We design and build brick fireplaces in New Orleans, LA that become the centerpiece of your living room or outdoor space. From classic indoor surrounds to outdoor fireplaces and repairs, we focus on safe construction, proper firebox materials, and attractive brick patterns that fit your style and home.
Superior Masonry New Orleans provides professional brick fireplace throughout New Orleans, LA, Louisiana and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (504) 321-4818 or request your free quote.
Brick Fireplaces Built for New Orleans Homes
A brick fireplace in New Orleans has to do more than look good. It has to handle high humidity, shifting soil, and the occasional tropical storm, all while staying safe and efficient. At Superior Masonry New Orleans, we design and build brick fireplaces that fit local homes, local codes, and our local climate.
We start by asking how you want to use the fireplace. Some homeowners want a true wood-burning masonry fireplace with a full chimney. Others prefer a gas insert surrounded by new brickwork, or a decorative faux-fireplace that gives the look without the open flame. Your answers shape everything from the footing size to the type of brick and mortar.
Because New Orleans has soft, sometimes unstable soil and a high water table, the first technical decision is support. For new construction or major remodels, we often pour a reinforced concrete footing under the fireplace and hearth area, sized to handle the weight of the masonry. In raised homes or older houses with pier-and-beam foundations, we sometimes install steel or concrete support piers under the fireplace footprint to keep it from settling and cracking.
If you already have a fireplace, we inspect the existing firebox, smoke chamber, and chimney before suggesting upgrades. We look for spalling brick (faces flaking off from moisture), sandy or missing mortar joints, and past patch jobs that used the wrong materials. This inspection determines whether you need a rebuild, a partial repair, or just cosmetic brickwork around a prefab unit.
How We Build or Rebuild a Brick Fireplace
Once we understand the condition and your goals, Superior Masonry New Orleans follows a clear process. For a new masonry fireplace, we usually start at rough-in stage so framing and finishes can be coordinated. For a remodel, we protect nearby flooring and fixtures, then carefully demo only what needs to come out.
A true wood-burning brick fireplace begins with a firebox built from firebrick and high-temperature refractory mortar. Firebrick lines the interior floor and walls. We lay these bricks in tight, staggered joints, with thinner joints than regular brick to reduce cracking. The firebox is shaped with a specific angle and depth so it draws properly and does not smoke into the room.
Above the firebox, we build the smoke chamber and install a properly sized flue system, usually a clay tile flue or a listed metal liner, depending on existing conditions and code requirements. The flue size is matched to the firebox opening. If the opening is too large for the flue, you get smoke problems. We do these calculations before we lay the first brick.
On the exterior face, we lay face brick that matches your design: traditional red, tumbled, wire-cut, or a custom blend you like. Joints can be tooled in different profiles (concave, flush, raked) depending on the look and how much shadow line you want. For New Orleans humidity, we usually recommend a denser brick combined with a mortar mix that balances strength with some flexibility, so minor foundation movement does not instantly turn into cracks.
For gas or electric units, the process is different. We follow the appliance manufacturer’s clearances, then build a non-combustible brick surround and hearth around the unit. In many historic homes, this gives you the look of an old masonry fireplace while using a modern, cleaner-burning insert. We coordinate with your plumber or gas fitter for gas line runs and shutoff valve placement.
Brick Choices, Design Options, and Local Style
New Orleans homes range from Creole cottages to Uptown Victorians to newer builds in the suburbs. A brick fireplace that belongs in a Marigny shotgun will look different from one in a Lakeview new construction. Superior Masonry New Orleans spends time on the front end getting the style right so your fireplace looks like it belongs in the house, not like it was dropped in later.
You can choose from several brick types. Reclaimed brick (often salvaged from older buildings in the region) gives a worn, historic look with varied color and texture. New modular brick creates a more uniform and contemporary appearance and usually costs less to install because it is more consistent in size. Thin brick veneers can sometimes be used where full-depth brick is too heavy or space is tight, for example on an existing framed wall where we are not building a full masonry structure.
We also help you decide on hearth height and projection. A raised hearth, usually 12 to 18 inches tall, creates seating and a strong focal point. A flush hearth at floor level suits tighter spaces and modern interiors. Mantels can be wood (installed with proper clearances), stone, or even a simple brick corbel detail for a more understated look.
New Orleans humidity can cause efflorescence, which is white staining on brick from water moving through the masonry and bringing salts to the surface. To reduce this, we pay attention to flashing, weep joints, and moisture control behind exterior-facing brick. Indoors, we may recommend a breathable masonry sealer on high-use fireplaces, but not a glossy film that can trap moisture.
For homes in flood-prone areas, we discuss how low to run solid brickwork and what can be built to tolerate potential water exposure. In some raised houses, we design the fireplace so the main structure is elevated above typical flood elevations, with compatible finishes below.
Cost, Scheduling, and Common Brick Fireplace Problems
Brick fireplace cost in New Orleans depends on several things: whether it is new or a rebuild, the weight and support required, the brick you choose, and whether we are tying into an existing chimney or building a new one. A full masonry wood-burning fireplace with chimney is usually the most expensive option because it involves structural work, firebrick, flue liners, and often roof penetration. A brick surround around a gas insert is typically less, since the firebox and venting are already engineered in the unit.
We are upfront about labor and material pricing. Reclaimed brick can increase cost due to sorting and extra cutting, but it can save money if you already have salvage on site. Structural repairs, like adding support beams or piers under an old sagging fireplace, add cost but are sometimes unavoidable. During the estimate, Superior Masonry New Orleans points out which items are code-required, which are performance upgrades, and which are purely cosmetic so you can prioritize.
New Orleans weather affects scheduling. Masonry work should not be done in heavy rain, and high humidity slows cure times for mortar and refractory materials. We plan work in phases, such as demo and support work first, then firebox, flue, and finally the finish brick. Interior fireplaces can often be worked on year-round, but we still need temperatures above a certain level and reasonable indoor humidity for proper curing.
Common problems we see include fireboxes built with regular brick instead of firebrick, cracked hearths from insufficient support, chimneys that are the wrong size for the opening, and mortar joints that were patched with hardware-store products not rated for high heat. Another frequent issue in New Orleans is moisture intrusion from poorly flashed chimneys, which leads to soft, crumbly brick above the roof.
Our approach is to correct underlying causes, not just cover them. For example, if your fireplace smokes into the room, we do not just add a hood and hope for the best. We check flue sizing, throat design, and wind exposure on the roof. If water is getting in around the chimney, we look at crown condition, cap, and flashing details, then repair or rebuild those elements as needed.
What to Know Before You Hire a Brick Fireplace Mason in New Orleans
Before you hire anyone to build or rebuild a brick fireplace, make sure they understand both fire codes and local building conditions. In Orleans Parish and surrounding parishes, there are specific requirements for clearances to combustibles, chimney height above the roof, and gas appliance venting. Superior Masonry New Orleans works with local inspectors regularly and builds to current code so you are not stuck with a beautiful but non-compliant installation.
Ask to see examples of brick fireplaces the contractor has built in older New Orleans homes, not just new construction. Working inside a 100-year-old house is different from working on a new slab. We often have to shore up existing framing, tie new masonry into old plaster or brick, and protect original floors and trim. Our crews use dust control setups, temporary plastic walls, and careful staging so your home is not covered in mortar dust.
You should also know what maintenance your fireplace will need. A true masonry fireplace requires periodic chimney inspections and cleaning, especially if you burn wood often. Mortar joints may need repointing after many years, particularly on exterior chimney sections exposed to rain and sun. For gas units, you still need to keep the brickwork checked for cracks and the venting clear.
During the planning phase, we encourage clients to make decisions on outlet locations, TV mounting, and built-in shelves around the fireplace before we lay brick. It is much easier to add recessed boxes, run conduit, or create support for a future mantle before the masonry is closed up.
If you want a brick fireplace that looks right in your New Orleans home and performs safely for years, the key is thoughtful design, correct materials, and solid execution. Superior Masonry New Orleans handles the full process, from assessing your structure and designing the firebox and chimney, to laying the final face brick and hearth so you end up with a fireplace that is both durable and suited to how you live.
