Fireplace installation in Sparks NV - an insert that heats the room, not the chimney
Fireplace that smokes, sits unused or barely warms the room? We install wood and gas inserts that suit your fireplace and your chimney.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What does fireplace installation in Sparks involve?
Fireplace installation in Sparks, NV usually means fitting an insert into your existing fireplace's firebox, the space where the fire burns, so the fireplace runs more efficiently and puts out less smoke.
Most people who call Stonework Sparks Concrete and Masonry about a fireplace have one they hardly use, because it smokes, it doesn't give much heat, or they're done hauling wood and would like gas. The price turns mostly on what kind of fireplace you have, whether you choose wood or gas, and what the chimney needs before anything new goes in, such as chimney repair or a new liner. The schedule turns on that same chimney check and on whether a permit is needed at your address, and your written estimate explains what we'll do on yours and why.
How can you tell it's time to change your fireplace?
Cold rooms with a fire lit
You light a fire and the hearth feels warm, but the rest of the house feels cooler than before. That's the usual trouble with an open wood fireplace, because the draft pulls warm air from your rooms up the chimney, so every fire you burn that way costs you heat you've already paid for.
Smoke or soot at the opening
Smoke drifting into the room, or black staining on the brick above the opening, usually points to a draft problem or a chimney that needs attention. I'd want that looked into before any insert goes in, because a new unit won't fix a chimney that isn't drawing, and the smoke keeps coming into your house in the meantime.
Cracked brick inside the firebox
Loose firebrick or mortar crumbling at the back of the firebox usually comes from years of heat. An insert needs a sound firebox to sit in, and the longer the damage goes, the more of it has to be rebuilt before anything new goes in.
How we handle fireplace installation
The first thing I figure out at your house is whether you have a masonry fireplace, built of brick or stone, or a factory-built one, because that decides which inserts can go in at all. Next we want the chimney looked over, since a new insert or a switch from wood to gas asks more of it than an old open fire did. In a masonry chimney the flue liner, the inner lining that carries smoke out, has to be installed correctly, so we check that before the insert is set. Then our crew fits the insert, finishes the face around it and cleans up.
Some fireplace jobs grow past the insert. If the surround looks tired next to a new unit, we can reface it with stone veneer installation instead of tearing out the brick, and for an outdoor fireplace or a new hearth wall out back, we lay concrete block walls for the core and finish them to match the house.
Get a written estimate for your fireplace insert
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out and look at your fireplace. The estimate is free, done at your house, and there's no obligation to book.
- hi@sparksconcreteandmasonry.com
- Based in
- Sparks, NV 89431
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
What happens after you call about a fireplace insert?
Here's how a fireplace job runs from your first call to the cleanup, and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
Call and set a visit
When you call or send the form, I set a time to come out, look at the fireplace with you and answer your questions. Please point out anything you've noticed, like smoke or cracked brick, so I can check it while I'm there.
Go over your written estimate
You get a written estimate that explains what we'll do and why, so you can see what's driving the price before you decide. Before anything starts, we check which office covers your address.
Install, look over, clean up
Our crew does the work with me on site running it. When it's done, we look over the finished fireplace together and clean up.
Why Sparks homeowners call us for fireplace work
The estimate comes from me
I come out myself to look at your fireplace and write the estimate, and our own crew does the install with me on site running it. That means the person who checked your firebox and chimney is there making sure the job matches what was written down.
In business since 2023
We've been in business since 2023, three years now, and I learned brick, block and stone under an experienced mason after years of setting tile. Fireplace work is masonry first, and I'd rather tell you the firebox only needs a simple repair than sell you more than you need.
Licensed, insured and glad you asked
We're licensed and fully insured. The City of Sparks notes that a contractor licensed by the State of Nevada isn't always licensed in Sparks too, so please ask any contractor you're considering about both, us included.
On a fireplace, the part that decides how well it works is the chimney behind it, so if you'd like us to look at yours, please request an estimate or call (775) 447-1297.
Fireplace inserts, permits and wood rules in Sparks
The city issues building permits in Sparks, and its list of work that needs one names furnaces, water heaters, roofing and added plumbing but doesn't mention fireplace installation. That list doesn't settle whether your insert needs a permit, so the place to ask is the city's building permits office, or Washoe County if your address falls under the county. When a permit is needed, we handle the application and the inspections for you.
The county's wood-burning rule calls for removing wood-burning devices that aren't EPA-certified when a property changes hands. If you want wood, we point you to EPA-certified models so the insert won't be a problem when you sell, and gas takes the question off the table, which is the same choice we talk through with homeowners in Reno and Spanish Springs.
Questions about fireplace installation in Sparks
How much does a gas fireplace insert cost in Sparks, NV?
Across the US, a gas insert in an existing masonry fireplace usually costs about $3,500 to $7,500 per job, including the gas line and liner. That's a national figure rather than our price, and yours depends on your fireplace and what the chimney needs. I'll give you a written estimate for your house, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How do I know which insert will fit my fireplace?
Start by finding out whether your fireplace is masonry or factory-built, because a factory-built fireplace, also called zero-clearance, has to use an insert designed and tested for that particular unit. A masonry fireplace has a brick or stone firebox, while a factory-built one usually has a metal firebox. If you're not sure, I'll tell you which you have when I come out.
Do I need a chimney inspection before installing a fireplace insert?
Yes, the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends a Level 2 inspection whenever you add a new appliance or switch to one of a different fuel, efficiency or type, so plan for it before an insert goes in or you go from wood to gas. A Level 2 inspection includes going up on the roof, checking the system in accessible attics, basements and crawl spaces, and a video scan or similar look inside the chimney.
Do I have to remove my old fireplace when I sell my house in Washoe County?
No, under the county's wood-burning rule an existing fireplace is exempt from removal, though it still counts toward the county's limit on wood-burning devices. Since the limits can change, please check with Washoe County for the current rules before you add a wood unit.
How long does a fireplace insert installation take?
The install itself is usually the shorter part of the job, and most of the time goes into what comes before it. The chimney check comes first, then any repair or liner work it turns up, then a permit if your address needs one. Your written estimate explains what your fireplace needs, so you can see which of those steps apply to you.
Is a ventless gas fireplace safe to use in my house?
The EPA doesn't support using gas stoves that have no outside vent, because of concerns about indoor air quality. Some homeowners ask about them because they need no chimney or wall vent. I'd point you toward a gas unit that vents outside instead.
Related masonry work around your fireplace
Stone veneer installation
If the brick around your fireplace looks dated next to a new insert, stone veneer refaces the surround without tearing out the wall behind it.
View service Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
When you're planning an outdoor fireplace or a hearth wall in the yard, a concrete block wall gives it a solid core to finish in stone or stucco.
View service Concrete block walls
Service areas for fireplace work around Sparks
Stonework Sparks Concrete and Masonry is based in Sparks, NV, and we work across Reno, Carson City and the cities around them. Each of the nine cities below has its own page, though they aren't the only places we take fireplace work.
Sparks, NV
Book a look at your fireplace
If you know whether your fireplace is masonry or factory-built and whether you're leaning toward wood or gas, please tell us when you call (775) 447-1297 or send the form, and I'll come out ready to talk about inserts that fit.