We design and build brick fireplaces in Southaven, MS that become the centerpiece of your living room or outdoor patio. From new construction to refacing and repairs, our masons create safe, efficient, and attractive fireplaces tailored to your style and heating needs.
Southaven Masonry provides professional brick fireplace throughout Southaven, MS, Mississippi and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (662) 863-5021 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces for Southaven Homes
A brick fireplace is more than a feature on a plan sheet. It changes how you use your living room, family room, or outdoor patio. Southaven Masonry designs and builds brick fireplaces that fit the way people in Southaven actually live, from compact units in Olive Branch townhomes to large, traditional surrounds in older DeSoto County ranch houses.
We start with how you use the space. Do you want a main focal point for a vaulted great room in Snowden Grove, a simple brick hearth in a Southaven starter home, or an outdoor brick fireplace near the pool for weekend gatherings? Once we know your layout, furniture placement, and how often you plan to burn real wood or rely on gas logs, we shape the design and structure around those details.
Every project is planned with local building codes, chimney height requirements for our flat North Mississippi terrain, and the reality of our hot, humid summers and cool, damp winters. That means proper clearances from combustibles, correct flue sizing for your fuel type, and materials that will not deteriorate quickly in Southaven’s climate.
Design Options: From Classic Red Brick to Modern Styles
Brick fireplaces in Southaven do not all look the same, and they should not. Southaven Masonry walks you through specific design choices that affect how your fireplace looks, works, and holds up over time.
Brick types: Many homeowners like traditional red modular brick to match existing exteriors in neighborhoods like Cherry Tree Park. Others prefer a tumbled, slightly irregular brick for a rustic farmhouse look, or a sleek wirecut brick for clean lines in newer builds. We can source brick that closely matches existing facades so an interior fireplace in a 1990s subdivision home feels original, not added on.
Patterns and layout: Running bond is the most common layout, but we also install herringbone fireboxes, soldier course accents along the mantel line, and basketweave or stacked patterns on chimney faces. In larger rooms, a full-height chimney breast in carefully aligned brick can visually raise the ceiling and anchor the room.
Details and finishes: You can choose between a raised or flush hearth, brick or stone mantel supports, and different mortar joint styles like raked, concave, or flush. For a lighter, softer look, we frequently apply limewash or a breathable whitewash finish that still allows the brick texture to show. In homes where smoke staining is a concern, we discuss darker face brick or soot-resistant finishes.
How We Build a Brick Fireplace Step by Step
A well built brick fireplace is not just brick stacked in a corner. It is a structural and combustion system that has to move heat and smoke safely. Southaven Masonry follows a specific process to avoid the drafting and cracking issues we often see in older Southaven homes.
1. Site assessment and layout: We check floor framing, attic and roof conditions, and existing gas or electrical lines. In older slab on grade houses, we verify that the slab can handle the point loads of a full brick chimney or design a reinforced footing pad.
2. Foundation and support: For new construction or major additions, we pour a dedicated concrete footing sized to support the brick mass and chimney load. On raised foundations, we sometimes add piers or beams beneath the fireplace to prevent future settling and cracking.
3. Firebox and smoke chamber: For wood burning units, we construct a firebox with firebrick and high temperature refractory mortar, properly sloped to reflect heat into the room. Above that, we build a smoke chamber that transitions smoothly to the flue. The angles and dimensions are based on tested ratios so the fireplace draws instead of spilling smoke.
4. Flue and chimney: We typically use listed clay flue liners or insulated stainless steel liners, depending on design and local code requirements. Sections are stacked and sealed with refractory mortar, and we maintain the required clearance from framing all the way through the roof.
5. Brick facing and hearth: The visible brick is then tied structurally to the backing with corrosion resistant ties. We set the hearth with fire resistant materials, making sure elevations meet code and give you a comfortable seating or footrest height.
6. Cap, flashing, and cleanup: At the top, we complete the chimney crown or cap with proper slope and drip edges, then install metal flashing and counter flashing at the roof line to prevent leaks. Finally, we clean mortar smears, tool joints for appearance and durability, and prepare the fireplace for inspection and first use.
Cost Factors for a Brick Fireplace in Southaven
Two brick fireplaces can look similar in pictures but cost very different amounts in real life. Southaven Masonry is direct about what drives the price so you can plan a realistic budget.
Size and complexity: A simple brick surround for an existing gas insert in a Southaven townhouse is on the lower end of the range. A full masonry, wood burning fireplace with chimney from slab to roof in a two story home requires more footings, brick, labor, and scaffolding, so it costs more.
Fuel type: A true masonry wood burning fireplace involves a firebox, smoke chamber, and full flue system. Converting to or starting with a gas fireplace or gas log set can reduce some masonry requirements but introduces gas line work, venting questions, and code inspections that also carry costs.
Material choices: Standard production brick and basic concave joints are economical. Hand made or specialty brick, herringbone fireboxes, arched openings, custom cast stone mantels, or extensive whitewash or limewash finishes increase material and labor time.
Existing conditions: In older Southaven houses where we are replacing or rebuilding, demolition, structural repair, and bringing the chimney up to current code add cost. Tight interior access, steep or complex roofs, and need for additional roof framing reinforcement also influence pricing.
We typically provide a written estimate that separates structural work, visible brickwork, finishes, and any gas or insert components so you can clearly see where your money is going and what can be adjusted to fit your budget.
Common Fireplace Problems We Fix in Southaven Homes
Many calls to Southaven Masonry are not for brand new fireplaces, but for problems with existing brick fireplaces in Southaven and nearby communities.
Smoke in the room: Older fireplaces in 1960s and 1970s ranch homes were often built with shallow fireboxes or undersized flues. We diagnose whether the problem comes from proportions, blockages, a damaged damper, or negative air pressure in the house from new windows and tight construction. Solutions can include rebuilding the firebox opening, installing a smoke guard, extending the chimney, or adding a properly sized flue liner.
Cracked firebrick and loose mortar: Heat, moisture, and settling can crack firebrick or joints inside the firebox. We remove damaged units and rebuild with new firebrick and refractory mortar, keeping clearances to combustibles in line with current standards.
Leaking chimneys: Damp spots around the fireplace face or stains on ceilings near the chimney are common after Southaven’s heavy rains. We inspect the crown, cap, brick joints, and flashing. Repairs might include tuckpointing eroded mortar, replacing the crown, adding or upgrading a chimney cap, and redoing flashing so water is shed properly.
Cosmetic dating: Some homeowners simply want a brick fireplace that matches their updated interior. In those cases we can add a new brick veneer, adjust the hearth, straighten or simplify outdated arches, update the mantel, or apply finishes that brighten the room without compromising the masonry underneath.
Indoor vs Outdoor Brick Fireplaces
Indoor and outdoor brick fireplaces in Southaven share some materials but are designed to handle different conditions. Southaven Masonry builds both, and we design them to handle North Mississippi’s temperature swings, rain, and humidity.
Indoor fireplaces: Indoors, we focus on drafting, clearances, and comfort. Insulation and air sealing in newer houses can affect how well a fireplace pulls air. We often recommend makeup air solutions or sealed gas units in very tight homes so you get the look of brick with safe, predictable performance.
Outdoor fireplaces: Outside, we pay more attention to weathering and long term durability. We use exterior grade brick and mortars that tolerate freeze thaw cycles, even though Southaven only occasionally freezes. We build chimney heights to handle breezy backyard conditions, and we design smoke paths so the prevailing winds are less likely to push smoke back into seating areas.
Layout and amenities: For patios and outdoor kitchens, we coordinate fireplace placement with seating, TV locations, and grill or kitchen areas. Options include integrated wood storage, extended bench style hearths, and blended materials such as brick with natural stone accents. We also discuss spark control and ember containment since yards here often back up to fences and neighboring homes.
What to Expect When You Hire Southaven Masonry
Southaven Masonry focuses on clear planning so your brick fireplace project runs smoothly from the first visit to the final inspection.
Initial consultation: We meet on site in Southaven or nearby towns to measure, inspect structure, and discuss how you want to use the fireplace. We check roof lines, attic space, and access so we know what is realistically possible before promising anything.
Design and proposal: You receive a design outline that covers dimensions, brick and mortar options, structural needs, and estimated schedule. For complex projects, we can coordinate with your builder, remodeler, or HVAC contractor to ensure the fireplace, framing, and venting are aligned.
Construction phase: During construction we protect floors and nearby finishes, especially in finished living rooms. Work is scheduled to limit the time your room is disrupted, and we keep you updated on key milestones like footing completion, firebox construction, and chimney topping out.
Inspection and first use: Once masonry is complete, we verify draft and clearances, walk you through damper operation and maintenance basics, and coordinate any required city or county inspections. For new wood burning fireplaces, we recommend a gradual break in period so the masonry has time to dry and cure before you run large, hot fires.
Our goal is a brick fireplace that not only looks right in your Southaven home, but also burns cleanly, sheds water, and stands solid for decades with basic care.
