Wood fireplace installation and chimney planning in El Portal
A fireplace that suits the room, the roof and the way you plan to use it, installed by a local team.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Situations that lead to a new wood fireplace
- Rusted metal inside an old fireplace
- Discontinued model with no listed parts
- Smoke rolling out of an old unit
- No outside air for the fireplace
Jump to
Masonry and factory-built installation, side by side
Choosing where the fireplace sits in the room
Location affects how a wood fire behaves. Installation manuals warn against spots with heavy air movement, such as beside a door people use often or near a return for the air conditioning. Drafts across the opening can pull smoke into the room instead of up the chimney.
Walk us through the furniture plan and the doors you use. We look at the wall you prefer and at one or two alternatives. If your first choice fights the airflow in the house, we say so and explain what the difference means for everyday use.
Picking the roof exit for the chimney
A chimney that exits near the highest part of the roof deals with less wind interference. Manuals also ask for the termination to stay clear of trees, taller walls and uneven roof lines. Those recommendations can shift the ideal position for the fireplace inside the room.
We look at the roof from outside and from the attic before settling the location. If a nearby roof section sits higher than the planned exit, the chimney may need more height or a different spot. We explain both options and what each adds to the job.
The metal chase top on an exterior chase
An exterior chase is closed at the top by a metal chase top that fits around the chimney. For a factory-built system, the chimney manual describes how the chase top, storm collar and termination fit together. The detail matters, because water that gets past it runs straight down toward the unit.
We use the chase top arrangement the chimney maker describes and crease or slope it so water leaves the surface. If an existing chase top has rusted through, replacing it may be a separate job on the estimate. We explain which part belongs to the installation and which one does not.
If smoke drifts into the room after installation
Smoke that escapes into the room usually has a simple cause. Manuals list a damper not fully open, too little air reaching the fire, exhaust fans running, a blocked cap, wet wood and a chimney that is too short. Most of these can be checked quickly.
Start with the damper and the fans, then look at the wood you are burning. If the problem continues, stop using the fireplace and tell us. We check the draft, the cap and the air supply against the manual and explain what we find.
What the free inspection covers for a new fireplace
- Factory-built unit and its listed chimney
- Clearances to framing and finishes
- Firestops and attic insulation shield
- Daily cover for the open roof penetration
Common questions on masonry and prefab installation
Why does a brand new fireplace smell during early fires?
Manuals describe an industrial odor while oils and binders burn off and the paint cures. It is expected during the break-in fires. Ventilate the room while it lasts, and tell us if the smell continues well beyond that period.
Do kitchen fans and bathroom fans affect a wood fireplace?
They can. Exhaust fans remove air from the house, and the fire needs air to replace what goes up the chimney. We review the fans and the outside air plan together, and at handover we explain how to start fires with the strongest fans off.
Do you offer maintenance visits after the installation?
Yes. Maintenance visits follow the manual's checklist for the chimney, termination cap, refractory, grate and screen. We note what we find and do, and explain any part that will need replacing before it becomes urgent.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo