These are lessons learned from our last home in Georgia. None of these issues ruined the build, but they’re the kind of details that haunt you later because you know how easy they would’ve been to fix.
If you’re building or renovating, here are three things you’ll want to get right on your fireplace.
The Pilot Light That Won’t Stay Quiet
Ours was loud. Like… you could hear it from across the room. It was supposed to be a quick flip-on with a wall switch, but because the pilot light was so noisy, we had to keep it off. That meant the wall switch was basically useless unless we wanted to walk over and manually light it every time.
Ask about this before install, see if they have a demo fireplace you can turn on, listen from across the room, and if it’s noisy, ask about options. Some fireplaces are just built that way, but others can be adjusted or swapped for quieter models. That one decision affects how much you actually use the fireplace long-term.
Mortar Color Gone Wrong
The grout in our brick fireplace ended up with a weird red tint. It turns out the sand used on-site had mixed with Georgia clay during the build, and no one caught it. It’s a small detail but it changed the entire tone of the fireplace.
If you’re using site-mixed mortar, ask for measures to be taken to keep it from mixing with surrounding material. Or ask for a fresh load of clean sand if the original load has been compromised. Mortar color matters more than you think especially on a big focal point like a fireplace.
The Mantel That’s Barely Holding On
Our mantel? It’s literally split and hanging on by a thread. I wish we’d gone with a hollow, faux mantel that could handle expansion and shifting over time. Solid wood can warp and crack, especially if it's not sealed properly or exposed to fluctuating temps.
If I were doing it again, I’d also run an electrical outlet into the mantel itself. It’s a small upgrade that makes all the difference when the holidays roll around and you want to plug in lights or other décor. It would’ve saved us a ton of work and extension cord drama every December.
Don’t Miss The Small Stuff
The little things are what make a house feel finished. They’re also the ones that are hardest to change later. The Ultimate Home Building Checklist is designed to help you catch details like this before drywall goes up.
