We design and build brick fireplace features in Orlando, FL that become the centerpiece of your living space. From classic indoor brick surrounds to outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, our masons create safe, code compliant structures. Enjoy a fireplace that looks great and performs reliably season after season.
Legendary Masonry Orlando provides professional brick fireplace throughout Orlando, FL, Florida and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 689-264-5946 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces Built for Orlando Homes
A brick fireplace is more than a feature on a real estate listing. Done right, it becomes a daily-use heat source, a focal point, and a permanent masonry structure that should outlast most of the finishes in your house. At Legendary Masonry Orlando, we focus on brick fireplaces that are practical in Florida’s climate, code compliant, and sized and vented correctly for the room they are in.
Most Orlando homes start with one of three situations: no existing fireplace (new build or addition), an outdated masonry fireplace that needs a full rebuild, or a framed wall with a factory metal box that the owner wants to convert to a true brick surround. We handle all three. Before we talk colors or patterns, we measure the room, look at the roofline and attic space, check gas availability if you are considering gas logs, and review how you actually plan to use the fireplace. Many Orlando clients use their brick fireplace a few months a year for comfort and atmosphere, so we design around looks, low maintenance, and safe operation in a warm, humid area.
How We Plan and Design Your Brick Fireplace
A solid brick fireplace starts with a clear plan. Legendary Masonry Orlando meets you on site, looks at structure, and then walks you through layout options. For interior fireplaces, we confirm where the firebox, chimney, and hearth can go without cutting vital framing or running into truss issues. On a slab-on-grade home, which is common in Orlando, we verify whether the slab can carry the weight of a full masonry unit or if we need a thickened slab or footing.
You will choose between a traditional wood-burning firebox, a gas log setup, or a decorative non-vented feature with an electric insert and masonry surround. Wood burning units require a lined chimney and a clear path through the roof above, plus extra attention to draft in our humid air. Gas units require a licensed gas contractor for the line and shutoff, which we coordinate so the masonry work and utility work stay in sync.
Next we sketch the face of the fireplace. This includes the size of the opening, hearth height, mantel style, and how the brick will frame adjacent built-ins or TV niches. Many Orlando homeowners opt for a slightly raised hearth to protect flooring from stray embers, especially when installing over wood or luxury vinyl. We also discuss how the brick transitions to drywall or plaster, and how much of the chimney, if any, will be exposed brick above the roof for curb appeal.
Material Choices: Brick Types, Patterns, and Mortar Options
Brick and mortar choices determine how your fireplace actually looks in your living room lighting. At Legendary Masonry Orlando we bring physical brick samples that work well with Central Florida homes, including wirecut brick for a clean, modern look and tumbled or reclaimed-look brick for a more rustic feel. We can source true clay brick in reds, browns, or blended tones, and we explain which lines have the most consistent color so you do not get unexpected patchy areas on a large fireplace face.
Pattern options include running bond, stacked bond, herringbone in the firebox back wall or over the opening, and soldier courses for subtle accents. On a larger wall, we may suggest breaking up the expanse with a change in pattern above the mantel to keep the fireplace from looking flat. We also recommend firebrick inside the firebox itself, since standard face brick will not hold up to direct flame and high heat. Firebrick is set with high temperature refractory mortar that is different from the mortar used on the exterior face.
Mortar color matters in Orlando homes with a lot of natural light. A light gray mortar can make a small fireplace feel larger and more airy. A darker mortar can tone down bright brick for a more subdued look that works better with large TVs or dark cabinets. We review real examples of joints too, such as flush, slightly recessed, or struck joints, and explain how each sheds soot and dust over time.
Step-by-Step: How We Build or Rebuild a Brick Fireplace
For a new interior brick fireplace on a concrete slab, Legendary Masonry Orlando typically follows a set sequence. First we layout and mark the footprint on the slab, then cut and chip any areas where we need a thickened support or a key for the new hearth. After placing steel reinforcement as needed, we pour or pack a masonry base. Once cured, we set the firebox and begin laying firebrick inside using refractory mortar, keeping joints tight and smooth so soot has fewer places to collect.
With the firebox in place, we transition to face brick. We set up string lines and story poles to keep the courses level with adjoining walls and planned mantel height. Bricks are cut on a wet saw outdoors to keep silica dust out of your living space. We maintain the proper clearances to combustibles per Florida Building Code, including the distance from the opening to any wood mantel or trim. If a chimney is required, we build the masonry flue or install a listed metal flue system, then brick around it as needed, flashing and counter flashing at the roof to deal with Orlando’s frequent heavy rain.
On rebuilds, we spend time on demolition and stabilization. Many older Orlando fireplaces have cracked firebrick, missing mortar joints, or a smoke shelf filled with debris from years of use and roof work. We carefully dismantle loose or unsafe masonry, shore up any sagging hearths, and rebuild to meet current codes. If the chimney has moisture damage from our summer storms, we replace damaged sections, add a modern cap, and sometimes line the flue to improve draft and safety.
Dealing With Orlando Climate, Moisture, and Code Requirements
Central Florida’s weather directly affects how a brick fireplace should be built and maintained. The combination of high humidity, sudden heavy rain, and strong sun can shorten the life of poorly detailed masonry. Legendary Masonry Orlando uses techniques and materials that hold up in this environment.
Outside the roofline we pay close attention to chimney crowns, caps, and flashing. A good concrete or cast stone crown with proper slope sheds water so it does not soak into the top courses of brick. We recommend and install properly sized chimney caps to keep out driving rain, leaves, and small animals, which are common here. Mortar joints above the roof are inspected closely and tooled tight, sometimes with a water repellent treatment that still allows the masonry to breathe.
Inside the home, we consider how air conditioning interacts with a fireplace. Orlando houses are sealed up and cooled much of the year, which can cause drafting issues. A correctly sized flue, tight damper, and sometimes an outside air kit can reduce smoke rollout and improve burn quality. Building permits and inspections are required for most structural fireplace work in Orlando and surrounding jurisdictions in Orange County. We handle the permit paperwork, schedule inspections, and build to the applicable sections of the Florida Building Code and any local amendments so you are not left dealing with code officials on your own.
Costs, Timing, and What Affects Your Brick Fireplace Price
Brick fireplaces vary widely in cost, and we lay out the numbers clearly so you can decide what level of project fits your budget. The main factors are the type of unit (wood burning, gas, or electric with brick surround), whether we are building new or retrofitting, the size and height of the brickwork, and how complex the chimney and footings need to be.
In a typical Orlando single story home with an existing framed chimney chase, building a new brick face and hearth around a listed insert usually costs less than constructing a full masonry chimney from scratch. Two story runs, rooftop access challenges, and structural footings all add labor and material. Upgraded brick, special patterns like extensive herringbone, custom cast stone mantels, or reclaimed materials also affect price. We give detailed written estimates that break down labor, brick, firebrick, mortar, flue components, and accessories so you know what you are paying for.
Timing depends on scope and weather. Most interior brick fireplace projects take 3 to 7 working days once permits are approved, not counting any separate gas or electrical work. During our rainy season, outdoor chimney work may stretch slightly as we avoid laying brick in active downpours, which can wash out green mortar. Legendary Masonry Orlando protects nearby flooring, furniture, and finishes with plastic, ram board, and dust control, and we clean the site at the end of each day so you can still live in your home while the work is underway.
