Custom Masonry Fireplace Build (Rumford)
A from-scratch masonry centerpiece, designed to be the room's heart.
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Zero-Clearance Firebox Installation
A zero-clearance firebox is how you add a true built-in fireplace to a room that never had one — a sleek, framed focal wall in a space where masonry was never an option. The look only works if the install is flawless, so we set UL-listed units strictly to their listing: chase framed to the manufacturer's dimensions, clearances to combustibles held to the inch, a matched Class-A chimney run with firestops at each floor and a 3-2-10 termination, and outside air ducted where the home is tight. You get a crisp new centerpiece, and we never improvise listed venting to get there.
Duration
Few days
Warranty
1-year workmanship
Built to
NFPA 211 · IRC
Human reply
< 2 min
What is it
What is zero-clearance firebox installation?
A factory-built, zero-clearance firebox is the smart way to drop a real wood- or gas-burning fireplace into a framed wall — but it's only as good as the install. These are UL-listed appliances with exact clearance, chase, and venting requirements, and the gap between a safe, efficient install and a fire-hazard one lives entirely in the craftsmanship. Our crew installs zero-clearance fireboxes strictly to their listing.
Taken literally, 'zero clearance' is misleading and dangerous. Every listed firebox specifies precise clearances to framing, a required chase construction, and a specific Class-A chimney system — and those numbers are not suggestions. We frame the chase to the manufacturer's dimensions, set the firebox so its listed clearances to combustibles are held to the inch, and run the matching Class-A insulated chimney straight up with correct support, firestops at each floor, and a proper roof penetration. Mixing brands of pipe, fudging a clearance, or skipping a firestop is exactly how a 'code' install turns into a slow-cook fire risk.
Draft and combustion air get the same discipline. We run the chimney to the height above the roof the 3-2-10 clearance rule demands so embers clear safely, size the overall flue height for a clean draw, and — where the home is tight or code requires it — duct outside combustion air to the unit so it doesn't pull makeup air, and smoke, from the room. On gas models, the connection is made and leak-tested. The chase, cricket, and termination are built like the rest of the home: a back-side roof cricket so water sheds around the chimney, every penetration flashed, and the chase capped with a sloped stainless cover and an appropriate cap or shroud.
Inside, the firebox is set plumb and the surround detailed to your design, the listed non-combustible clearances around the opening honored to the inch. Mounting a flat-screen above? We fit a proper mantel and heat deflector so both the listing and your TV are respected. A zero-clearance install is typically a few-day project; you're left with a documentation package — clearance photos, the gas test where applicable, the termination detail — and we pull the permit and schedule the inspection.
Common signs you need this service
- You want a built-in fireplace framed into a wall rather than a full masonry build
- A new room or addition where a prefab firebox suits the design and the budget
- A failed or dated prefab unit that needs a clean, code-correct replacement
- You're planning a TV above the fireplace and need the heat handled correctly
Every zero-clearance firebox installation includes:
- Chase framed to listing; clearances to combustibles held exactly
- Matched Class-A insulated chimney, firestops, 3-2-10 termination
- Roof cricket, flashing, sloped stainless chase cover + cap
- Outside-air duct + TV heat-deflector detailing where needed
Materials we use
UL-Listed Zero-Clearance FireboxMatched Class-A ChimneyStainless Chase CoverOutside-Air Kit
Scoped from a graded inspection
At Space Fireplace Services, a zero-clearance firebox installation is never guesswork. We scope every job from a graded, photographed inspection first — the NFPA 211 level the evidence calls for — so the work is matched to what your flue and masonry actually need, with the report to prove it. The documented inspection is the record the zero-clearance firebox installation is built on.
Chimney inspectionBuilt to code
The code your zero-clearance firebox installation has to meet.
A zero-clearance firebox installation isn't a matter of opinion — it's held to published national standards. Space Fireplace builds every job to the named codes below and documents it, so the work is provably right for an inspector, an insurer, or a future buyer. These are the universal standards; your city's permit and inspection requirements are confirmed with the local authority before we pull the job.
NFPA 211NFPA 54UL-1777UL-103HTIRC
Listed clearances to combustibles
Every UL-listed firebox comes with exact clearances to framing, and we hold them precisely; the phrase zero clearance describes the engineered design, not permission to frame right up against the unit.
Matched Class-A system
A listed firebox must run with its specified Class-A chimney. Mix brands or components and you void both the listing and the safety margin, which is why the matched system goes in with correct supports and firestops.
3-2-10 termination
Termination height matters: the chimney ends at least 3 ft above the roof penetration and 2 ft above anything within 10 ft, a fire-and-ember clearance rule, while the clean draft itself comes from overall flue height and correct sizing.
Firestops at each floor
At every ceiling and floor the chimney passes through, the required firestop spacers are installed so clearance to combustibles holds the whole length of the run.
Codes cited are the established national standards (NFPA, UL, IRC) that govern this service. The adopted code edition, permit, and inspection requirements vary by city —Space Fireplace verifies them with your local authority having jurisdiction on every job.
Our process
How a zero-clearance firebox installation job runs.
01
Frame the chase
Build the chase to the unit's listed dimensions and set the firebox with its exact clearances held.
02
Run the chimney
Set the matched Class-A system, add firestops at every floor, and finish with a 3-2-10 termination.
03
Weatherproof
Build the roof cricket, flash the penetrations, and cap it with a sloped stainless cover and shroud.
04
Air + commission
Duct outside air where it's needed, leak-test gas models, set the surround, and document the clearances.
Why choose us
Why DFW homeowners pick Space Fireplace for zero-clearance firebox installation.
We've worked on 1,000+ DFW homes over 10+ years. Every job — small sweep or full rebuild — runs the same way: certified technicians, written quotes, photo reports, warranty in writing.
10+
Years experience
CSIA
Certified techs
23
Metros covered
Chase framed to the manufacturer's dimensions, with clearances to combustibles held exactly
A matched Class-A chimney with firestops and a 3-2-10 termination, never a mix of pipe
Roof cricket, full flashing, and a sloped stainless chase cover and cap
Outside-air duct and TV heat-deflector detailing wherever the listing calls for it
Who we are
Space Fireplace Services. 10+ years on DFW chimneys.
Family-owned, CSIA-certified, NFPA 211–compliant. We're the team you call when you want it done right the first time — no rotating subcontractors, no upsell pressure, no surprises. Same techs, same trucks, same standard.
CSIA Certified
Chimney Safety Institute of America
NFPA 211 Compliant
Code-compliant on every job
Owner on every job
Personal accountability, every time
1-year workmanship warranty
In writing, every job
Space Fireplace
DFW Metroplex · CSIA-Certified
NFPA 211
Code compliant
Zero-Clearance Firebox Installation by location
Dallas, TXFrisco, TXPlano, TXFort Worth, TXRichardson, TXAllen, TXMcKinney, TXArlington, TXIrving, TXGarland, TXGrand Prairie, TXMesquite, TXCarrollton, TXDenton, TXLewisville, TXFlower Mound, TXThe Colony, TXCoppell, TXGrapevine, TXSouthlake, TXColleyville, TXKeller, TXTrophy Club, TXWestlake, TXHighland Park, TXUniversity Park, TXAddison, TXFarmers Branch, TXDuncanville, TXDeSoto, TXCedar Hill, TXLancaster, TXRowlett, TXRockwall, TXWylie, TXSachse, TXMurphy, TXFairview, TXProsper, TXCelina, TXLittle Elm, TXArgyle, TXRoanoke, TXHaslet, TXNorth Richland Hills, TXHurst, TXEuless, TXBedford, TXWatauga, TXBurleson, TXMansfield, TXMidlothian, TXWaxahachie, TXEnnis, TXKaufman, TXTerrell, TXForney, TXHeath, TXFate, TXRhome, TXHouston, TXSugar Land, TXThe Woodlands, TXPearland, TXLeague City, TXConroe, TXMissouri City, TXAtascocita, TXKingwood, TXCypress, TXSpring, TXKaty, TXFriendswood, TXHumble, TXTomball, TXRichmond, TXAustin, TXRound Rock, TXCedar Park, TXGeorgetown, TXLeander, TXSan Marcos, TXPflugerville, TXKyle, TXHutto, TXLakeway, TXBuda, TXManor, TXBastrop, TXBee Cave, TXDripping Springs, TXSan Antonio, TXNew Braunfels, TXSchertz, TXCibolo, TXSeguin, TXConverse, TXBoerne, TXUniversal City, TXLive Oak, TXLeon Valley, TXFair Oaks Ranch, TXHelotes, TXAlamo Heights, TXFloresville, TXBulverde, TXGarden Ridge, TX
FAQ
Common questions about zero-clearance firebox installation.
How often should the chimney behind a fireplace be swept?
Plan on a Level 1 inspection every year — that's the NFPA cadence — with an actual sweep once buildup reaches 1/8" of creosote. For a fireplace you light through the season, that usually lands at once a heating season. Think of it as the upkeep that keeps the centerpiece of the room clean, drawing well, and ready to look its best.
Are the people working on my fireplace certified?
Yes. The inspectors who assess your chimney hold current CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certifications — you can confirm them in the CSIA member directory at csia.org — and our fireplace installations are handled by NFI specialists. The craft that makes a hearth a showpiece starts with the people standing in front of it.
Can you come out fast when something goes wrong?
Yes — emergency response is available 24/7 (subject to crew availability) for active water leaks, an animal trapped in the flue, post-fire damage, and storm damage, same-day in most cases. A fireplace is the heart of a room; when it's at risk, we treat it that way.
Will I see a written quote before any work starts?
Always. You get a written quote before a single tool comes out, with photos of exactly what we found. Final pricing tracks the chimney's real condition and anything additional the inspection surfaces — no surprises, just a clear picture of what your fireplace needs.
Is there a maintenance plan that keeps it all on schedule?
Yes — our annual maintenance membership runs $19.99/month ($240/year) and covers a yearly Level 1 inspection and sweep ($248 value), priority scheduling, 10% off all repairs, and emergency-response priority. Cancel anytime, no contract. It's the quiet way to keep your hearth looking and working its best year after year.
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10+
Years
NFPA 211
Compliant
CSIA
Certified
< 2hr
Response
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Emergency
24/7 Response
Active leak, animal in flue, post-fire damage, or smoke event? Real humans on the line 7 AM to 12 AM every day — replies in under 2 minutes. Tech dispatch within 2 hours during business hours, subject to crew availability after-hours.
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