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Space heaters are no substitute for a real fireplace. We build masonry fireplaces that pass Cheney inspection and perform through every winter.
Fireplace installation in Cheney means building a firebox, hearth, and chimney from brick, stone, or concrete block - with a City of Cheney building permit and inspection included, most full masonry builds take three to seven working days.
Cheney winters are genuinely cold, with average January lows in the mid-teens and regular snowfall from November through March. A properly built masonry fireplace gives you a reliable heat source at the center of your home - one that works even during power outages. The firebox has to be built from heat-resistant materials, the chimney has to draw smoke out safely, and the hearth in front of the opening has to be non-combustible. Cutting corners on any of these is how fireplace-related fires start.
If you already have a fireplace that is cracking or smoking back into the room, our masonry restoration team can assess whether repair or full replacement is the right path.
If you run portable heaters in multiple rooms from November through March, your home lacks an efficient central heat source for the coldest months. A fireplace positioned in a main living area can dramatically reduce how hard your heating system works and make your home genuinely warm rather than just technically heated.
If your home has a chimney on the exterior but no working fireplace inside, the original firebox may have been capped off during a renovation. This is common in Cheney's older housing stock. A contractor can assess whether the existing chimney is structurally sound and what connecting a new fireplace would cost - sometimes more affordable than building from scratch.
If you are adding a room or finishing a basement, this is the ideal time to add a fireplace. Running a new chimney through an existing finished ceiling and roof costs more and causes more disruption than doing it while walls are already open. Many Cheney homeowners wish they had included this during a renovation once the first cold snap arrives.
If your current fireplace smokes back into the living room when you open the damper, or you can see cracks in the brick inside the firebox, the fireplace is unsafe for use. A masonry contractor can tell you whether repair - or a full rebuild - is the right path forward.
We build masonry fireplaces from the ground up - firebox, hearth, and chimney - using brick, stone, or concrete block depending on your design goals and budget. Every build includes pulling the City of Cheney building permit and coordinating the required inspections, so you are not managing that process yourself. We also work on existing chimneys: if your home already has one, we inspect it for structural soundness and lining integrity before deciding whether it can be connected to a new firebox or needs to be relined first. For finished surround and hearth materials, we work alongside our stone veneer installation crew to give the fireplace face the look you want.
Outdoors, a masonry fireplace or fire pit can anchor a patio or backyard space. That work connects naturally to our outdoor kitchen masonry services, where we build grills, counters, and fireplaces as part of a single outdoor living area. Whether you want a traditional wood-burning fireplace, a gas unit with sealed glass, or an outdoor hearth, we can walk you through the options and what each involves for your specific home.
Suits homeowners starting from scratch who want a permanent, high-heat wood-burning or gas fireplace with a custom brick or stone surround.
Right for older Cheney homes with existing chimneys originally built for coal or oil systems that need to be evaluated and brought up to current standards.
Best for homeowners with an existing masonry opening who want to add a gas or wood insert quickly, at lower cost than a full build.
Ideal for homeowners building or upgrading an outdoor living space who want a permanent fireplace as the centerpiece of a patio or backyard.
Cheney sits at about 2,400 feet on the open Columbia Plateau, and the winters here are genuinely cold - average January lows in the mid-teens, regular snowfall, and heating season running November through March. A fireplace is not a luxury in this climate - it is a meaningful supplemental heat source that many Cheney households rely on. Older homes near the Eastern Washington University campus sometimes have chimneys that were originally built for coal or oil systems. Those structures need to be inspected and potentially relined before they are safe to use with a modern wood-burning fireplace. Cheney's location on the open plateau also means wind is a consistent factor, so a chimney cap is an important detail - it keeps rain, debris, and cold drafts out of the flue when the fireplace is not in use.
We build fireplaces throughout the Cheney area, including homes in Airway Heights and Spokane Valley where homeowners face the same climate conditions. Scheduling in late spring or summer gives you the most contractor availability and the best chance of having your fireplace ready before the heating season begins.
We start with a brief call to understand what you are looking for - type of fireplace, location in the home, and any existing chimney. Most contractors then schedule a site visit before giving a written estimate. We reply within one business day and the visit is free.
You receive a written estimate breaking down labor, materials, and permit fees. Once approved, we apply for the City of Cheney building permit on your behalf. Permit review typically takes a few business days to a couple of weeks depending on city workload.
This is the main phase - typically two to five days for a full masonry build. We construct the firebox, lay the non-combustible hearth, and build or connect the chimney. Mortar needs time to set between stages, so the pace may feel slower than expected on some days.
After construction, the City of Cheney inspector verifies the work - we coordinate that appointment for you. We then walk you through how to operate the damper and how to build your first fires safely, using several small fires over the first week or two to cure the mortar before full use.
Free estimate, no obligation. We handle the permit and inspection so you do not have to.
(509) 241-9778The City of Cheney requires a permit for every fireplace installation. We pull the permit on your behalf and coordinate the inspection appointment - you do not have to manage any of that. A contractor who skips the permit puts your homeowner's insurance and your home's resale value at risk.
The open plateau around Cheney means wind is a real factor year-round. We build chimneys with the right cap and seal to keep rain, debris, and cold drafts out of the flue, and to ensure the fireplace draws properly when you light it. A chimney that does not draw well smokes into your living room - something no one wants at -10 degrees.
Any contractor doing work over $500 in Washington must be registered with the state Department of Labor and Industries. We are fully registered. You can confirm any contractor's status in about 30 seconds at the L&I contractor lookup - a legitimate contractor hands over their license number without hesitation.
A significant share of Cheney's homes were built before 1980 and may have chimneys that predate modern safety standards. We have worked on this housing stock extensively and know what to look for - original coal-era flues, missing liners, undersized openings - before connecting anything to a new firebox.
A masonry fireplace is one of the few home improvements that adds comfort every winter and remains a selling point when it is time to sell. We build them to pass inspection the first time and to perform through the full range of what Cheney winters throw at them.
For permit information, see the City of Cheney Building Department. For chimney safety standards, see the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
Finish the face of your new fireplace surround with natural or manufactured stone veneer for a custom look.
Learn MoreExtend your fireplace project outdoors with a masonry grill, counter, or fire pit as part of a complete backyard build.
Learn MoreCheney contractors book up fast once temperatures drop - lock in your project date now and have your fireplace ready before the first cold snap of the season.