Fireplace & Fire Pit Builder in Chicagoland Since 2004

Fire Feature FAQs: Chicagoland's Top Fire Feature Contractor

Should I get a fire pit or an outdoor fireplace?

Mostly it depends on how you actually use your backyard. A fire pit puts everyone in a circle facing each other, so it's the better pick if you host a crowd or have kids who want to roast marshmallows. A fireplace faces one direction and works more like a wall, so it blocks wind, gives you some privacy from the neighbors, and becomes the thing people notice first when they walk out back. Plenty of our Chicagoland clients end up with a fire pit for casual nights and save the fireplace for when they want a real centerpiece. If you're torn, that's exactly the kind of thing we sort out together at the design consultation. 

Gas or wood-burning — which is better?

Honestly, neither is "better," they just suit different people. Gas turns on with a switch, there's no smoke blowing in anyone's face, and you're not cleaning out ashes the next morning, which is why a lot of folks who use their fire feature several nights a week go that route. Wood-burning gives you the crackle, the smell, and the bigger flame, but you've got to store the wood and deal with the cleanup. If you grew up around campfires you probably already know which one you want. We build both, so tell us how you picture using it and we'll point you the right way.

Can I put a fire feature on my deck?

A lot of the time, yes, but it depends on the type. Gas features are usually the easier fit on a deck when we design in the right clearances and a non-combustible surround. Wood-burning is a different story and generally belongs on a patio or another non-combustible surface. Rather than give a blanket answer, we look at your actual deck, your materials, and the layout, then build to local code so you're not guessing about whether it's safe.

What does a custom fire pit or fireplace run in the Chicago suburbs?

There's no flat price, and anyone who quotes you one over the phone is guessing. It comes down to fire pit versus fireplace, gas versus wood, the size, the stone or brick you pick, and whether it's a standalone piece or part of a bigger patio or outdoor kitchen build. If budget is tight, a prefab fireplace kit that we build and finish gets you a great-looking, fully working fireplace for less than a fully custom one. The consultation is free, and that's where we can actually give you real numbers instead of a range that means nothing.

Do I need a permit?

Usually, and we take care of it. Every town out here handles permits a little differently, which is part of why we deal with it for you instead of leaving you to figure out your village's rules. We pull whatever permits the project needs, build to code, and handle the inspections and the cleanup at the end.

Are these things actually safe?

They are when they're built right, which is the whole point of having someone do it properly. We build to local code with the correct clearances, solid materials, and the right construction underneath, and because we're designing the area around it too, the fire feature ends up a sensible distance from seating, walkways, and the house. A fire pit that's beautiful but sitting in the wrong spot isn't worth much.

Can you work a fire feature into my outdoor kitchen or patio?

That's one of the most popular things we do. A built-in fire pit on a paver patio or a fireplace anchoring the seating area pulls the whole space together and gives people a reason to stay outside longer. We design it as part of the hardscape from the start so it looks intentional, not like something we dropped on afterward. Our outdoor kitchens and patios and hardscapes pages show a few of these put together.

What are they built out of?

Weather-resistant stone, brick, and good hardware, because anything less doesn't survive a Chicago winter and you'll be looking at cracks in a couple of years. We match the materials to your house and your existing patio or deck, and you've got room to make it yours — size, shape, texture, color, the burn style. The goal is that it looks like it was always meant to be there.

Will I get any use out of it in winter?

A fire feature is really about stretching your season. It takes the bite out of those cool spring and fall evenings and gets you outside on nights you'd otherwise be stuck indoors. Will you sit out there in a January deep freeze? Probably not for long, and we'd rather be straight with you about that than oversell it. But it adds a meaningful chunk of usable weeks to the year.

What's the difference between a custom fireplace and a kit?

A custom fireplace is built from scratch to whatever you want — any size, any material, any look. A prefab kit uses a manufactured core that we build around and finish to fit your space, so you still get a real, good-looking fireplace, just for less money and with fewer variables. Both hold up fine. It really comes down to how specific your vision is and what you want to spend, and we'll lay out both honestly at the consultation.

How do we get started?

It starts with a phone call so we can hear what you're after, then we set up an in-person design consultation. There's no charge for that first meeting. Set up your free consultation or call (847) 250-4100 — and if you just want ideas for now, the fire feature photo gallery is a good place to start.