
A fireplace that actually works at 7,000 feet. We build kiva, wood-burning, and gas fireplaces sized right for Santa Fe homes and high-altitude conditions.
A fireplace that actually works at 7,000 feet. We build kiva, wood-burning, and gas fireplaces sized right for Santa Fe homes and high-altitude conditions.

Fireplace installation in Santa Fe means building a complete firebox and chimney system from scratch - or installing a gas insert into an existing opening - with flue sizing and proportions calculated for the city's 7,000-foot elevation, typically taking one to two weeks from permit to first fire.
Santa Fe winters are genuinely cold, and a well-built fireplace can take real pressure off your central heating during the coldest months. Most homes in Santa Fe have the right bones for a fireplace - a corner in the living room, an exterior wall - and many older adobe homes were built with a traditional kiva firebox that can be restored or rebuilt.
A new fireplace works best when the surrounding masonry is in good shape. If your existing brick or stonework shows cracks or failing mortar, our chimney repair service can address that before installation begins, so your new fireplace starts from a solid foundation.
If smoke enters your living space instead of going up the chimney, the fireplace is no longer drawing air properly. In Santa Fe's older adobe homes, kiva fireplaces sometimes have deteriorated liners or damaged throats that no longer direct smoke correctly. This often points to a rebuild or relining rather than a minor patch.
Santa Fe winters are cold from November through March, and a well-built fireplace can meaningfully reduce your reliance on central heat. If your home has a natural spot for a fireplace - a corner in the main living area, an exterior wall - it may be worth getting an estimate before another heating season passes.
If you look inside your firebox and see cracks in the brick or stone, or mortar is visibly crumbling, the structure is no longer safe to use. Heat and embers can reach your home's framing through those gaps - a fire hazard that needs a mason's attention right away, not a patch with hardware-store filler.
If you are already opening walls or updating a room, adding a fireplace during that project is far less disruptive and expensive than doing it as a standalone job later. A masonry contractor can work alongside your general contractor to rough in the firebox and chimney while walls are already open.
We build full custom masonry fireplaces from the firebox up - laying individual bricks or stones, constructing the hearth, and running the chimney through the roof. Every firebox opening and flue dimension is proportioned for Santa Fe's altitude and your home's specific layout. We also install gas fireplace inserts into existing openings for homeowners who want convenience and want to stay within Santa Fe's air quality curtailment rules on restricted burn days.
For homes with existing kiva fireplaces that need restoration, we can rebuild the firebox, reline the chimney, and restore the adobe surround to match the original character. Each installation includes a proper chimney cap and spark arrestor - in Santa Fe's dry, windy conditions that is not optional. If you want to finish the surround or hearth wall in natural stone, our stone veneer installation service can be coordinated alongside the fireplace build.
Best for homeowners who want a permanent, architecturally integrated feature built from brick or stone - the most durable and customizable option.
The traditional Santa Fe corner firebox - suited to adobe and Pueblo Revival homes where the rounded adobe form is part of the home's character.
Ideal for homeowners who want ease of use and flexibility on air quality curtailment days, installed into an existing or new masonry opening.
For existing kiva fireplaces that are damaged, drafting poorly, or structurally compromised - rebuilt to match the original design and work safely.
At 7,000 feet, the air is thin enough that chimney sizing and flue proportions must be calculated with altitude in mind. A contractor who has only worked at lower elevations may size the flue incorrectly, which leads to smoke backing up into your living room on the first cold night. Beyond altitude, Santa Fe's air quality rules mean wood-burning fireplaces are restricted on curtailment days - understanding those rules before you commit to a fuel type saves a lot of frustration later. Homeowners in Chimayo and the surrounding communities face the same altitude and air quality considerations, and we work throughout that corridor regularly.
Santa Fe's historic and adobe-style homes also require specific design knowledge. A large share of the city's housing stock follows Pueblo Revival or Territorial style, with adobe or stucco exteriors and flat or low-pitched roofs. Installing a new fireplace in these homes - or modifying an existing kiva - requires a mason who understands how these structures are built and how to match the aesthetic. In historic districts, the city's Historic Design Review Board may need to approve exterior changes before work begins. We handle that process and have done so for homeowners in Espanola and throughout the region.
Tell us what type of fireplace you have in mind, where it would go, and whether you have an existing structure or are starting from scratch. We respond within one business day and come prepared - no guesswork, no generic estimates.
We visit your home to measure the space, assess the wall or corner, and check whether the floor can support a masonry structure. We also look at your roof line and exterior for chimney routing. You receive a written estimate breaking down labor and materials - not just a single number.
We apply for the required building permit through the City of Santa Fe's Development Services department. This typically takes a few business days to a couple of weeks. We handle every step - you do not need to contact the city yourself.
Once the permit is approved we build. For a full masonry fireplace expect three to seven days of active work. After construction, the city sends an inspector to sign off - we coordinate that appointment and are present for it. We then walk you through curing time before your first fire.
Free on-site estimate. Written quote before any work starts. Permit handled for you.
(505) 666-0491At 7,000 feet, thin air changes how a chimney drafts. We size every flue with altitude in mind so smoke goes up the chimney - not into your living room. The Chimney Safety Institute of America sets the benchmark for safe fireplace design, and we follow those standards on every build.
We apply for the City of Santa Fe building permit, communicate with the permit office, and coordinate the final inspection on your behalf. Permitted work is documented and protects you at resale - a step no reputable contractor should skip.
Kiva fireplaces are specific to New Mexico's building traditions and require a mason who understands how earthen materials behave. We have built and restored kiva fireplaces in Santa Fe since 2016 and know how to match the look and proportion of the original style.
In Santa Fe's dry, windy conditions a chimney without a spark arrestor poses a real risk to your roof and neighboring properties. We include a proper cap and mesh spark arrestor on every fireplace build - it is part of the job, not an add-on you have to request.
The combination of altitude-specific design, full permit handling, and genuine adobe experience means your fireplace works safely from the first fire and adds lasting value to your Santa Fe home.
Face the surround or hearth wall with natural or manufactured stone that complements your new fireplace.
Learn MoreRepair or reline an existing chimney to bring your current fireplace back to safe, working condition.
Learn MoreCall Custom Santa Fe Concrete & Masonry today for a free estimate. Fall slots fill fast, and starting early means your fireplace is done and cured well before the first freeze hits Santa Fe.