We design and build brick fireplaces in Allentown, PA that become the focal point of your indoor or outdoor living space. From classic wood burning fireplaces to modern gas units and surrounds, we handle the masonry details, firebox construction, and facing so your fireplace is safe, efficient, and beautiful.
Legendary Masonry Allentown provides professional brick fireplace throughout Allentown, PA, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 484-284-5120 or request your free quote.
Brick fireplaces tailored to Allentown homes
A brick fireplace should feel like it has always belonged in your home, not like something that was just attached to a blank wall. At Legendary Masonry Allentown, we start every brick fireplace project by looking at the age and style of your house, the existing chimney or venting, and how you actually plan to use the fireplace. Many Allentown homes, especially older row homes near Center City and 1950s to 1970s split-levels, were not built with modern gas or electric inserts in mind, so we have to match new work to older framing, plaster, and brickwork.
We begin with an on-site visit where we measure the room, check the existing chimney or flue (if there is one), and talk about how often you will burn fires. If you are in an older brick twin in Allentown, we will carefully inspect the original chimney for cracks, missing mortar, and any signs of moisture from Pennsylvania’s freeze-thaw cycles. That inspection tells us whether we are designing a wood-burning fireplace that ties into your current chimney, converting to a gas insert within a new brick surround, or building a purely decorative brick feature with an electric unit.
From there we create a simple layout sketch and material plan. We talk through details like brick size and color, whether you want a traditional raised hearth you can sit on or a clean, flush hearth, and how much of the wall you want covered in brick. By the time we give you a written quote, you will know exactly what is being built, where the venting will run, and how it will be supported inside your wall.
Design options, brick styles, and layout choices
A brick fireplace in Allentown does not have to be dark and heavy. With the right brick and layout, it can feel bright and updated while still being durable. Legendary Masonry Allentown works with several brick suppliers in Pennsylvania, so we can match older local brick or bring in something completely new.
Color and texture are the first big decisions. Some homeowners in West End and Salisbury Township choose tumbled or reclaimed-look brick to suit mid century homes. Others in newer developments like smooth face brick in lighter shades, sometimes with a white or light gray slurry or limewash for a softer look. We can also combine full-size brick with thin brick veneer if structural depth is limited, as happens in smaller row homes or finished basements.
The brick pattern affects the look just as much as the color. Common choices are running bond for a classic feel, stacked bond for a cleaner modern look, or a herringbone panel featured in the firebox back or over the opening. We also discuss joint style and color. Flush joints with slightly recessed tooling highlight the brick shape, while overfilled “smeared” joints create a more rustic, old-world look that many Allentown homeowners like in historic districts.
Mantels and hearths finish the design. You might want a thick, stained wood mantel anchored into the brick, or a simple brick header row. Hearths can be brick laid flat, brick on edge for a taller profile, or a stone slab like bluestone or granite on a brick base. For TV-over-fireplace setups, we plan brick thickness and mantel projection so heat is directed away from electronics, and we coordinate with your electrician to place outlets and conduit before the brickwork goes up.
How the brick fireplace build actually happens
Once the design is set, Legendary Masonry Allentown follows a clear process so you know what will be happening in your living room each day. The first step is prep and protection. We cover floors with rigid boards and plastic, seal off nearby rooms with plastic barriers when needed, and set up dust control for demolition. If we are removing an old tile or stone surround, we use hand tools near finished areas to avoid damaging your existing floors and walls.
Next is structural and framing work. If you are installing a new gas or electric unit, we coordinate with your HVAC or gas contractor so the flue, gas line, or electrical connections are in place before the brick goes on. In basements and newer homes in Allentown, we often need to build a framed bump out on the wall to house the unit and flue. We sheath this framing with cement board or masonry board, not regular drywall, to handle heat and provide a solid base for brick.
Brick installation starts from a perfectly leveled hearth line. We dry lay the first course or two so we can balance the layout with your room, then we begin setting brick with a mortar mix designed for interior use. On wood framed walls we usually use thin brick veneer, which is adhered to the masonry board, while on existing masonry walls we may use full brick tied back with anchors. Joints are struck once the mortar firms up, which keeps the pattern clean and consistent.
During this stage we also add support for mantels, shelves, or TV mounts. That means installing steel ledger angles or hidden blocking before the upper brick courses go in. When the brickwork is finished, we clean the surface with appropriate masonry cleaners that will not bleach or streak the brick, then we apply sealer if you choose it. The final step is a detailed walkthrough, where we check clearances, show you how to operate and maintain the fireplace, and touch up any small cosmetic details.
Costs, permits, and what affects the price in Allentown
Homeowners often ask for a simple price per brick fireplace, but in Allentown there are several real factors that change the cost. Legendary Masonry Allentown is upfront about what drives your budget so you can make smart choices instead of surprises showing up later.
The largest cost factors are the type of unit (wood, gas, or electric), whether a safe working chimney already exists, and how extensive the brickwork is. A decorative brick surround around an existing electric unit with no chimney work will be cheaper than a full wood-burning fireplace rebuild with flue liner in a 1920s brick home on the West Side. If your chimney is cracked, unlined, or undersized, building inspectors in Allentown will require it to be brought up to code if you plan to burn wood or vent a gas unit through it. That can mean stainless steel liners, smoke chamber parging, and new caps, all of which add to the cost but protect your house.
Brick selection and pattern also affect price. Standard red modular brick in a running bond is more affordable than custom-shaped or glazed brick laid in complex patterns with insets or arches. Thin brick veneer can lower structural costs in some cases because we are not adding as much weight, but the labor to cut and fit around outlets, mantels, and TV niches is still very detailed.
Permits and inspections are another local cost consideration. In Allentown, any vented fireplace or chimney alterations usually require permits, and gas lines must be inspected. We can coordinate with your contractor or pull masonry-related permits directly, depending on the scope. Our estimates spell out what is included so you understand whether permit fees, demolition, disposal, and chimney work are bundled in or handled separately.
To keep your budget under control, we often present a “good, better, best” plan. For example, we may quote a more basic brick choice with a simple running bond, then show you the add-on cost to upgrade to a herringbone accent panel and stone hearth. This approach lets you decide where design upgrades matter most instead of learning later that a detail you liked will push the project too far.
Local issues, maintenance, and why experienced masonry matters
Allentown’s climate is tough on masonry. Even interior brick fireplaces are affected by freeze-thaw cycles when chimneys pass through unheated attics or the roof, and by humidity that can travel through old brick walls. Legendary Masonry Allentown builds and repairs brick fireplaces with those local realities in mind so you are not dealing with smoke leaks, staining, or crumbling mortar a few winters from now.
For wood-burning fireplaces, we pay close attention to the firebox and smoke chamber transitions. Poorly shaped fireboxes or rough smoke chambers can cause smoke to roll into your room instead of drafting properly. When we rebuild or reline older fireplaces in Allentown row homes, we often parge (smooth coat) the smoke chamber and tighten up joints, which improves draft and safety. For gas fireplaces, we follow manufacturer clearances precisely and use non-combustible materials in all high-heat zones, which is essential in homes where original framing might be closer to the opening than modern code allows.
Maintenance is straightforward if the fireplace is built correctly. For brick, that means using the right mortar for interior conditions and joint size, then teaching you how to clean soot without damaging the surface. We advise against harsh acids or wire brushing that can scar face brick. Instead, we recommend mild masonry cleaners and soft brushes, and we can apply a breathable sealer where staining has been an issue in the past.
If you already have a brick fireplace that is cracking, spalling, or looks dated, we can often restore rather than completely replace it. Common local repairs include grinding and repointing loose mortar joints, replacing damaged bricks around the firebox opening, adding new hearth brick over top of worn tile, and modifying the surround to fit a new insert. Because we work throughout Allentown and nearby communities, we are familiar with the brick and mortar used in different eras here, which helps us match repairs and keep your fireplace looking like it belongs in the home.
Whether you are starting from scratch in a newer subdivision or updating a 100 year old brick chimney, having a masonry specialist handle the brick fireplace part of the job gives you a single point of responsibility. Legendary Masonry Allentown designs, builds, and repairs brick fireplaces with the specific construction quirks of Allentown homes in mind, so you can enjoy a centerpiece that looks good and works correctly every winter.
