Fireplace installation in Odessa TX - the right fit for the fireplace you have
Old fireplace you never use, or no fireplace at all? We find out what you have and install one that fits and vents right.
Should I add an insert or put in a new gas fireplace?
Fireplace installation in Odessa usually means one of two things. We fit an insert into the fireplace you already have, or we build in a new unit with its own framing, venting and surround, so you end up with a fire that suits your house and vents the way it should.
Maybe you've got an old brick fireplace you stopped using years ago, or a room that's never had one. So what's there now? That's my first question, because a masonry fireplace, a metal one and a factory-built unit each take different things, and the fuel you want narrows it again. If the old chimney is in rough shape, it may need chimney repair before anything goes in. The unit is only part of the price, since the venting, how far the gas line has to run and the surround you pick decide the rest. The schedule mostly turns on whether your existing fireplace is sound and how the permit goes, and when a permit is needed we handle it with the office for your address. My estimate tells you what I see and what we'd do, so you're not guessing.
What happens when you call about a fireplace in Odessa?
Call or send the form
Call (432) 280-0058 or fill out the form, and tell us what kind of fireplace you have now, if any, and which fuel you want. We set a time for me to come out.
I come out and look
I come out myself, look at the firebox, chimney or wall where the unit would go, and ask what you've noticed. You get a written estimate that says what I think is going on and what we'd do about it, so you know what you'd be paying for before you decide.
We take care of permits
Once you say go, we check with the city or county office that covers your address, handle the permit ourselves and tell you where it stands before work starts. Inside Odessa, the city issues gas permits for occupied homes the same day and puts those inspections ahead of all others, so the gas line part usually doesn't hold things up.
We install and walk it
My crew and I do the install together, clean up, and then I walk the finished fireplace with you. I'll show you how it vents and what to watch, so you can keep an eye on it after we leave.
Fireplace installation and the masonry around it
I start by finding out whether you have a masonry, metal or factory-built fireplace and what fuel you use, because that decides what will fit. A masonry or metal firebox can take an insert, which works a lot like a wood stove set inside the opening, but a factory-built fireplace, the kind the trade calls zero-clearance, can only take an insert designed and tested for that unit, so the choices get narrower. If there's no fireplace at all, we frame in a new unit, run its venting and build the surround. On gas, I usually point people toward a direct-vent unit, one that pulls its air through its own duct from outside and seals the opening with glass, because it keeps running right no matter how tight your house is or how big your exhaust fans are. An open fireplace that draws on its own is more likely to send fumes back into the room when the chimney is still cool, like at startup or on a low flame, and even a small kitchen or bath fan can cause it. That's why the usual guidance is a dedicated outside air duct and tight-fitting glass doors.
The finish around the unit is masonry work too. We do stone veneer installation for a surround that runs up the wall, and when there's no wall that can carry it, or a new unit needs its own enclosure, we lay concrete block walls to build one first.
Get an on-site estimate for your fireplace
I read what you send, and you hear back from us within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate. No pressure, no obligation, and I'll tell you what I see either way.
Fireplace questions we hear in Odessa
How much does a gas fireplace installation cost in Odessa?
Across the US, installing a gas fireplace usually costs about $2,000 to $10,000 per job, and that's the market's range, not a price of ours. Where your job lands depends mostly on the venting, the gas line run and the surround, and my estimate gives you the figure for your house. We're fully licensed and insured. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Do I need a chimney for a gas fireplace?
No, a direct-vent gas fireplace vents through a pipe in the wall or roof, so you don't need a masonry chimney. An insert reuses the chimney you have with a new liner, so if you go that way, ask whether the installer is certified, because a certified installer makes sure the liner in a masonry chimney goes in right.
Will a fireplace heat my whole house?
Usually not, because most fireplaces give you a nice look and some extra warmth in the room rather than serving as the main heat for the house, and I'd rather tell you that now than have you expect a furnace. If you plan to use it as backup heat in a power outage, have the chimney or flue cleaned and checked first for cracks, damage, animal debris and creosote buildup, then open the damper and make sure it draws before you light a fire.
Who issues building permits in Odessa, TX?
The City of Odessa Building Inspections Division issues permits for all construction projects in the city, inspects the work for code compliance and does plan reviews for residential projects. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application ourselves. For homes in West Odessa, Midland, Andrews, Monahans and the cities around them, we check with the office that covers that address.
How do I know if my propane fireplace installer is licensed in Texas?
Ask to see a Railroad Commission Category D LP-gas license or a Railroad Commission exemption, because Texas calls for one on LP-gas work on tanks, piping and certain appliances. Master or journeyman plumbers and Class A or Class B air conditioning and refrigeration contractors can register for that exemption, and it covers tanks, systems and appliances in manufactured homes too.
What is the best way to add gas logs to an existing fireplace?
Plan on a vented set, because EPA doesn't support gas logs that need no outside venting, citing indoor air quality. Logs run on electricity, natural gas or propane and fit into the fireplace you already have, but they're built for looks, not to be a real heat source.
Masonry work that goes with a new fireplace
Stone veneer installation
A new fireplace often looks unfinished against plain drywall, and stone veneer gives the surround and hearth wall a real masonry face without the weight of full stone.
Concrete block walls
When a new unit needs a solid wall or chase built around it, concrete block gives a sturdy core we can face in stone or brick.
Start your fireplace installation estimate today
Know whether your fireplace is masonry, metal or factory built and which fuel you want when you call (432) 280-0058 or use the form, so I can bring the right questions to the visit.