Fireplace Installation in Ann Arbor
Turn an open hearth into real Michigan heat
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CSIA & NFPA certified
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Installed to code
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1-year workmanship warranty
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4.9 · 1,066 Ann Arbor reviews
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40 years sweeping chimneys
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3,412 verified Google reviews
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4.9 average rating
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CSIA-certified crew
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NFPA 211 compliant
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Licensed in 6 states
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100% background-checked technicians
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Free estimates
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40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
●
40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
●
40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
Pricing, before you commit
Want an estimate before booking?
Use our free Fireplace Installation Cost Calculator to get an estimated price in less than 30 seconds — based on wood or gas, your existing chimney, and your home. No email, no callback, no surprise fees.
Estimate preview
Live
fireplace-installation
$4,495 – $15,595
Inspection (credited)
−$49
Typical job
$11,995 – $15,595
Final price quoted in writing before any work.
The craft, done properly
FIREPLACE INSTALLATION IN ANN ARBOR, MI
A modern insert turns an open masonry fireplace — which sends most of its heat straight up the flue — into a sealed heating appliance. In a climate where the heating season runs from October through April, that difference shows up on every Ann Arbor utility bill. Brown Chimney installs complete packages from $4,495 for an electric insert to $15,595 for a pellet stove; the Osburn Matrix 1900 wood insert is $11,995 fully installed, and the Majestic Ruby gas insert $12,995 — including liner, venting, and gas and electrical subcontractor allowances.
One price, one crew coordinating the trades, one finished fireplace. Every installation is done to code by CSIA-certified technicians, and we file the building permit where the township requires it. Before any insert goes in, the chimney has to be sound — an Ann Arbor inspection confirms the flue, crown, and structure for $49, credited toward the work. The full package detail is on our fireplace installation service page.
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Majestic Ruby gas insert, fully installed — Ann Arbor, MI
The Work
What an insert changes in an Ann Arbor home.
An open fireplace is ambiance; an insert is heat. Open masonry converts a fraction of the wood's energy into room heat and pulls already-warmed air out of the house with the rest — a poor trade in a Michigan January. A sealed insert reverses it: controlled combustion, blower-driven heat into the room, and a fire that works for the heating bill instead of against it.
The installation is a system, not a box: the insert is sized to your firebox, the liner or venting matched to the appliance and run the full flue height, and the surround finished clean. Gas installs coordinate licensed gas and electrical subcontractors under one package price — you're not managing three trades in the middle of winter, we are. Older Ann Arbor chimneys near campus sometimes need masonry work before an insert goes in; if so, you get the repair quote in writing first, separately.
We install throughout Washtenaw County and in Brighton and Northville. See the full local service list on the Ann Arbor page.
When to book
When does a fireplace installation make sense in Ann Arbor?
An insert is an upgrade decision, not a repair — but a long Michigan heating season makes the math obvious faster than it does elsewhere.
Taking down a masonry stack but keeping the fire is more common than you'd think — a modern insert vents through far less than a full chimney. We quote Ann Arbor removal and installation together when that's the plan.
What to expect
What happens during a fireplace installation?
From confirmed order to first fire, most Ann Arbor installations complete within one to two days on site — inspection first, then liner, unit, connections, and a full operational test before we leave.
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Inspection & sizing
A $49 chimney inspection confirms the flue, crown, and structure can host the appliance — and the firebox is measured for exact insert fit. The fee credits toward the work.
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Package confirmation in writing
Unit, liner or venting, subcontractor allowances, and timeline — one package price, fixed in writing before anything is ordered.
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Liner & venting installation
Wood inserts get a stainless steel liner run the full flue height; gas units get dedicated venting matched to the appliance. This is where efficiency is won or lost.
04
Unit installation & connections
The insert is set, connected, and finished clean. On gas packages, licensed gas and electrical subcontractors work under our coordination — one crew responsible.
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Operational test & first fire
Every function tested before we leave: ignition, damper or valve, blower, shutoffs. You get the full walkthrough, the documentation, and a fireplace that's ready tonight.
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We had an excellent experience with Brown Chimney, especially working with Jacques. He was professional, kind, on time, and took the time to answer all of our questions thoroughly. He also helped us get our masonry work completed by taking photos and connecting us with a professional who could help with that portion of the project.
Ashleigh Jennings
Ann Arbor Client
The Brown Chimney Standard · Ann Arbor
Built for Michigan winters, not brochure weather.
Freeze-thaw is the local enemy
Lake-effect snow sits for weeks, then thaws. That cycle is what cracks Ann Arbor mortar — and what our repairs are specified against.
Code-ready inspections
From older homes near campus to newer builds in Scio and Pittsfield Township, our repairs pass local inspection.
1-year workmanship warranty
Every piece of structural labor we perform is covered for a full year — in writing, not in promises.
Price fixed before we start
Measured on site, quoted in writing, approved by you — then the work begins. Never the other way around.
For transparency
What this visit doesn't cover.
Subcontractor costs beyond the package allowances (any difference is shown to you in writing before work proceeds)
Customer-supplied units — packages are built on units we source, warranty, and stand behind
Masonry repairs the inspection uncovers (quoted separately before installation is scheduled)
FAQs
Common questions about fireplace installation
How much does fireplace installation cost in Ann Arbor?
Complete packages run $4,495 for an electric insert to $15,595 for a pellet stove. The Osburn Matrix 1900 wood insert is $11,995 fully installed; the Majestic Ruby gas insert $12,995. Each includes the appliance, installation, venting where applicable, and a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Do I need a permit for a fireplace install in Ann Arbor?
For most installations involving new venting or gas line work, yes — and Brown Chimney files the permit and coordinates the township inspection for $1,195. Drop-in inserts using existing venting often don't require one; we confirm during the on-site assessment.
Will an insert lower my Michigan heating bill?
Usually, noticeably. An open masonry fireplace loses most of its heat up the flue and pulls warmed air out of the house with it. A sealed insert delivers blower-driven heat into the room instead — over a heating season that runs October to April, that difference compounds.
Can an insert go into an older Ann Arbor fireplace?
In most masonry fireplaces, yes — the insert is sized to your firebox and a new liner runs the flue's full height. The prerequisite is a sound chimney, which is why every installation starts with a $49 inspection, credited toward the work.
How long does installation take in Ann Arbor?
Most installations complete within one to two days on site. Gas packages add subcontractor coordination for the gas line and electrical, which Brown Chimney schedules under the single package price. The timeline is confirmed in writing with your quote.
Related Services
Related Services
A safer hearth — for 2026
One price. One crew. First fire this season.
Every Brown Chimney installation in Ann Arbor is a complete package — unit, liner, venting, subcontractors, permits where required, and a full operational test before we leave. Book online or call 248-260-5979.