Clean brick fireplaces with a vinegar-and-water mix, avoiding harsh chemicals that can damage porous brick. Vacuum, scrub gently in small sections, and finish with a brick sealer once dry. Keep it ...

Q: I have a brick fireplace with a metal screen built into the front of it with glass doors. I notice a substantial draft coming from the fireplace, even when the doors are closed. We almost never use ...

Q–My fireplace has a black slate surround. This slate is chalky gray in color unless I apply lemon oil to it every two weeks or so. It looks so nice after the lemon oil application that I would like ...

Q: The mortar in my neighbor's brick fireplace is shedding large quantities of a white powdery substance that is falling onto the mantel and making a mess. I thought perhaps it could be wire brushed ...