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Serving Fontana, CA and surrounding areas. (909) 587-5725
Gas and masonry fireplaces installed to California seismic code, fully permitted, and inspected so you can actually use it the first night.
Fireplace installation in Fontana covers three main paths - a gas insert, a prefabricated wood-burning unit, or a custom masonry fireplace built brick by brick - and every one of them requires a permit from the City of Fontana before work begins. A gas insert or prefab unit typically takes one to two days to install; a full custom masonry fireplace with a new chimney runs five to ten business days, plus permit processing time of about one to two weeks before the crew can start.
Most Fontana homeowners adding a fireplace today are doing it for the atmosphere, not the heat. Fontana winters are mild - temperatures rarely drop below freezing - so this is a lifestyle upgrade as much as a home improvement. Before choosing between gas and wood-burning, it is worth understanding the South Coast AQMD burn day rules that govern wood-burning use in this air basin - many homeowners end up choosing gas for that reason alone.
If your home has an existing fireplace that is cracking, smoking back, or showing its age, it may qualify for restoration rather than full replacement. We also handle stone veneer installation on surrounds and mantels, which is often done at the same time as a new installation to give the finished fireplace the look you actually want.
Visible cracks in the brick or mortar inside the firebox mean the structure has been compromised. In Fontana's seismically active region, even minor ground movement over the years can cause masonry to shift and crack. A damaged firebox is a fire and carbon monoxide risk that should not be ignored before the next use.
If you light a fire and smoke drifts into your living room instead of going up the chimney, something is wrong with the flue or the draft. This can happen when the flue is blocked, improperly sized, or deteriorating - and it is a clear sign the fireplace either needs significant repair or full replacement.
Many Fontana homes built in the 1980s and 1990s came with factory-built prefabricated fireplaces that have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. If yours has a damper that no longer seals properly, visible rust or warping inside the firebox, or makes unusual noises, it may be at the end of its useful life.
Many Fontana homeowners are adding a gas fireplace as a lifestyle upgrade that also increases the home's appeal. If you have always wanted one, your home does not have one, and you are ready to add it, that is the most straightforward signal of all - call us and we will walk you through the options.
We install three types of fireplaces: gas inserts, prefabricated wood-burning units, and custom masonry fireplaces built from the ground up. Gas inserts are the most popular choice in Fontana right now, and for good reason - they work on any day of the year, they do not require storing firewood, and they are not subject to Spare the Air restrictions. A gas fireplace needs a dedicated gas line if your home does not already have one, which we coordinate with SoCalGas as part of the installation. If you want the look and feel of a real wood fire and are comfortable managing burn day restrictions, a wood-burning masonry fireplace is still a beautiful investment.
Custom masonry fireplaces are built brick by brick on-site, including the firebox, smoke shelf, flue, and chimney - this is where our masonry background makes the most difference. We also work with homeowners on the surround and mantel, which is where most of the visual character comes from. Many clients pair the firebox installation with outdoor kitchen masonry or a stone veneer surround to create a cohesive look across their outdoor and indoor living spaces.
Suits homeowners who want ambiance on demand without wood-burning restrictions or firewood storage.
Suits homeowners who want the authentic experience of a real fire and are willing to manage Spare the Air restrictions.
Suits homeowners who want a permanent, fully custom brick or stone fireplace built as a centerpiece of their living room.
Suits homeowners whose aging builder-grade fireplace has run its useful life and needs a safe, permitted replacement.
Two things make Fontana fireplace installations different from jobs in coastal cities: the air quality rules and the seismic requirements. The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which covers Fontana, has some of the tightest wood-burning restrictions in the country. On Spare the Air days - which can occur dozens of times per year in fall and winter - burning wood in a residential fireplace is prohibited by law. This shapes which type of fireplace makes the most practical sense for the majority of Fontana homeowners. We help every client understand those rules before they decide, so the fireplace they install is one they can actually use whenever they want.
The other major factor is California's seismic requirements for masonry structures. The Inland Empire sits in a seismically active region, and an unreinforced chimney is one of the most common sources of earthquake damage in residential homes. Every masonry fireplace and chimney we build is reinforced to meet California code from the start - this is verified by the city inspector after installation, not just promised in the estimate. Homeowners in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga face the same requirements, and we handle those jobs the same way.
We ask a few basic questions upfront - what type of fireplace you are interested in, whether your home already has a gas line, and roughly where in the house you want it. We schedule a site visit and reply within one business day.
After the site visit, you receive a written, itemized estimate covering labor, materials, and the permit - so you know exactly what you are agreeing to. No vague estimate that grows after we start.
We submit the permit application to the City of Fontana Building and Safety Division. Plan for one to two weeks for approval. Use that time to finalize decisions about materials, stone veneer, and mantel design.
We complete the installation, protect your floors and furniture throughout, and schedule the city inspection. Once the inspector passes the work, we do a final walkthrough so you know exactly how to use your new fireplace safely.
Free on-site estimate, written quote, permit handled for you. We reply within one business day.
(909) 587-5725Every fireplace installation in Fontana requires a permit from the City's Building and Safety Division, and we handle that application as a standard part of every job. You never have to make a single call to the building department - we take that off your plate from the first estimate through the final inspection sign-off.
Every masonry chimney and fireplace we build includes the reinforcement required by California code for the Inland Empire's seismic zone. This is not optional - it is built in from the start, and the city inspector confirms it when they close out the permit. Your investment is built to last, not just to look good on day one.
We have completed fireplace installations for homeowners across Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, and San Bernardino - all cities that fall under the same South Coast AQMD burn day restrictions. We know these rules, and we help every client choose a fireplace type that works with their lifestyle.
Your written estimate breaks down labor, materials, and the permit fee so there are no vague line items and no surprises when the invoice arrives. The number you agree to is the number you pay - period.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America sets the standards for flue sizing, sealing, and chimney safety that guide how we build every installation. The California Department of Housing and Community Development publishes the building code requirements that every permitted fireplace installation must meet - and we build to those requirements from the first course of brick.
Dress your new fireplace surround in natural or manufactured stone for a finished look that complements the rest of your home.
Learn moreExtend your masonry investment outdoors with a custom built-in kitchen, pizza oven, or fire pit built to the same standard as your interior fireplace.
Learn morePermit slots fill up before the busy season - call now to lock in your project start date and have your fireplace ready for the first cool evenings of fall.