Firebox Panel Replacement

Panels, not brick

Factory-built, or prefabricated, fireplaces are common in many homes. Their firebox walls are formed from panels rather than laid brick. Over years of heating and cooling the panels can crack, break at the corners, warp or fall away. They protect the metal and framing behind them, so they are worth replacing when they fail.

Signs a panel needs replacing

• Cracks that run through the panel, or pieces missing
• Panels that have shifted or separated at the joints
• Visible metal behind the panel
• Discoloration or warping of the metal behind it
• The fireplace is a factory-built unit and the panels are old

What replacement involves

We identify the type of fireplace and the panels it uses, since panels differ in size and material. We remove the damaged ones and install new ones that fit the unit. We also look at the damper, the metal and anything else we can see while the firebox is open, and tell you what we find.

When replacing the panels is not the answer

If the fireplace itself is damaged, rusted through or no longer meets what you need, repairing the panels may not be worthwhile. In that case we explain the other options, including replacement of the unit, such as gas fireplace replacement. For masonry fireboxes, see firebox repair.