Outdoor Fireplace and Fire Pit Installation in Gloucester, MA
Custom stone outdoor fireplaces and fire pits — wood-burning or gas — built to code for New England backyards.
An outdoor fireplace turns a patio into a place you use from spring through the cold New England fall. But a masonry fireplace and chimney is a real structure — it needs a proper footing, the right firebox and flue, and code clearances from your house and anything that can burn. We build outdoor fireplaces and fire pits that draft correctly, sit on a frost-rated foundation, and match the stonework of your home.
What we build
Fire features we build in Gloucester
- Full masonry fireplaces — stacked or veneer stone with a true firebox and chimney
- Wood-burning fire pits — stone or block, round or square, with a steel insert
- Gas fire pits & fireplaces — clean, instant, no smoke — plumbed to code
- Fieldstone & granite — regional stone that suits historic Gloucester homes
- Seat walls & hearths — built-in seating around the fire
- Chimney & flue work — proper draft and spark protection
The AB Mendez Standard
How we build a Gloucester fire feature
Design & clearances
We plan the size, fuel, and location with code clearances from the house and combustibles.
Footing
We pour a frost-rated footing — a fireplace can’t sit on a patio slab.
Build & flue
We build the firebox and chimney for proper draft, or set the gas insert and run the line.
Veneer & finish
We veneer in your chosen stone, cap it, and finish the hearth and surround.
Permits in Gloucester
Do you need a permit for an outdoor fireplace in Gloucester?
A permanent masonry fireplace or chimney, and any gas line, typically require a permit through Gloucester Inspectional Services; portable or simple fire pits usually don’t. If the work is visible from a public way in a local historic district, it also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Gloucester Historic District Commission before a permit is issued. We handle the permit, the drawings, and the hearing — and we tell you which apply before any work starts. We confirm clearances and pull the permits the project needs.
| Type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Wood-burning fire pit | $3,000–$8,000 |
| Gas fire pit | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Custom masonry fireplace | $10,000–$25,000+ |
Why AB Mendez
Why Gloucester homeowners hire us for fire features
The owner builds it
Anibel Mendez quotes and runs every project here personally — no salesman, no handoff to a sub who has never seen your property.
Engineered for New England
Frost-depth footings, proper drainage, and code-compliant materials. We build for year 10, not the first photo.
Licensed, insured, permitted
Massachusetts HIC registration, full insurance, Dig Safe on every dig, and permits pulled in our name — the boring stuff that separates real contractors from a guy with a truck.
From the owner
“A fireplace that doesn’t draft right just fills your patio with smoke — the firebox and flue have to be built correctly.”
There’s a real science to a masonry firebox and chimney: the throat, the smoke chamber, the flue size. Get it wrong and it smokes. We build them to draw clean, and on a footing that won’t heave — Anibel Mendez
Outdoor Fireplaces FAQ
Common questions
Wood-burning or gas?
Wood gives the crackle and smell; gas gives instant, smoke-free, controllable flame. We build both — it comes down to how you’ll use it.
Does an outdoor fireplace need a foundation?
Yes — a real masonry fireplace needs a frost-rated footing, not a patio slab, or it will heave and crack.
Can it match my house?
Yes. We veneer in fieldstone, granite, or brick to match your home and any historic-district requirements.
Is it safe near my house and deck?
Built to code, yes. We design proper clearances from the structure and combustibles.
Do you offer free estimates?
Yes — call (781) 731-5303 or request one online.
Free estimates in Gloucester
Build a fire feature you’ll actually use
Tell us how you picture your backyard and we’ll come look.
No-pressure estimate · we pull the permits in our name · one contractor, start to finish.
AB Mendez Masonry & Landscaping · Licensed & Insured · Serving Gloucester & the North Shore