Santa Cruz – Fireplaces & Stoves

As you are questioning fireplace and stove contractors on the phone in Santa Cruz County in the major cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola, or in your area, it is a good idea to have a list of questions prepared. This will keep you on the right track during the phone interview and will help make sure that you do get the answers you need to make an educated decision about a fireplace or a stove for your home.

Keep a paper and pencil nearby to write down the answers from each company. That way you will know which Santa Cruz County fireplace and stove company answered each question most wisely, and it may help make it clear which company is the best choice for you.

1. Do you have any pictures of the fireplaces and stoves you have installed in Santa Cruz County?
2. How many fireplaces and stoves has the fireplace and stove company finished in Santa Cruz County?
3. What type of warranty does the Santa Cruz County fireplace and stove company provide for their work?
4. Do the fireplace and stove professionals specialize in any particular type of fireplaces and stoves or are they able to build all types?
5. Does the new fireplace or stove price include both parts and labor?
6. How long has the fireplaces and stoves company been in business?
7. Will the fireplaces and stoves companies provide a detailed, written estimate for new fireplace or stove?
8. What type of fuel will the fireplace or stove need?
9. Has your company earned and maintained a Diamond Certified rating?
10. Do you carry lines from several different manufacturers, so features can be compared?

It's best to choose a Diamond Certified fireplace and stove company because all certified companies have passed an in-depth ratings process that most other companies can't pass. If you want quality from a fireplace and stove company in Santa Cruz County and the greater Bay Area, you can have confidence choosing a Diamond Certified company. Diamond Certified reports are available online for all certified companies. And you'll never be fooled by fake reviews. That's because all research is performed in live telephone interviews of actual customers.

If you can't find a Diamond Certified fireplace & stove company within reach, you'll have to do some research on your own. If you do, it's wise to call some references provided by your fireplaces and stoves company. Keep in mind, though, that references provided to you by the fireplace & stove companies are not equal in value to the large random sample of customers surveyed during the Diamond Certified ratings process. That's because references given to customers from companies are cherry-picked instead of randomly selected from all their customers. So the contractors will likely give you a few customers to call that they know are satisfied.

If you do call references on your own, specifically ask for a list of the company's 10 most recent customers. This will help avoid them giving you the names of only customers they know were satisfied.

1. Did the fireplaces & stoves company you hired finish the work on time?
2. If you live in one of the smaller towns such as Lompico, Majors, Pasatiempo, Redwood Grove, Rincon, Seabright, The Willows, and Zayante, did they charge extra to travel to your home?
3. Was the fireplace and stove company punctual?
4. Did company clean up after completing the job?
5. When you need a new fireplace or stove in the future, will you consider hiring this fireplace & stove company again?
6. Did the contractor keep you up-to-date with the status of the project? Or did you have to call in order to get information?
7. Were you satisfied with the services from _( fireplaces and stoves company name)_?
8. What type of fireplace or stove did they install for you (i.e. wood burning stove, gas fireplace, wood burning fireplace)?
9. Would you recommend this fireplaces and stoves company to your friends and family?

When you have found the local Santa Cruz County fireplace and stove company that meets all your ideals, it's the best time to ask for a written contract. This contract should include written details on the price, quality and materials to be used, as well as the job start date and intended completion date.

Before you sign the contract, read and be sure you comprehend all the terms and limitations. The contract you sign is binding, and should protect your property and your interests, as well as those of your contractor. For this reason, you should never sign a blank or incomplete estimate.

When signing the contract, don't be nervous about writing in special requests or verbal agreements. This will protect you and help make sure you get the services you have decided on. Along with end dates and any special instructions, these add-ons may also include related issues that aren't always covered by a standard contract. For example, regardless of how careful your contractor promises to be there are often unexpected results with fireplace and stove installation jobs.

But you can protect your property by being proactive. Before the work begins, schedule a walk through with the company supervisor and conduct a pre-work inspection of your property. List or photograph your landscaping, home and property and talk with a company representative about reasonable expectations for protecting your home and yard during the work. When you've reached an agreement, both you and the contractor should sign and date the document. When the work is done, do a final inspection together and verify that your expectations were met.

Install a New Fireplace or Home Heating Stove

Professional fireplace and stove contractors are able to handle the major and minor aspects of their work. But there are a small number of things you can do in preparation to their arrival and while the work is in progress to help their job go more smoothly. You may even cut down on billable hours or the likelihood of damage to your home and possessions.

Remove any furniture or movable items from the workspace. Anything that's cannot be removed from the work area should be moved as far away as possible from the construction area. You may also want to temporarily store any expensive items that are in high-traffic areas to prevent them from being broken.

Provide adequate clearance and parking space for work trucks. Some fireplaces and stoves companies have large work trucks that require more clearance or parking space than average vehicles. Contact the company before the scheduled start date and ask them how many work vehicles will need parking space and whether the vehicles are oversized. You may find it useful to walk through the site with your contractor ahead of time so they can point out any potential clearance issues or possible hazards you can move or minimize before the fireplace and stove construction begins.

Keep children and pets away from the construction areas. Your contractors will be concentrating on the work at hand and shouldn't have to watch out for children and pets before, during or after the work. Cordon off the area the contractor will be using and keep pets and kids away from that area until after the work is finished. This will prevent accidents, injury and the expense of touch-ups.

When the fireplace or stove is installed in your Santa Cruz County home in the major cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola, or your area, your fireplaces and stoves service representative will give you a written invoice that includes:

• Any applicable warrantees provided by the fireplace and stove manufacturer or the fireplace and stove company.
• A list of all work completed, including warranty repairs done at no charge.
• The name and physical address of the shop.
• An itemized list of all replacement parts. This should state whether the parts installed were new or reconditioned window parts.
• The total cost for your fireplace or stove, including the amount charged for labor.

It is a good idea to compare the completed fireplace and stove work with what was written on the invoice. Ask your fireplaces & stoves company representative to walk through the job site and show you. Check what was done against the invoice. During the walk-through, ask if there are any special instructions for maintaining your fireplace or stove. If you have any questions about the work that was done or the materials used, now is the time to ask.

Fireplace and stove companies in Santa Cruz County, including the major cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola, provide all types of fireplaces and stoves services. However, some services are more common than others. The following are the most familiar requests for local fireplace and stove companies.

Propane Fireplace Stoves

An apparatus where electricity or fuel is used to furnish heat for warmth or cook.

Decorative Fireplace

This type of fireplace is one that was usable once, but would now is just used for decoration.

Electric Fireplace Stoves

A type of stove or fireplace that is an electric heater. It mimics burning coal, wood, or natural gas. This type will often be place in a conventional fireplace that can't be used for conventional fires anymore.

Gas Fireplaces and Stoves

Fireplace that has been constructed for gas or was converted from wood to gas. The primary purpose is atmosphere, not heat.

Gas Log Fireplace

A gas-burning fireplace that consists of a gas burner that is made to resemble a log. It is used in a fireplace to have the effect of a burning log.

Gas Fireplace Stove

Fireplace that has been constructed for gas or was converted from wood to gas. The primary purpose is atmosphere, not heat.

Fireplace Wood Stoves

This stove that burns wood is a heating appliance that is capable of burning wood fuel. Usually the stove consists of a solid metal (steel or cast iron) closed fire chamber.

Fireplace Screens

Screen that is made of glass or small mesh steel. It is placed in the front of the opening of a fireplace to protect the area that is around the fireplace from any sparks or embers.

Fireplace

A structure that surrounds the place for a domestic fire, like the hearth at the base of a chimney.

Fireplace Stove Inserts

A fireplace stove insert is a device that is inserted into an existing masonry or a manufactured wood fireplace. It increases the amount of heat that is emitted into the house.