We design and build brick fireplaces in Aurora, CO that become the centerpiece of your living room or outdoor space. Our team handles firebox dimensions, clearances, and chimney connections so your fireplace is both safe and attractive. Choose from classic brick patterns, raised hearths, and detailed mantels to match your style.
Superior Masonry Aurora provides professional brick fireplace throughout Aurora, CO, Colorado and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (720) 927-8800 or request your free quote.
Brick Fireplaces Built for Aurora Homes
A brick fireplace should fit your house, your daily routines, and the way you actually use your living room on cold Aurora evenings. At Superior Masonry Aurora, we start every brick fireplace project with a walk-through of your home, not a stock catalog of designs. We look at how you use the room, where furniture sits, ceiling height, and how the chimney or vent path can realistically be routed in your specific structure.
We work in both existing homes and new builds across Aurora and nearby suburbs. In older brick or frame houses near neighborhoods like Heather Gardens or Mission Viejo, we often have to tie a new brick fireplace into existing walls that are not perfectly plumb or square. We explain what adjustment will be visible and what we can hide in the build so you know exactly what to expect. For newer homes, we coordinate with your GC or HVAC contractor if needed to keep clearances and venting in line with current Colorado codes.
We handle full masonry fireplaces, brick surrounds around prefabricated fireboxes, and cosmetic refacing of old stone or outdated tile fireplaces. Whether you want a traditional wood-burning hearth or a gas insert with brick facing, Superior Masonry Aurora plans the details around safety, long-term durability, and what it will cost to maintain in our dry, high-elevation climate.
Design Options, Brick Choices, and Layout Details
The look of your brick fireplace starts with the brick itself. In Aurora, most homeowners select clay brick in red or earth tones that match existing exterior brick or interior accent walls. We source brick from regional suppliers so the color and texture suit Colorado light, which is harsher and brighter than in many other states. If your home already has exterior brick, we bring samples to compare in natural light so your fireplace does not clash with the outside of your house.
Common patterns include running bond for a clean, simple face, stacked bond for a more modern look, and soldier courses for borders around the firebox or along the mantel line. We can add herringbone brick inside the firebox back wall, which not only looks better when the fire is off but also handles direct heat well if the right firebrick is used. For the hearth, we talk through whether you want a raised hearth you can sit on or a flush hearth that keeps the room open for furniture.
Mortar joint style changes the character of the fireplace almost as much as brick choice. Raked joints create more shadow and texture. Flush or concave joints make the brick read smoother and are easier to keep clean from smoke staining. We also help you decide on mantel options, such as solid wood, stone slab, or brick corbels, and we check with you about TV mounting plans so we can build in proper height and heat shielding from the start.
If you live in a townhouse or HOA community in Aurora, we review any visible chimney or exterior venting requirements in your bylaws. Some communities limit how much new chimney structure can show above the roofline, which can affect the final design. Superior Masonry Aurora is used to coordinating that paperwork and supplying drawings or product spec sheets when the HOA requests them.
How We Build a Brick Fireplace, Step by Step
Every brick fireplace project has its own specifics, but the overall process follows a clear sequence so there are no surprises. Superior Masonry Aurora begins with an on-site inspection to confirm where the firebox, chimney or vent, and hearth can safely go. We check existing framing, roof lines, gas lines if a gas unit is planned, and where the load-bearing structure is. This is especially important in split-level and tri-level Aurora houses where floor framing can change direction from room to room.
Next, we confirm whether you want a site-built masonry firebox or a listed prefabricated firebox that we surround with brick. A true masonry firebox and chimney offers the most custom look and long-term service but usually costs more and requires more structural support. A metal or factory-built firebox with a brick surround is often more budget-friendly and faster to install. We explain the trade-offs in heat output, maintenance, and how each option affects inspection and permitting.
Once the plan is set, we protect floors and nearby finishes, then frame any necessary support walls or chases. For masonry builds, we pour or reinforce a concrete footing under the hearth and main structure. Without this, brick fireplaces in our area can settle and crack over time, especially in older Aurora homes with weaker basement slabs. We install firebrick in the firebox and use high-temperature refractory mortar where the code requires it, then transition to your chosen face brick for the visible portion of the fireplace.
As we lay brick, we constantly check for level and plumb because slight mistakes compound quickly over the height of a fireplace and chimney. We leave proper clearances from combustibles following the International Residential Code as adopted in Aurora and use metal lintels or internal support where brick spans over the firebox opening. We also integrate expansion joints when needed so the fireplace can handle temperature swings from winter nights to sunny days without unsightly cracking.
After the brickwork is complete, we handle cleanup, mortar curing, and any minor patching around the new structure. For wood-burning units, we advise you to let the materials cure fully before running a large fire. For gas units, our work is coordinated with a licensed gas fitter, and we confirm the final brick facing meets any manufacturer clearance requirements before the unit is fired up.
Permits, Inspections, and Local Code in Aurora, CO
Fireplace work is safety-critical, so permits matter. In most cases, a new brick fireplace or a major modification to an existing one in Aurora requires a building permit and one or more inspections. Superior Masonry Aurora is familiar with the local process and can either guide you through the homeowner permit route or work directly with the city if we are the contractor of record.
Aurora follows the International Residential Code with local amendments. That affects chimney height, required clearances to combustibles, and how close the hearth can be to the floor materials. For gas fireplaces, the city also enforces venting and combustion air rules. Before any work begins, we confirm that the proposed design will meet these codes on paper so you are not stuck with a design that looks good in a sketch but cannot pass inspection.
In many Aurora neighborhoods, especially newer developments on the east side, your HOA may have rules that affect exterior chimney finishes, vent terminations on side walls, or restrictions on visible flues above the roof. When we expect that exterior changes are needed, we provide simple drawings and brick or cap samples you can submit to your architectural review committee. Doing this at the start avoids ripping out or reworking finished masonry later.
Once construction begins, we schedule required inspections such as rough framing or firebox inspection and final inspection. We are present or on call during these visits to answer inspector questions about materials and methods. If any small change is requested, we handle it promptly and explain the reason to you in plain language so you understand the safety logic behind each requirement.
Costs, Common Problems, and What To Ask Before You Hire
The cost of a brick fireplace in Aurora can vary a lot based on the type of unit, how much structure is needed, and the finish details. A brick surround around an existing gas insert can be relatively modest in price, while a full masonry wood-burning fireplace with chimney, footing work, and a custom hearth is at the higher end. Factors that drive cost include the type and source of brick, whether we need to reinforce floors or add footings, access issues in tight interior spaces, and how much existing wall or flooring must be altered.
Common problems we see in Aurora include fireplaces that were built directly on weak slabs without proper support, leading to cracks and separations. We also see old units that do not meet modern clearance standards, especially when homeowners have added built-in cabinetry or new flooring after the fireplace was installed. Superior Masonry Aurora evaluates these issues during the estimate and tells you whether repair, partial rebuild, or complete replacement is the smarter long-term move.
If you already have a fireplace and want it refaced in brick, we check for hidden damage first. Covering over cracked firebrick, failing flue liners, or loose masonry with new brick will not solve underlying safety issues. When needed, we coordinate with a chimney sweep or fireplace inspector so any structural or drafting problems are addressed before finish work begins.
Before you hire any masonry contractor for a brick fireplace in Aurora, ask for specific details about the materials they plan to use, including firebrick versus face brick, mortar types, and any reinforcement or footings. Ask who is responsible for permits and inspections and what is included in the price if the inspector asks for changes. Get a clear explanation of how they will protect your floors and dust-sensitive areas during demolition and construction.
When you contact Superior Masonry Aurora, we provide a written scope that spells out the brick type, pattern, hearth style, and the steps of the build. We want you to understand not just how the fireplace will look on day one, but how it will perform and hold up over years of Colorado winters, dry air, and wide temperature swings.
