Installing wood-burning fireplaces in Tampa Heights

Factory-built or masonry, the first decision

A new wood-burning fireplace is one of two things. A factory-built fireplace is a manufactured firebox, tested as a system with its own chimney pipe and installed inside framing. A masonry fireplace is built on site from firebrick, brick or block and concrete, and it stands on a foundation of its own.

The two lead to very different projects in weight, framing, time and finish. Our pros walk you through both for your room in Tampa Heights, explain what each would involve at your house and put the practical differences in writing before you choose.

Framing the enclosure and the chase

A factory-built fireplace sits in a framed enclosure, and its chimney runs up through the house or up an outside wall. DuraTech instructions call for interior chimneys to be enclosed where they pass through closets, storage areas or living space, and for a chimney mounted on an outside wall to be enclosed in a chase.

The enclosure keeps people, stored items and furniture away from the pipe and holds the required spacing. Our team plans the framing, the chase and its finish to match your house in Tampa Heights, and the estimate shows who builds each part.

Choosing the unit with the installation in mind

Showroom photos rarely show the framing, chimney route and clearances a fireplace needs. Before you buy, compare the installation manuals as well as the looks. DuraTech's instructions note that the appliance maker's instructions set the chimney diameter, and that a chimney should never have a smaller inside diameter than the appliance outlet.

Our pros review the models you are considering against your room and roof in Tampa Heights and tell you which ones fit without major framing changes. That review is part of the free inspection.

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