and exterior brickwork on heavy rain days, which are common in our climate. During your estimate, we provide a written scope, a realistic timeframe, and line items for optional upgrades like reclaimed brick, custom mantles, or built in wood storage.
Working With Existing Fireplaces, Repairs, and Upgrades
Many Savannah homeowners already have a fireplace that does not look or perform the way they want. Legendary Masonry Savannah can often rebuild or reface what you have instead of starting over.
If your existing brick fireplace has cosmetic issues, such as outdated brick color, stained mortar, or a mantle that feels too small, we can reface the surround, replace or extend the hearth, and add a new mantle while keeping the firebox intact. We can apply a new brick veneer over old brick or remove and replace sections to change proportions.
When performance or safety is the concern, we inspect for common problems like cracked firebrick, failed mortar joints, deteriorated smoke shelves, or undersized flues. Coastal humidity and occasional chimney leaks can break down masonry inside the structure even when the visible brick seems fine. We repair or rebuild damaged areas with proper fire rated materials and, when needed, coordinate with a chimney professional for relining.
We also convert wood burning fireplaces to gas where gas service and venting allow. That might involve closing off a portion of the existing firebox, installing a gas insert, then adjusting the brick surround and hearth to frame the new unit correctly. These upgrades let homeowners keep the traditional brick look while gaining push button convenience.
Local Codes, Safety, and Savannah’s Coastal Climate
Fireplaces involve real heat and real combustion, so code compliance is not optional. Legendary Masonry Savannah designs brick fireplaces that meet or exceed local building and fire code requirements for Chatham County and the City of Savannah.
We establish proper clearances between the firebox opening and any combustible trim, flooring, or mantle materials. That includes correct hearth extension in front of and to the sides of the opening, appropriate noncombustible materials under and around the firebox, and proper support under the structure. For gas units, we follow manufacturer clearance diagrams carefully and coordinate vent routing so that terminations are away from windows, soffits, and rooflines that might trap exhaust.
Savannah’s humid, salt influenced air is tough on masonry. On exterior chimneys, we use the right brick and mortar types, install proper caps and crowns, and pay close attention to flashing details at the roofline to prevent water intrusion. Inside the home, we recommend appropriate sealers and maintenance intervals so soot, moisture, and everyday wear do not stain or weaken the brickwork over time.
We also plan ventilation and combustion air carefully, especially in tighter, newer homes. If your house has extensive weather sealing or new windows, we make sure the fireplace has enough makeup air so it drafts correctly and does not pull smoke into the room.
What to Expect When You Hire Legendary Masonry Savannah
Hiring a mason for a brick fireplace is inviting a crew into the center of your living space, so process and cleanliness matter. Legendary Masonry Savannah treats your home with the same care we give the masonry itself.
Before work begins, we protect floors with heavy duty coverings, seal off nearby rooms with plastic where necessary, and plan material staging so brick and mortar do not clutter your everyday paths. We schedule noisy or dust producing tasks during reasonable hours and keep you informed about which days involve demolition, framing, bricklaying, and finishing.
You have a single point of contact who can answer questions about layout, mantle height, brick choices, and any change you are considering. If we uncover hidden issues, such as old water damage behind a wall or undersized framing under the planned hearth, we stop, show you the problem, and provide options and pricing before proceeding.
At the end of the project, we clean the brick, vacuum work areas, and walk the entire fireplace with you. We explain how to operate and care for your new brick fireplace, including first fires, curing, cleaning, and when to schedule inspections. Our goal is that when we leave, you have a fireplace that looks original to your home, performs safely, and will be a centerpiece for years of use.
