Kempt & StoneFireplace Hearth and Chimney Breast Cleaning
Created for open hearths, wood burner surrounds, and Victorian cast iron mantels burdened with years of soot. We apply non-acidic latex or poultice pastes that bind soot at a molecular level, peeling or washing it away without scrubbing dust into your home. The stonework and iron regain their authentic contrasts.
What is included
- ✓Containment sheeting with static-shield floor covers
- ✓HEPA air capture during initial dry soot clearance
- ✓Chemical-free peelable latex mask application for porous brick
- ✓Soot-binding gel cleaner for blackened slate and granite
- ✓Black iron detailing and mineral graphite paste touch-up
- ✓Neutralising wash down with demineralised damp sponges
Request a direct estimate
Send us a note about your surfaces: we review your details and phone you back to discuss the work.
Why our approach works
Safe removal of carbon deposits, soot, and calcified wax from brick, slate, and stone surrounds.
Clean living room air
Our captive cleaning method locks carbon into gels so no airborne black dust circulates in your room.
No salt efflorescence
We do not blast brickwork with harsh acids, avoiding the white salt blooms that ruin historic brick.
Cast iron preservation
Old fire inserts are cleaned without rust-causing water saturation and finished with breathable graphite wax.
How we approach your home
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1
Area containment
We seal the hearth zone with heavy cotton sheets and polythene skirts to keep soot completely contained.
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2
Dry particulate aspiration
Loose chimney dust is pulled through a triple-filtered HEPA vacuum with soft brush attachments.
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3
Paste or latex application
We trowel or spray an active binding paste over the stone and allow it to draw carbon out of the masonry.
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4
Stripping and damp detailing
We peel the hardened film away or sponge the surface clean, revealing unblemished masonry underneath.
Questions about this service
Will soot dust end up on our curtains or books?
No, we isolate the hearth with physical containment and run continuous extraction, capturing dust before it drifts.
Can you clean yellow stock brick blackened by open fires?
Yes, our peelable cleaning masks adhere into the pores of stock brick and pull soot out as the skin is lifted.
Is the treatment smelly or toxic?
The products we use have very low odour and no lingering caustic fumes, making them safe for occupied homes.
Notes from our clients
The team treated our oiled oak flooring and hand-knotted wool hallway runner. They worked at a calm pace with pure vegetable soap and low-moisture steam. The rooms simply smelled fresh without any chemical sting.
Arthur P., London, GBAlistair arrived exactly at nine in the morning, placed canvas runners over our hall tiles, and lifted coffee marks from our linen armchairs. Settle payment by bank transfer after walking through each room.
Eleanor W., Bristol, GBWe use them for our Bath stone entry hall and dining room carpets. Honest guidance on what deep historic patina should remain and what could be lifted gently. Quiet machinery throughout.
Giles T., Bath, GBAll services
Let us look at your surfaces together
Share a brief note about your floor, textile, or fireplace, and we will get back to you with advice and an initial estimate. We usually return messages within four hours during the working week.