We design and build brick fireplaces in Baltimore, MD that become the focal point of your living room, patio, or outdoor kitchen. From classic hearths to modern surrounds, we handle layout, firebox masonry, and finishing details. Enjoy a warm, inviting space with a custom brick fireplace.
Legendary Masonry Baltimore provides professional brick fireplace throughout Baltimore, MD, Maryland and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 227-222-9360 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces Built for Baltimore Homes
A brick fireplace is more than a place to burn wood. It becomes a permanent part of your home, affects resale value, and, if it is not built correctly, can be a safety problem. At Legendary Masonry Baltimore, we focus on brick fireplaces that fit the age and style of your house and meet modern safety codes for Maryland.
In the Baltimore area we work in a mix of historic rowhomes, 1950s brick colonials, and newer construction. Each type of home needs a different approach. In a Federal Hill rowhome we might be rebuilding an old hearth inside a narrow brick chimney that was never designed for gas logs. In a Perry Hall split-level we may be cutting into a framed wall to build a new masonry fireplace and chimney from scratch. We look at structure first, then layout, then finishes, so the finished brick fireplace looks right and works correctly.
We handle both wood burning and gas log brick fireplaces. For wood burning, the firebox, smoke chamber, and flue size all have to match. For gas log conversions, we pay close attention to venting, clearances, and whether you need a full chimney liner. Our approach is practical and code driven, based on what actually works in Baltimore houses, not just what looks good in a photo.
How We Design and Build Your Brick Fireplace
Our process starts with a site visit. Someone from Legendary Masonry Baltimore measures the room, checks what is behind the wall with the proposed fireplace, and examines any existing chimney or flue. In Baltimore City rowhomes we often find older, unlined chimneys or makeshift blockwork hidden behind drywall. In the suburbs we see more prefabricated metal fireplaces that clients want replaced with true masonry.
Once we know what we are working with we explain your options in plain language. If there is no chimney we discuss whether a full masonry chimney to the roof is realistic, or whether a direct vent gas option with a smaller brick surround is smarter. We talk about hearth size, mantel height, and how wide the brick face should be so the fireplace does not overpower the room.
Then we move into materials and layout. We help you pick brick that works with your house. In Baltimore we often match painted white brick in Canton rowhouses, red modular brick in older city homes, or wirecut brick seen in many county neighborhoods. We review bond patterns like running bond, herringbone in the firebox back, or soldier courses around the opening. We can integrate stone or cast concrete mantels with brick returns if you want a mixed look. All of this is laid out before we touch a single brick so there are no surprises.
We provide a written scope that covers firebox dimensions, type of firebrick, flue size, damper type, and any reinforcement or footing work we need to do. This helps keep price and schedule clear and avoids the vague, open ended projects that frustrate homeowners.
Construction Details, Codes, and Safety
A strong and safe brick fireplace always starts below the floor. For new builds or full rebuilds, Legendary Masonry Baltimore checks that there is a proper concrete footing under the fireplace and chimney. A masonry fireplace is heavy, and in many Baltimore basements we uncover old brick piers or stacked block that need to be replaced with reinforced concrete. If the existing support is not right, we fix that before anything else.
Above the footing we build the firebox with high temperature firebrick and refractory mortar, not standard brick mortar. Firebrick is laid with tight joints and often in a herringbone pattern on the back wall to help deflect heat and improve durability. We shape the smoke chamber to transition smoothly into the flue so smoke goes up instead of into your living room. If code requires it, or if you want better draft and less creosote, we install a cast or formed smoke dome.
Clearances to wood framing are critical. Baltimore inspectors look closely at this. We maintain the required air spaces around the firebox walls and chimney and use non combustible materials where needed to protect framing. We also build proper hearth extensions with the correct thickness and projection in front of the firebox opening, and we make sure side clearance meets Maryland code.
At the top, we line or reline the chimney with clay tile or a stainless steel liner, depending on condition and type of fuel. Older city chimneys are often unlined or cracked. We clean them out, repair brickwork, and install the right liner so your new brick fireplace vents correctly. We cap the chimney with a concrete or precast crown and install a proper chimney cap to keep out rain and animals, which is a real issue with rowhome chimneys near trees and tall buildings.
Brick Choices, Finishes, and Cost Factors
Most homeowners focus first on how their brick fireplace will look, and that is where good planning saves money. Legendary Masonry Baltimore brings sample bricks to your home, so you can see how colors respond to your actual light. In many Baltimore interiors, especially in rowhomes with smaller windows, darker brick can make the room feel tight, so we often lean toward softer reds, tumbled brick, or painted finishes.
You can choose from several facing options. Traditional red brick in running bond with a simple brick mantel is the most budget friendly. More detailed work, like corbelled brick mantels, recessed niches, or arched openings, requires more time and careful cutting, so it costs more. We can also build a flush modern face with very tight joints for a clean look, or a rustic style using reclaimed brick to match older city walls.
Cost is driven by four main items: structural work, chimney height, finish detail, and fuel type. Structural work means new footings, reinforcing, or tearing out unsafe old masonry. Chimney height matters because more height means more brick and labor, which is why a fireplace on the first floor of a two story house with a roof peak in the middle will cost more than a basement unit with a short run. Detailed brickwork and custom mantels increase labor time. Fuel type affects the firebox and flue design. A full wood burning system with tile liner is more involved than a gas insert with a simple brick surround.
We are upfront about what you can reuse. Sometimes we can keep your existing firebox and rebuild just the facing and hearth. Other times, especially in older Baltimore homes that have been altered several times, it is smarter to start over so you are not investing in a weak base.
Repairs, Conversions, and What to Know Before You Hire
Not every project is a brand new brick fireplace. Many of our calls around Baltimore are for repairs and conversions. Common problems include loose firebrick in the firebox, spalling face brick on the surround, smoke staining above the opening, and water damage in the smoke chamber or chimney. Legendary Masonry Baltimore inspects from the firebox to the top of the chimney so we are fixing the cause, not just patching the visible problem.
For cracked fireboxes we often remove damaged firebrick, grind out joints, and rebuild the interior with new firebrick and proper refractory mortar. For smoke issues we check the ratio between firebox opening and flue size, throat shape, and damper function. In some Baltimore rowhouses we find undersized flues from old coal appliances that were never updated for wood. In those cases we may resize the opening or install a smoke guard or new liner system.
Gas conversions are popular in homes where owners want the look of a brick fireplace without hauling wood. We coordinate with your HVAC or plumbing contractor or recommend one we trust. Our role is to prepare the brick firebox, adjust the opening if needed, install or adjust the flue liner, and ensure all clearances to combustibles and mantel materials meet manufacturer instructions and code. We also seal any old ash dumps or passages that are no longer needed.
Before you hire a mason, ask specific questions. Who will be on site doing the actual brickwork. How will they protect your floors and control dust in a tight Baltimore rowhome. Can they show examples of brick fireplaces in houses similar to yours. Do they understand local code requirements and chimney conditions. Legendary Masonry Baltimore welcomes these questions, provides local references, and explains each step so you know what is behind the finished brick face, not just what you see on day one.
