We design and build brick fireplaces in Collierville, TN that become the centerpiece of your living room or outdoor space. From classic indoor hearths to outdoor brick fireplace surrounds, we focus on safe firebox construction, proper flue connection, and attractive brickwork that matches your home.
Superior Masonry Collierville provides professional brick fireplace throughout Collierville, TN, Tennessee and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (901) 582-7374 or request your free quote.
Custom Brick Fireplaces for Collierville Homes
A brick fireplace is more than a place to burn wood. In Collierville it can anchor an open living room, warm up a bonus room over the garage, or turn a covered back porch into a true outdoor room. At Superior Masonry Collierville we build and restore brick fireplaces that fit how your family actually lives, not just what looks good in a photo.
When you call us, we start with how you want to use the fireplace. Do you picture traditional wood burning with a real chimney, or a gas insert with a wall switch, or an outdoor brick fireplace beside the pool or patio? Each choice affects the firebox design, chimney or venting, and the kind of brick and mortar we recommend for Collierville’s hot summers and occasional ice.
We regularly work in neighborhoods like Wolf River Ranch, Estanaula Trails, and the areas just off Byhalia and Houston Levee, so we are familiar with common HOA preferences on chimney height, brick color, and outdoor fireplace placement. Where needed we help you match the existing brick on your home so the new fireplace looks like it has always been part of the structure, not an obvious add on.
How We Design and Build a Brick Fireplace
A lasting brick fireplace starts long before the first brick is laid. Our process at Superior Masonry Collierville usually follows these steps so you know exactly what is happening in your home.
1. On site visit and layout
We come to your Collierville home to measure the space, check existing framing, and locate gas lines, electrical runs, and roof structure. For an indoor brick fireplace we confirm the floor can carry the extra weight or plan a footing or slab thickening if needed. For outdoor brick fireplaces we inspect your patio or yard soil and determine if a new concrete pad is required.
2. Draft design and materials selection
Next we sketch the fireplace layout with you, including hearth height, mantel style, and chimney location. We bring brick samples that work well in our local climate. Many Collierville homeowners choose tumbled reds that echo historic Memphis looks, wirecut brick that matches their existing home, or a painted brick finish for a cleaner farmhouse style. We also discuss mortar color, from traditional gray to buff or white, which has a big impact on the final look.
3. Structure, firebox, and chimney
Once you approve the plan we pour or reinforce the footing as needed, then build the firebox. For wood burning fireplaces we use firebrick and high temperature refractory mortar inside the firebox and throat area, then standard structural brick outside. For gas only units we may construct a smaller firebox sized to the insert specifications and focus more on the surround and facing. Chimneys or metal flue systems are installed to meet manufacturer instructions and local codes for Shelby County and the Town of Collierville.
4. Brickwork, detailing, and finish
With the structure in place we lay the face brick, carefully keeping joints straight and consistent. We can run soldier courses, arches, or corbelled details if you want a more custom look. Indoors we tie our work cleanly into surrounding drywall or paneling, and outdoors we flash and seal where the fireplace meets siding, roofing, or stone so you do not end up with leaks later.
5. Cleanup and orientation
After the mortar cures we clean the brick (without harsh acids that can burn the surface), remove debris, and walk you through operation. If your fireplace is wood burning, we cover safe burning practices and chimney maintenance. If it is gas, we show you shutoff locations and lighting procedures.
Brick, Layout, and Fuel Options That Actually Matter
A brick fireplace has many small choices that can easily be overlooked. At Superior Masonry Collierville we help you sort out what truly affects safety, cost, and appearance.
Brick choices: For exterior fireplaces and chimneys we use brick rated for freeze thaw conditions that we see in West Tennessee, especially in years when ice storms pass through. We also look at water absorption rates, since more porous brick can darken and spall over time if not protected with proper detailing and caps. If we are matching your home, we sometimes have brick custom blended from regional suppliers so the color and texture do not look patched.
Mortar and joint style: Collierville homes built in the last 20 years often have fairly tight, machine tooled joints. Older homes sometimes have wider, softer joints. We match not only the color but the profile, such as concave, flush, or rake joints, because that changes the shadow lines on your fireplace. Indoors, a slightly recessed joint can create more texture and makes whitewashed or German smear finishes more attractive.
Fuel type: Wood burning fireplaces give the most traditional feel but require a full chimney, spark arrestor, and more clearance from framing and rooflines. Gas logs or direct vent inserts are popular in newer Collierville subdivisions because they require less structural work and are friendlier for people who do not want to haul firewood. We coordinate with licensed gas fitters or electricians when needed so the connections are done correctly.
Hearth and mantel: We help you decide whether you want a raised hearth for extra seating or a flush hearth that keeps the floor open, which is often better in smaller family rooms. Mantels can be solid brick, brick with a wood mantle beam, or brick with stone or precast concrete. Each has different mounting requirements so we plan for those attachments while we build, not after the fact.
Permits, Codes, and Real Issues We See in Collierville
Fireplaces touch fire safety, structural support, and roof penetration, so proper permitting and codes are not optional. In Collierville interior and exterior brick fireplaces typically need review under residential building and mechanical codes. Superior Masonry Collierville coordinates with your general contractor or directly with the Town of Collierville’s Building and Codes Department when a stand alone project needs permits.
We design fireplaces to meet current International Residential Code standards as adopted in Tennessee, including required clearances to combustible framing, proper chimney height above the roof, and screened spark arrestors on wood burning units. For gas fireplaces we follow manufacturer specifications and ensure vent terminations meet local rules about distances from windows, doors, and property lines.
Common problems we encounter in existing fireplaces include undersized footings that cause cracking, missing or deteriorated chimney crowns that let water soak into the brick, and fireboxes where standard brick was incorrectly used instead of firebrick. In Collierville we also see a lot of older chimneys where the mortar has weathered from years of rain and sun. We offer tuckpointing and partial rebuilds to restore structural integrity before it becomes a safety hazard.
Another local issue is roof and siding leaks around outdoor fireplaces that were added later to a deck or patio. If the original contractor skipped metal flashing, we often find rotted sheathing behind the brick. When we build a new outdoor brick fireplace that ties into a roof or wall we install proper step flashing, counter flashing, and caps so you do not face hidden water damage in a few years.
Costs, Timelines, and What to Do Before You Hire
The cost of a brick fireplace in Collierville varies widely, so we are up front about what drives the price. A simple gas fireplace facing that uses your existing firebox and chimney is on the lower end. A full masonry wood burning fireplace with a new chimney built from the foundation up is the most involved. Factors that affect your price include the need for a footing or slab work, chimney height and complexity, brick selection and detailing, and whether we are matching complex existing brickwork.
Indoors, most new build or full tear out and rebuild projects take several days to a couple of weeks, depending on inspections and any needed framing changes. Outdoor brick fireplaces can run longer if we pour new concrete or integrate seating walls, storage, or an outdoor kitchen. We schedule work to minimize disruption in your home and protect nearby flooring and furnishings with plastic sheeting and floor protection.
Before you hire any contractor for a brick fireplace, ask to see examples of their actual fireplace work, not just general brick walls or mailboxes. Fireplaces demand experience with firebox design, flues, and flashing details that not every mason practices daily. With Superior Masonry Collierville you can see local projects, check references, and talk through the specific details of your design.
It also helps to gather a few inspiration photos that show the scale and feel you like, not just the exact brick color. We use these to understand whether you prefer a more rustic, heavily textured look or a crisp, clean fireplace with tight joints and simple lines. From there we can recommend specific brick, mortar, and layout choices that fit your Collierville home and your budget, and provide a written estimate that clearly separates masonry, materials, and any additional work like gas line or electrical changes.
