Smoking Braai Repairs
- Downdraught diagnosis
- Flue extension
- Anti-downdraught cowl fitment
- Flue diameter correction
- Extractor fan pressure check
- Draw tested before we leave
Smoking braais, cracked fireboxes, rusted grids and failed gas fittings, repaired properly rather than patched. Most repairs are done in a single visit.
Most braai problems come down to three things: the flue, the firebox or the gas. A braai that smokes back is a draw problem, not a user problem. A firebox that crumbles has usually been built with the wrong brick or mortar for the heat. A gas braai that will not light steadily is nearly always a regulator or jet issue.
We diagnose before we quote. You get told what is actually wrong, what it costs to fix, and whether repairing is the sensible option or whether replacing the unit will cost you less over the next five years.
Honest working ranges from recent jobs. Every project is different, so we quote the exact figure before anything starts.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Call-out and diagnosis within Cape Town | No call-out fee |
| Flue extension or anti-downdraught cowl fitment | R1,800 – R4,500 |
| Grid, grate or door replacement | R950 – R4,500 |
| Firebox rebuild in refractory materials | R4,500 – R12,000 |
| Gas fault repair and re-test | R1,200 – R3,800 |
| Gas Certificate of Compliance (first appliance) | ± R950 |
Every repair is quoted after diagnosis, so you know the figure before we start. Parts prices depend on the make and model of your braai.
Get my free quoteSmoking and downdraught. Flue extensions, anti-downdraught cowls, correcting flue diameter and checking for extractor fans pulling the room negative.
Firebox and brickwork. Rebuilding cracked or spalled fireboxes in proper refractory materials so they survive the next season.
Grids, grates and doors. Replacement stainless grids, cast grates, doors, hinges and rope seals.
Gas faults. Regulators, jets, hoses and leak testing, with a Certificate of Compliance reissued where the work requires it.
Corrosion. On coastal properties we replace galvanised flue components with marine-grade 316 stainless, which lasts several times longer within a kilometre of the sea.
Real braai jobs from around Cape Town, photographed on site.
Tell us the room size and we will shortlist the right unit with an installed price.
If the structure is sound and only the flue, grids or seals have failed, repairing is almost always the cheaper route and the unit will give you years more service.
If the firebox itself has failed on a cheap unit, or the flue system needs full replacement anyway, the honest answer is often that a new unit plus installation costs less than a staged series of repairs. We will tell you that plainly rather than selling you a repair that buys six months.
Nearly always a draw problem: the flue is too short, the cowl is wrong for an exposed site, the flue diameter is undersized, or an extractor fan is pulling the space negative. All four are fixable without rebuilding the braai.
Not within Cape Town. We diagnose the fault, quote the repair, and you decide before any work starts.
Usually repaired. If the surrounding structure is sound we rebuild the firebox in proper refractory brick and mortar, which handles the heat cycling that cracked the original. If the unit itself has failed we will tell you that honestly rather than selling a repair that lasts one season.
It destroys standard galvanised flue pipe, cowls and flashings, particularly within a kilometre of the sea. On coastal repairs we fit marine-grade 316 stainless components, which cost more up front and last several times longer.
Most Cape Town repair bookings are scheduled within a few working days. Send photos with your enquiry and we can often bring the right parts to the first visit.
