Do you make fireplaces or only install them?

Both. We install leading manufactured units and we build custom fireplaces and surrounds on site, including the brickwork, cladding and flueing.

Can you build a double-sided fireplace between two rooms?

Yes. It needs careful planning of the flue and the wall structure, which we work out during the site visit before quoting.

Will you work with my architect or interior designer?

Regularly. We work from drawings, advise on clearances and flue routes early in the project, and coordinate with other trades on site.

How long does a custom fireplace take?

Usually two to four days on site once materials are ready, longer if stonework, a new chimney breast or extensive making good is involved.

Custom design

Custom fireplaces: working with fireplace makers in Cape Town

Off-the-shelf units suit most homes, but a double-volume lounge, an awkward corner or a specific design brief often calls for something built around the space. That is where custom fireplace work earns its money.

Get a free quote Call 021 945 3636

Custom built fireplace in a Cape Town home

When a custom fireplace makes sense

We usually recommend a custom build when the room, the architecture or the heat requirement pushes past what a standard unit can do neatly.

Double-volume or open-plan spaces that need a larger firebox
Corner, peninsula or double-sided fireplaces between two rooms
Heritage homes where the surround must match existing detailing
Designer briefs with specific cladding, mantel or floating hearth details

How we design and build it

It starts with a site visit and measurements: room volume, wall construction, roof structure and the flue route. From there we agree the firebox size and fuel, then the surround materials — plaster, stone, steel or timber mantel.

We build and install ourselves, including brickwork, core drilling and flueing, so the detailing you agreed is the detailing that gets fitted. Since 1988 we have completed fireplaces for homeowners, builders, architects and interior designers across the Western Cape.

Materials and finishes

Plastered surrounds keep a contemporary look clean and are the most flexible. Natural stone and brick suit farm-style and Winelands homes. Steel fascias and floating hearths work well in modern architectural builds.

Whatever the finish, the non-combustible zone around the firebox and the clearances to timber mantels are set by the unit specification, not by preference. We design the look around those limits rather than the other way round.

Frequently asked questions

Still unsure? Call 021 945 3636 or 0875500413 and we will talk it through.

Keep reading

We work from 189 Durban Rd, Bellville, Cape Town, 7530 and install across Cape Town and the Western Cape. Email info@progressinstallations.co.za for advice on your project.

Request a free fireplace quote

Tell us about your home and the fireplace you have in mind, and we will come back with options and pricing.