Insert installation for masonry fireplaces in Westview
Choosing an insert starts with the opening you have, measured in height, width and depth, not only across the front.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Reasons to consider a wood insert for your fireplace
- A masonry fireplace sitting unused
- Cracked glass on an old insert
- A fireplace you want closed up neatly
- Soot on the face above the opening
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Installing a wood insert the way its manual intends
What a wood insert is and does
A wood insert is a closed firebox with a door and glass front, made to sit inside an existing masonry fireplace. It is tested as a solid-fuel room heater and burns wood behind glass rather than in an open opening. The fireplace becomes its host.
That change affects more than the look. The insert needs its own liner to the chimney top, protection on the floor in front and clearances to nearby trim. We explain each of these before you choose a model, so the installed result matches what you expected.
Choose the insert after the measurements
It is common to pick an insert from a showroom or a website first. The fit, the liner size, the hearth protection and the clearances all depend on the model, so choosing early can create a problem later. The fireplace should shape the choice.
Share the models you like, and we check each against your measurements and your hearth. We explain which fit comfortably, which fit with preparation and which do not fit at all. You then choose with the whole installation in view.
The glass and gasket are listed parts
The glass in an insert door is a ceramic glass made to withstand the unit's heat. Manuals say to replace broken glass only with the maker's specified part, and to keep the door gasket in good condition so the door seals. Ordinary glass cannot take the temperature.
We explain how to care for the glass and when the gasket needs attention. If the door latch loosens as the gasket compresses, the manual describes how it can be adjusted. Replacement parts come from the parts list for your model.
If smoke appears after the insert is installed
Smoke in the room after installation usually comes from a few causes that manuals list. They include baffles out of place, weak draft, wet wood, a blocked cap and strong exhaust fans running. Opening the door too quickly while reloading is another common one.
Start with the fuel and the loading routine, then turn off strong fans and try again. If smoke continues, stop using the insert and tell us. We check the baffles, the connection, the liner and the cap and explain what we find.
Confirmed before a wood insert is ordered
- Insert model matched to the opening
- Side wall and facing clearances
- Mantel and trim clearance check
- Debris cleanup and haul-away
Common questions about liners and wood inserts
Will my existing hearth be large enough for an insert?
It depends on the model and how high it sits. Manuals set the size and thermal rating of the floor protection in front of the unit. We measure your hearth and explain whether it can stay, needs extending or needs added protection.
Can you cut the firebox to fit a larger insert?
No. Insert manuals say not to remove bricks or mortar from the masonry fireplace. If the insert you like is too large, we look for a model that fits the opening as it is and explain the difference.
What happens to the chimney top while the liner goes in?
The liner is usually installed from the roof. Any open chimney top is covered at the close of each work day until the top plate and cap are set. Old parts and packaging leave with us when the job is finished.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Flue RepairAssess repairs to damaged existing flue linings and distinguish them from a new liner installation.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo