Installing wood-burning fireplaces in Davis Islands

Zero clearance still has clearances

Zero clearance is the trade name for factory-built fireboxes that can be framed in closely with ordinary wood studs. It does not mean the fireplace or its chimney can touch everything around them. DuraTech chimney instructions, for example, call for at least 2 inches of air space between the chimney pipe and combustible materials, including framing, drywall, insulation and wiring.

The fireplace unit has its own standoffs and spacing in its manual. Our pros frame to those numbers, check them before the walls are closed and keep insulation out of every air space the manual says must stay clear.

How high the chimney stands above the roof

A wood fireplace chimney has to clear the roof by enough to draw well and keep sparks away from the roofing. Florida's residential code sets the rule for masonry chimneys in section R1003.9, and factory-built chimney instructions such as DuraTech's quote the same rule from NFPA 211. Under that rule, the chimney needs a 3-foot rise above its own roof opening, plus 2 feet of height over any portion of the building that is 10 feet away or closer.

Next to a taller wing or on a steep roof, that can mean more chimney than people expect. Our pros measure it on site in Davis Islands and show you the finished height before work starts.

Yearly cleaning and inspection after installation

A new fireplace starts clean, but regular fires change that. NFPA heating safety guidance wants a qualified professional to clean and inspect chimneys and other heating equipment once a year.

Our team can put the first yearly visit on the calendar when the installation is finished. That visit checks the firebox, the chimney run and the cap and keeps the fireplace working as the manual intends. Keep the manual and the installation papers handy, since they tell the next person exactly which system is in your Davis Islands home.

What your written estimate spells out

A fireplace installation involves more parts and trades than most home projects, so the estimate has to be specific. Ours names every piece of the job, the work we include and the work others handle.

You approve the price before anything is ordered, with no hidden fees, and approving the installation within 72 hours of the inspection takes 10% off.

• The fireplace model and its listed chimney system
• Framing, chase and any structural work
• Hearth extension size and material
• Roof opening, cap and chase top
• Permit and inspection steps
• Work handled by other trades