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How to Enjoy Your Fireplace in the Spring & Summer

You get a lot of benefits from your fireplace during our cold Massachusetts winters. But after having an annual chimney inspection, you can keep enjoying the fireplace and surrounding hearth area during the warmer months with a few creative upgrades and additions.

fireplace cleaning, dedham maFirst, clean the firebox and bricks

Before you start getting creative with your fireplace area, clean the fireplace well. Use stiff wire brushes, scrubbers, safe cleaning solutions, a fireplace shovel, an ash bucket and a vacuum to get the residuals of winter off and out of your fireplace.

Make your firebox flourish

Now that you’ve got an empty – and clean – firebox, what can you do with it? You can do anything you want. Add bouquets of fresh flowers, tasteful candle displays, elegant string lighting, artwork, vases or whatever else grabs you.

If you have kids, get their ideas and consider making the firebox transformation a project for them during the months they’re not in school. Let them take ownership of the firebox (with a little supervision from you), and see what they come up with.

How about the mantel?

Your fireplace mantel is a great place for creative ideas. Whether pre-made or custom-built, mantels are perfect settings for clocks, antiques, photographs, sculptures, indoor plants and more.

A great way to make your mantel flourish in the non-winter months is to use it for seasonal and holiday themes. Add spring and summer decorations and fill it with items that reflect St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover, Holi, Memorial Day, Cinco de Mayo, Flag Day, National Hot Dog Day (yes, there’s such a thing, every July), Independence Day, Labor Day and all the others.

fireplace surround, cohasset maAdd a gorgeous fireplace surround

A fireplace surround is a decorative section of the wall around your fireplace. Surrounds can be purchased ready to install, or you can have one built to your exact specifications right in your home.

A stunning brick or stone façade will magnify your hearth area in ways you can’t imagine. Other materials such as rough-cut wood, faux stone, paneling and even mirrors also will do wonders for a room. A bare wall is kind of blah. An elegant surround shines with personality and beauty all year long.

Keeping your fireplace and chimney safe

Maintenance is another important off-season project. Once you’re finished using your fireplace and chimney for the year, do these three things:

  1. Have the chimney and fireplace inspected by a licensed chimney inspector
  2. Have the chimney properly cleaned by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep
  3. Make chimney repairs sooner rather than later

Number 3 is particularly important. Certain types of chimney damage that involve masonry and water leaks, such as damaged chimney flashing or crumbling bricks that can keep on progressing during the warmer months until you have a very dangerous situation on your hands when you’re ready to fire up your fireplace later in the year. Get these issues fixed as soon as they become known.

Above & Beyond Chimney Service of Dedham, MA, provides exactly what you need to keep your chimney and fireplace running safely and efficiently. We offer certified chimney sweeping, professional inspections and all manner of chimney/fireplace rebuilding and repair work.

Your job is to decorate your hearth area. Our job is to keep everything behind it in great shape. Call us at
(781) 383-0415.