Outdoor Fire Pits & Fireplaces in Fresno & Clovis

Central Valley evenings cool off fast once the sun drops behind the Sierra foothills, and a backyard that’s unusable from October to April is a waste of good square footage. A well-built fire pit or outdoor fireplace turns your yard into a year-round gathering spot. Longhorn Landscapes designs and builds custom fire features for homeowners across Fresno, Clovis, Madera County, and Santa Clara County — gas or wood-burning, stone, brick, or stucco, freestanding or built into a larger patio plan. Honest pricing and clean work, with a finished feature that holds up to Valley summers and winter rains.

What outdoor fire pit and fireplace installation involves

A fire feature is part hardscape, part utility connection, and part finish carpentry — and it has to be built right because it’s going to see real heat for years. We start with a site plan that accounts for setbacks from the house, overhead clearances, prevailing wind, and how the feature ties into the rest of your patio or yard.

For wood-burning pits, we build on a compacted base with a proper footing, then construct the bowl or surround with fire brick on the interior and your chosen veneer — natural stone, cultured stone, flagstone, or stacked block — on the exterior. For gas fire pits and fireplaces, we coordinate the gas line trenching and connection (with a licensed plumber where required), install a code-compliant burner pan, key valve, and ignition, and finish with fire glass or lava rock.

Outdoor fireplaces are a bigger build — a full vertical structure with a firebox, chimney or flue, hearth, and mantel. These are typically anchored to a concrete footing and finished in stucco, stone veneer, or brick to match your home.

Why Longhorn Landscapes for fire pit and fireplace construction

• Full design-build crew — we handle masonry, gas lines, electrical for nearby lighting, and the surrounding patio in one project, not three separate contractors
• Work permitted where the city or county requires it
• Real masonry experience — fire brick interiors, proper expansion joints, and footings sized for Central Valley clay soils
• Gas, propane, and wood-burning options, with hookups planned around your existing yard layout
• Materials matched to your home: flagstone, Three Rivers stone, cultured veneer, brick, or smooth stucco
• Local to Fresno and Clovis — we show up, we answer the phone, and we stand behind the work

Our fire pit and fireplace process

1. Free on-site consultation. We walk the yard, talk through how you’ll use the space, and discuss gas vs. wood, size, and style.
2. Design and quote. You get a clear written estimate with materials, dimensions, and a sketch or 3D rendering for larger fireplace builds.
3. Permits and utility locates. We pull permits where needed and call in USA North 811 before any digging.
4. Site prep and footing. Excavation, compacted base, rebar, and a poured concrete footing sized to the feature.
5. Build and gas/electrical rough-in. Masonry goes up, gas line and any LED lighting conduit get run, fire brick interior is set.
6. Veneer, finish, and burner install. Stone or stucco finish, cap stones, burner pan, fire glass or lava rock, and ignition testing.
7. Walkthrough. We show you how to operate it safely, clean it, and shut down the gas for the off-season.

What outdoor fire features typically cost

Fire pits and fireplaces cover a wide price range because the builds vary so much. A simple round wood-burning pit with a stone veneer surround is on the lower end. A gas fire pit with a custom shape, fire glass, and a paver patio surround sits in the middle. A full outdoor fireplace with chimney, hearth, mantel, and stone veneer is the largest investment.

Costs go up with size, the type of stone or brick you choose, gas line distance from the meter, whether a permit and inspection are required, and any surrounding hardscape like seat walls or a patio extension. Costs come down with simpler shapes, standard veneers, and shorter utility runs. Every quote includes labor, materials, footing, and cleanup — no surprise add-ons. Contact us for a free on-site estimate based on your yard and your goals.

Service areas we cover

• Fresno
• Clovis
• Madera
• Sanger
• Kerman
• Kingsburg
• Selma
• San Jose and surrounding Santa Clara County
• Los Gatos
• Morgan Hill

Frequently asked questions

Gas or wood-burning — which is better for a Fresno backyard?
Both work well here. Gas is cleaner, instant-on, and easier during Valley air quality alerts when wood burning may be restricted. Wood-burning gives you the crackle and real flame but needs more clearance and ongoing cleanup. We’ll help you weigh the tradeoffs at the consultation.

Do I need a permit for a fire pit or fireplace in Fresno or Clovis?
It depends on the size, fuel type, and whether it’s attached to a structure. Gas connections almost always require a permit. We handle the permitting where it’s needed so you don’t have to chase down city hall.

How close can a fire feature be to my house or fence?
Setbacks vary by jurisdiction and feature type, but as a rule we keep wood-burning pits at least 10 feet from structures and overhead branches. Fireplaces and gas pits can sit closer when designed correctly.

Can you tie a fire pit into a new patio or pergola project?
Yes — that’s actually the most common request. We regularly combine fire pits with paver patios, seat walls, pergolas, and LED landscape lighting as one coordinated build.

How long does the build take?
A straightforward fire pit usually takes 3–5 working days on site after prep. A full outdoor fireplace runs 2–3 weeks depending on size, finish, and cure times.

What kind of maintenance is involved?
Very little. Wood-burning pits need ash cleanout and an occasional check of the fire brick. Gas features need the burner kept clear of debris and a yearly check of the ignition and valve. We’ll show you what to watch for.

Ready to get more use out of your backyard? Call Longhorn Landscapes at (559) 826-9545 or request a free on-site estimate. We’ll walk your property, talk through your options, and give you an honest quote for a fire pit or fireplace built to last in the Central Valley.