Fireplace installation in Corona CA - a gas fireplace that fits your house
An old brick fireplace you never light, or a room with none at all? We put in a vented gas fire you'll actually use.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Should you put a gas insert in your fireplace or build a new one into a wall?
Fireplace installation in Corona, CA usually means one of two jobs, setting a gas insert into the fireplace you already have or building a zero-clearance gas unit into a wall where there's no fireplace at all, and either way the unit vents straight outside.
Most people who call me have a brick fireplace that looks nice and does little, or a family room that's always been missing one. The price moves with which of those you have, what shape the flue and firebox are in, how far the vent has to run and whether you want stone, brick or a plain face around the unit. The schedule mostly turns on the flue work that has to happen before an insert goes in and on whether the job needs a permit, so I won't give you a date until I've looked. The gas hookup and venting fall under a license class California's contractors board sets for gas appliances, flues and gas connections, and we see that the gas side of the job is handled under it. My written estimate lays out what the work includes.
How do you know it's time for a new fireplace?
A fireplace you never light
A lot of brick fireplaces sit cold for years because they're a bother to use and send much of the room's warm air up the chimney. A gas insert closes that opening off and burns outside air, and until you make the change, the fireplace is just a wall you keep up.
Loose brick inside the firebox
Cracked firebrick, gaps in the mortar or heavy soot on the face usually mean the flue and firebox need work before anything new goes in. Small cracks tend to spread when they're left alone, so the repair you'll need first only gets bigger.
A room with no fireplace
You may have a family room wall where a fire would make sense and no chimney anywhere near it. Nothing breaks if you wait, but it helps to know that a house without a chimney can still get a gas fireplace.
Our fireplace installation work, step by step
I start by looking at the opening, the flue and the wall, and I ask whether you'll want a wood fire again someday, because some conversions can't be undone, and one maker says a factory-built wood fireplace modified for its gas insert can't be returned to wood burning. Before an insert goes in, we have the flue cleaned and checked and get any repairs done, since one insert maker's manual requires a qualified chimney sweep or fireplace service person to do that first. Once the flue is ready, our crew sets the insert or builds out the wall for a zero-clearance unit, runs the vent outside and finishes the face so it looks like it belongs in the room.
A new fireplace usually needs a face to match the house, and stone veneer installation gives you a stone surround without the weight of full stone. If the unit needs a solid built-out wall or a raised base to sit in, we build it with concrete block walls, and when the old firebox or chimney is in rough shape, we start with chimney repair.
Gas insert for a brick fireplace
This suits a house with a sound masonry fireplace, because the insert slides into the existing opening, burns outside air and reaches 70 to 82% efficiency. If you already have a fireplace, it's the option I'd weigh first.
Insert for a factory-built fireplace
This suits the metal-box fireplaces found in many newer homes, and it's where the wood question matters most, since that conversion may not go back. We settle it with you before you pick a unit.
Zero-clearance unit in a wall
This suits a house with no fireplace, or a room far from the chimney, because the unit doesn't need one. We build the wall out to hold it and finish the face to suit the room.
Get a written estimate for your new fireplace
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day, by phone or by message, whichever way you reached us. I'll come out, look at the fireplace or the wall with you and give you a free written estimate. There's no obligation to go ahead.
(951) 393-1203Fireplace installation in Corona and what the city decides
I won't guess about permits on a gas fireplace in Corona. The city's Planning & Development office issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and can be reached at 951-736-2250, and one insert maker notes that some areas require permits for gas-burning appliances and tells owners to check with the local building inspector. So before we start, we ask the city what applies to your job, and if a permit is needed, getting it is our part of the work.
Around Corona we mostly see older houses with brick fireplaces whose flues haven't been looked at in years, and newer tracts with factory-built units, which is why the first visit starts with a look up the flue and a question about what's in the wall. We see the same mix on jobs in Norco and Eastvale.
What happens after you call about a fireplace in Corona?
Tell us what you have
Call (951) 393-1203 or send a message and say whether you have a brick fireplace, a factory-built one or none at all. We get back to you the same way you reached us.
I come out and look
I look at the opening, the flue and the wall with you and ask about wood fires. The written estimate lists every part of the work, flue cleaning and repairs included, so you see what the flue adds before you decide.
Flue work and permits first
If you go ahead, we get the flue cleaned, checked and repaired, and we take care of any permit the city requires. The unit doesn't go in until that's done.
Install, finish and walk through
Our crew sets the unit, runs the vent outside and finishes the face. Before we pack up, I walk the finished fireplace with you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does fireplace installation cost in Corona, CA?
Fireplace installation across the US usually costs about $2,000 to $10,000 per job, and that's a national range, not a Corona price. It runs wide because an insert in a sound fireplace and a new unit built into a wall are very different jobs. I'll put your figure in writing after I see the house.
What is the best way to add a fireplace to a house that doesn't have one?
A zero-clearance gas unit is usually the way, because it can be built into almost any wall and vents out through an exterior wall. Its efficiency is close to an insert's, so you don't give up much by not having a chimney. We build the wall out for it and finish the face to suit the room.
Do I need to tell my insurance company before installing a gas fireplace insert?
Yes, one insert maker's manual tells owners to notify their insurance company before installation begins. A quick call to your agent before we start covers it.
How often does a gas fireplace insert need to be inspected?
One maker advises having its gas insert inspected before use and at least once a year by a qualified service person. Your own unit's manual will say what its maker wants, so keep it somewhere you can find it.
Is it normal for a new gas insert to smell and smoke the first time it's lit?
Yes, a new gas insert gives off some odor and visible smoke during its first firing. Opening a window that first time helps, and it's worth knowing ahead so it doesn't worry you.
How do I keep furniture and decor safe near a new gas fireplace?
Keep heat-sensitive things back from the fireplace, and one maker's guide puts candles, paintings, photos and furniture at least 36 inches away. On that maker's insert, the glass can top 500°F at full capacity, so it's worth planning the room and keeping kids and pets clear of the front.
Corona, CA
Book a look at your fireplace
We take calls every day from 8 AM to 9 PM, so you can reach us after work or on a weekend.