How much does it cost to install a fireplace in Virginia?

There is no single Virginia price for installing a fireplace, and we could not find a dated price from a primary source we trust, so this page does not quote one. What it can do is show you what moves the number, so that two written quotes can be compared line by line. The biggest swing is almost always the chimney.

What a fireplace quote is made of

A fireplace installation is a handful of separate jobs. Ask for each as its own line:

• The fireplace. A prefabricated (factory-built) unit or a masonry firebox, and its size. A larger opening generally means a bigger unit.
• The chimney. Manufactured chimney sections, firestops, roof flashing and a cap. This depends on the height of the house and the number of floors it passes through.
• Framing and finishing. The enclosure around the firebox, hearth and wall protection, and the mantel and facing. A stone or tile face costs far more than a painted drywall surround.
• Roof and structural work. Cutting through the roof, flashing it and weatherproofing it.
• Permit and inspection. Fees are set locally.
• Haul-away and clean-up.

What drives the price up

Chimney height and route. DuraVent's best-practice paper says factory-built fireplaces are normally approved for minimum system heights in the 14- to 15-foot range, that taller systems are preferable, and that for fireplaces with large openings or more than one open side, a system height of at least 20 feet is preferable.^[1] More chimney means more material and more labour. Offsets cost extra too: DuraVent says each elbow or offset in a venting system creates turbulence in the flue gas stream and therefore presents resistance to flow.^[1]

Location in the house. DuraVent says the fireplace and chimney should be located on an interior wall rather than a perimeter wall,^[1] and a retrofit on an interior wall can mean more framing, a longer run through an upper floor and a hole in a roof that is farther from the eave. An outside chase is often cheaper to build, but DuraVent flags it as one of the main causes of complaints about fireplaces that spill odors and cold air when not in use and smoke when a fire is lit.^[1]

Glass doors and make-up air. Glass doors add cost but help with draft, and in a tightly built house a make-up air supply may be part of the fix, as DuraVent notes.^[1]

An existing chimney. If you are using a chimney that is already there, the cost depends on its condition, and a quote should say whether it needs a new liner. See what a chimney liner costs in Virginia.

Permit costs

A permit is required when installing a prefabricated fireplace, according to Prince William County's fire department, citing the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.^[3] Fees vary by locality, and the quickest way to learn yours is to call the building department. Ask who pulls the permit: Virginia's Board for Contractors says the contractor should apply for and obtain any necessary building permits, and that this should be spelled out in your contract.^[4] The permit questions are covered in whether you need a permit to install a fireplace or wood stove.

Cheaper ways to get a fire

If what you want is heat, EPA notes that fireplaces provide less heat to your home, since most of the heat from a fireplace goes out the chimney.^[2] A stove or an insert changes the maths, and what a wood stove costs installed in Virginia is a better comparison if heat matters more than the look.

Getting a quote you can compare

Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[4] Ask each business for the same things:

• fireplace make and model, and the size of the opening
• chimney type, total height, offsets, cap and roof flashing
• hearth and wall protection, and who builds the surround
• permit fee, who applies, and who books the inspection
• start date, finish date and payment schedule

On deposits, the Board for Contractors suggests an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[4] If one quote is far below the others, look for what it leaves out, not what it saves.

When to call a licensed pro

For the whole job. A new fireplace involves framing, a chimney through the roof and a permit, and it is not a DIY job on Loclis. The Board for Contractors says that if the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[4] Check the licence before you pay a deposit, and read what installing a wood-burning fireplace involves so you know what a complete quote covers.

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class. Browse chimney and fireplace services or see all chimney and fireplace answers.

Describe your fireplace project once and local licensed businesses quote it.