Diablo Valley winter nights get properly cold, and a lot of homes here heat with a wood stove or insert. We install them, keep them clean and safe, fix the chimneys above them, and build the outdoor fireplaces and pizza ovens that make warm valley evenings even better.
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From ranch homes in Concord to foothill houses in Clayton and Walnut Creek, we take care of the whole heating system: the appliance, the flue and the masonry.
Real heat, less smokeTurn a drafty open fireplace into a real heat source. We fit EPA-certified inserts and freestanding stoves with a properly sized liner.
Baffles & pipeClosed heaters build up creosote in the liner, baffle and connector pipe. We clean the whole path and check the gaskets and glass.
Open fireplacesBrush, vacuum and inspect, with photos. Common before winter, before selling, or before you put an insert in.
Fire seasonWith dry grass on the Mt. Diablo foothills most of the year, a spark arrestor cap is cheap insurance against stray embers.
On the Concord FaultThe Concord Fault runs right through town. Cracked crowns, loose tops and separating chimneys get repaired or rebuilt.
Summer-baked seals100-degree summers bake roof sealants until they crack. The first winter storm then finds the gap. We replace caulk patches with proper flashing.
Most of the warmth from an open fire goes up the chimney, and it pulls warm room air with it. A sealed insert puts the heat into the house.
EPA-certified stoves and inserts burn more completely, with less smoke for you and your neighbors.
An insert needs a stainless liner connected all the way up, sized to the unit. That's the step shortcuts skip, and we don't.
The wide brick fireplaces in 1950s–70s Concord homes usually have room for a good-sized insert.
Good burning habits cut creosote, smoke and soot. Here's what we tell every customer with a stove or fireplace.
Split wood dries best stacked off the ground for 6–12 months. Seasoned wood is lighter, cracked on the ends, and sounds hollow when knocked together.
Firewood burns cleanest under about 20% moisture. An inexpensive meter tells you for sure.
Low, smoky fires overnight build creosote fast. Burn smaller, hotter fires instead.
Skip cardboard, wrapping paper and painted or treated lumber. They throw sparks and leave residue.
Warm valley evenings are made for the backyard. We design and build brick and stone fire features that suit your yard and your house.
Brick and stone fireplaces with proper chimneys, sized for your patio.
Dome ovens with an insulated base and refractory floor, built to hold heat.
Brick and stone fire pits with fire-rated liners and drainage.
Grill surrounds and counters built in brick, block or stone.
We're off Highway 4 near 242, so Concord, Clayton, Martinez and Walnut Creek are quick, and Lamorinda and the San Ramon Valley are an easy drive down 680. Tap a town.
Estimates from 2490 Arnold Industrial Way when 680 and Highway 4 are flowing. We'll agree on an arrival time when you call.
Want to talk about your stove or chimney? Call (925) 827-0431.
For heating, usually yes. An open fireplace sends most of its heat up the chimney and draws warm air out of the room. A sealed, EPA-certified insert burns more efficiently and puts far more heat into the house, with less smoke.
In most cases, yes. A fireplace insert should vent through a stainless steel liner running top to bottom inside the chimney, sized to the unit. It helps the insert draft properly and keeps the chimney safe.
Fire safety guidelines call for a yearly inspection, with cleaning whenever buildup is found. If you heat with wood most of the winter, plan on at least one cleaning per season.
Seasoned wood is lighter, has cracks on the ends, and sounds hollow when two pieces knock together. The surest test is a moisture meter on a freshly split face. Under about 20% burns cleanly.
Yes, near the dry hillsides around Mt. Diablo it's one of the cheapest safety upgrades you can make. Local fire rules may require one in high-risk zones. The steel mesh catches hot flakes before they land on shingles or summer-brown grass.
Yes. We build wood-fired dome ovens on insulated bases with refractory floors, plus outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and BBQ islands to match.
Six days a week, Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM. No Sunday appointments.
Central and East Contra Costa County, from Martinez and Benicia down through Lamorinda and the San Ramon Valley.
Stove installs, cleanings, chimney repair or a backyard pizza oven. Concord Chimney & Masonry handles it all across the Diablo Valley.
(925) 827-0431 Call Concord Chimney| Monday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |