Serving Redlands, CA and surrounding areas. (909) 488-7993
A masonry fireplace is built from the ground up, brick by brick. We handle permits, seismic reinforcement, and city inspections so you get a fireplace that is safe, functional, and adds lasting value to your Redlands home.
Fireplace installation in Redlands, CA means constructing a complete masonry system from a concrete footing below the floor to a chimney cap above the roofline, and most projects take one to three weeks of active construction once permits are approved. Unlike a prefabricated metal insert, a true masonry fireplace is built brick by brick - firebox, smoke chamber, flue, and chimney are one continuous structure, and every section has to be sized and shaped correctly for the system to draw smoke up and out safely. Redlands Masonry & Concrete has installed fireplaces on homes throughout Redlands, including older homes in the historic neighborhoods where an existing chimney structure needs to be assessed before any new work begins.
This is not a weekend project or a job for a general handyman. California requires a building permit for fireplace installation, and Redlands has an active inspection program. A contractor who is familiar with the City of Redlands Building and Safety Division handles that process for you from permit application through final sign-off. For homes adding a fireplace during a broader renovation, our stone veneer installation service can dress the surround while the masonry crew builds the core structure. The Chimney Safety Institute of America provides homeowner guidance on what a properly built masonry fireplace system should include.
Redlands nights in December and January can drop into the mid-30s, and without a fireplace there is no easy way to take the chill off a main living space without running central heat all evening. A masonry fireplace adds both warmth and a natural gathering point that your family will actually use on cold nights.
Many older Redlands homes - especially Victorians and Craftsman bungalows near downtown - have original chimneys that were capped or sealed when previous owners switched to central heating. If you can see a chimney stack on your roofline that does not connect to anything, you may already have the structural bones for a fireplace. A mason can assess whether that existing structure is sound enough to reopen.
If your current fireplace fills the room with smoke instead of drawing it cleanly up the flue, something is wrong with the firebox proportions, the flue sizing, or the liner. This is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience. A masonry contractor can diagnose the cause and tell you whether it is a repair or a rebuild.
The Inland Empire experiences regular seismic activity, and masonry chimneys are among the most vulnerable structures in a quake. If you have noticed new cracks in your chimney exterior or mortar crumbling between bricks after any earthquake you felt, stop using the fireplace and have a mason inspect it before the next use.
We build traditional wood-burning masonry fireplaces from the concrete footing up. The process starts with the foundation, then the firebox is built to the correct proportions - the shape, depth, and back wall angle all determine whether the fireplace draws cleanly or smokes back into your room. The smoke chamber and flue are sized to match the firebox opening, and the chimney is built to rise above the roofline at the correct height for proper draft. Every chimney we build in California includes the steel rebar reinforcement required for seismic zones - this is not optional and we do not skip it. For homes that want the look of natural stone on the surround or hearth, our stone veneer installation team can add that finish while the structural masonry is being built or after it cures.
We also work with homeowners who have an existing chimney from a sealed or removed fireplace. In many cases, the chimney can be relined and a new firebox built below it, which is less expensive than starting from scratch - but only if the existing structure is structurally sound. For homeowners who want a complete outdoor cooking and entertaining space alongside an indoor fireplace, our outdoor kitchen masonry service can include a matching exterior fireplace or fire feature built at the same time.
Best for homes that have never had a fireplace and want a complete system built from footing to chimney cap.
Suited to older Redlands homes with a sealed chimney that can be relinded and fitted with a new firebox.
For homeowners who want a custom look on the hearth, surround, or mantel beyond standard brick.
Redlands sits at roughly 1,300 feet in the Inland Empire foothills. Winters are mild compared to mountain communities, but nighttime temperatures regularly drop into the low 40s and occasionally the 30s from November through February. That is cold enough for a fireplace to get real, regular use - and it is why many Redlands homeowners prioritize both the function and the long-term resale value of a masonry fireplace. The city has a genuine tradition of character homes, and a well-built fireplace fits that character in a way a wall-mounted heater never will. The City of Redlands requires permits and runs active inspections for this work, which protects you from contractors who cut corners on liner quality or seismic reinforcement.
Homeowners in Mentone and Calimesa face the same Inland Empire climate and the same California seismic construction requirements. The South Coast Air Quality Management District burn curtailment rules also apply across the region, so if you are weighing wood-burning versus gas, that is a conversation worth having before your project starts.
We ask a few questions over the phone - where you want the fireplace, whether there is an existing chimney, and what style you have in mind. Then we schedule a site visit, typically within one business day, to look at the space before putting any numbers on paper.
After the visit you get a written estimate covering labor, materials, and permit fees. This is when you choose brick or stone type, mantel style, and hearth size. Changes after work begins are expensive, so we do not rush this conversation.
We submit the permit application to the City of Redlands Building and Safety Division. This typically takes a few business days to a couple of weeks. Work cannot legally begin until the permit is approved - we handle all the paperwork.
Construction runs one to three weeks. A city inspector checks the work at key stages and at completion. Once the inspector signs off, we walk you through the finished fireplace, explain the curing period, and leave you with your permit documentation.
Free in-home estimate. We handle permits and inspections. Reply within one business day.
(909) 488-7993California requires steel rebar reinforcement in masonry chimneys for seismic safety. The Redlands area sits near active fault systems, so this requirement exists for a real reason. We include proper reinforcement on every chimney we build - not as an upsell, but as standard practice.
We manage the permit application, coordinate with the City of Redlands Building and Safety Division, and schedule inspections. You do not have to navigate that process. When the job is done, you have documentation that the work passed city inspection - which protects you at resale.
Many Redlands homes have original chimneys from the early 1900s that need careful assessment before any new fireplace work begins. We know what to look for in older masonry and will tell you honestly whether an existing structure can be converted or needs to be rebuilt.
A poorly proportioned firebox smokes back into the room every time you light a fire. We size and shape the firebox, smoke chamber, and flue as a system - not as separate parts - so the draft works correctly from the first use. The Mason Contractors Association of America recognizes proper firebox proportioning as a core competency for masonry fireplace builders.
A masonry fireplace is one of the few home improvements that holds its value over time in the Redlands market. Getting the construction right from the start is what makes the investment pay off - both in daily use and when it is time to sell.
Dress the surround, hearth, or mantel of your new fireplace with natural or manufactured stone that fits the character of your home.
Learn MoreAdd a matching outdoor fire feature or full outdoor kitchen alongside your interior fireplace project.
Learn MoreWinter evenings in the Inland Empire come fast - get your project permitted and on the calendar before the cold sets in.
