We build and restore brick fireplaces in Buffalo, NY, creating cozy focal points indoors and out. From classic surrounds to outdoor fireplace features, we handle firebox masonry, chimney connections, and detailed finishes for safe, beautiful results.
Legendary Masonry Buffalo provides professional brick fireplace throughout Buffalo, NY, New York and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 716-315-5124 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces for Buffalo Homes
A brick fireplace is more than a place to burn wood. In Buffalo, NY, it is often the heart of the living room or family room once winter hits and the snow piles up. At Legendary Masonry Buffalo, we focus on building and restoring brick fireplaces that fit the age, style, and layout of your home, whether you own a classic North Buffalo double, a 1920s Elmwood Village single, or a newer build in the suburbs.
When we first visit your home, we look closely at the room layout, chimney location, and structure. Many Buffalo houses already have a chimney, even if the original fireplace was removed or covered up. We inspect the existing masonry, flue, and hearth area to decide if we are building a brand new brick fireplace, recreating a historic one, or converting a dated unit with new brickwork and a modern firebox.
We talk through how you plan to use the fireplace. Some homeowners want a wood burning fireplace for occasional winter gatherings, others prefer gas for convenience, and some want a purely decorative brick feature with an electric insert. That choice affects the internal firebox materials, venting needs, and clearances, which in turn affects cost and design options.
Legendary Masonry Buffalo also checks local codes used by the City of Buffalo and surrounding towns. We look at required hearth extensions, noncombustible clearances, and chimney height relative to the roof. This matters in older houses where someone may have done DIY changes in the past. Our goal is to give you a brick fireplace that looks like it always belonged in your home, but that also passes inspection and drafts properly in lake effect winds.
Design Options, Brick Styles, and Layout Choices
A brick fireplace can range from simple and understated to a full wall feature. During the design phase we show you physical brick samples and photos from past projects in Buffalo neighborhoods, so you can see how different colors and patterns actually look in real houses.
Common choices include classic red clay brick that matches many 1920s and 1930s Buffalo exteriors, wirecut brick for a cleaner look in newer homes, or tumbled and reclaimed-looking brick for a more rustic feel. We can also select different brick sizes for a more modern linear look, which works well in open concept spaces in newer Orchard Park or Amherst homes.
Mortar color changes the look just as much as the brick. Light gray or buff mortar gives a softer, traditional appearance that suits older West Side and Allentown homes. Dark mortar creates contrast and a more contemporary feel. We discuss joint profiles too. A slightly recessed joint highlights each brick, while a flush joint gives a smoother surface that is easier to dust and clean.
Layout decisions include whether you want a traditional raised hearth you can sit on, a flush hearth that sits level with your flooring for a cleaner line, or a corner fireplace to make better use of a small room. We also talk about a brick surround alone versus adding a brick chimney breast full height to the ceiling. For taller rooms in North Buffalo and parts of Snyder, running brick all the way up can anchor the room and make the fireplace a true focal point.
If you prefer a mixed material look, Legendary Masonry Buffalo can combine the brick fireplace body with a wood mantle, stone or tile hearth, or a reclaimed timber beam. We design everything so that clearances to combustibles are safe while still getting the style you want.
How We Build or Rebuild Your Brick Fireplace
Once the design is approved, Legendary Masonry Buffalo lays out a clear plan, so you know exactly what will happen and when. Most brick fireplace projects follow a similar sequence, adjusted for whether you have an existing chimney or we are building from scratch.
First, we protect your space. Floors and nearby furniture are covered with heavy drop cloths and plastic, and we set up dust control if we have to cut into existing walls or remove old masonry. In many Buffalo homes with plaster walls or original hardwood floors, this step is critical to avoid damage.
Next, we prepare the structure. This might mean demo of an old, unsafe firebox and surround, cutting out damaged brick, or opening up a wall to expose the original chimney. If there is no fireplace at all, we frame and reinforce the wall or floor where the new brick fireplace will sit. In older homes we sometimes coordinate with a structural contractor to add support if the chimney and fireplace will be heavy.
We then install or update the firebox and flue components. For wood burning fireplaces we often use a listed firebox system designed to be surrounded with brick, then tie it into the flue. For gas inserts we ensure a proper venting path and run gas lines with a licensed plumber. We check draft and clearances before closing anything in.
After that, the brickwork begins. We snap chalk lines, dry lay sample courses, and confirm joint thickness so the finished fireplace matches the design drawings. Brick is laid course by course, with careful attention to bond pattern, corners, and alignment with mantels, built-ins, or TV niches if you plan to mount one above. We constantly check plumb and level so the surround reads straight, especially important in older Buffalo houses where existing floors and ceilings are not perfectly level.
Finally, we tool the mortar joints, clean the face of the brick, and, if requested, apply a breathable masonry sealer on the surround (not inside the firebox). Once everything cures, we walk you through safe operation and maintenance, and if you have a new wood burning fireplace, we recommend a gradual “break in” with a few small fires first.
Costs, Common Issues, and What Affects Pricing
Many homeowners in Buffalo ask what a brick fireplace will cost before they know exactly what they want. The honest answer is that several factors affect price, and understanding them helps you make smart choices.
The biggest cost drivers are whether there is an existing fireplace and chimney, the type of firebox (wood, gas, or electric), and the size and complexity of the brickwork. Building a brand new masonry fireplace and chimney from the foundation up is the most involved and expensive option. In many city neighborhoods, we can often reuse an existing chimney and simply rebuild or reface the brick fireplace, which saves money but may require flue relining or structural repairs.
Material choices influence cost too. Standard modular brick is usually more budget friendly than specialty or reclaimed brick. Intricate patterns like herringbone inside the firebox or on the face of the surround take more time than a simple running bond. Asking for a floor to ceiling brick feature wall, built-in niches, or integrated benches will add labor but can dramatically change the room.
Common issues we find in Buffalo include chimneys with failing liners, cracked or undersized hearths, and bricks that have spalled from years of freeze thaw cycles. If we open up your wall and find hidden damage, we will show you photos and explain what is necessary to make the fireplace safe. Sometimes that only means repointing and patching. Other times we recommend more extensive repair or partial rebuild.
Permits and inspections are another factor. Buffalo and many suburbs require permits for fireplace work that affects structure, venting, or gas lines. Legendary Masonry Buffalo can help coordinate that process and schedule inspections so you do not have to figure it out alone. The permit fees themselves are modest, but the paperwork and timing can add a little to the total project schedule.
We always provide a written estimate that separates materials, labor, and any extra chimney or structural work, so you can see where each dollar is going and make informed decisions about upgrades or simplifications.
What Buffalo Homeowners Should Know Before Hiring
Before you commit to a brick fireplace project, it helps to know what to ask and how to prepare. Start by confirming that any mason you consider has real experience with fireplaces and chimneys, not just flatwork or exterior brick. Fireplaces involve fire safety, draft, and code issues that are different from building a porch or garden wall.
Ask to see photos of completed brick fireplaces in homes similar to yours in Buffalo or nearby suburbs. At Legendary Masonry Buffalo, we can show examples from older city homes, post war ranches, and newer two story houses so you can see how scale and proportion change with different room sizes and ceiling heights.
You will also want to think about how the fireplace fits into the rest of your space. If you plan a future remodel of the room, flooring change, or built in shelving, it is wise to factor that into the fireplace design now. For instance, if you plan to refinish original hardwoods in a Parkside or Kaisertown home, deciding whether the hearth will be raised or flush should come before the flooring work.
Ventilation and ongoing maintenance should not be overlooked. Wood burning fireplaces need annual chimney inspections and regular cleaning to stay safe and draft well, especially in Buffalo where heavy winter use is common. Gas units should be checked periodically to ensure clean, efficient burning and safe venting. We explain what schedule makes sense for your specific fireplace and connect you with trusted sweep and HVAC partners if needed.
Finally, expect some disruption. Even with dust barriers, fireplace work creates noise, vibration, and some dust. We plan work days around your schedule as much as possible and keep you updated on when louder tasks like cutting brick or demo will occur. For many Buffalo homeowners, the short term inconvenience is worth the payoff of a warm, efficient, custom brick fireplace that looks like it has always belonged in the home.
