Outdoor Fireplaces & Fire Pits in Red Deer
Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits in Red Deer and Central Alberta. The centrepiece of a four-season outdoor room built into your patio and deck surround.
Green Ladder builds fire pits and outdoor fireplaces in Red Deer and Central Alberta, gas or wood-burning, integrated into patios and deck surrounds rather than parked beside them. The fuel decides most of what follows. Wood-burning needs a firebox, a chimney sized to what is beside it, and somewhere to keep the wood dry. Gas needs a line run to the feature and connected by a licensed gas fitter, and that is the part of a fire feature build that most often carries a permit. We sort out which one you are building before anything gets priced.
Gas fire features require licensed work, and every fire feature needs proper clearances and materials rated for heat. A fire feature built without those requirements is a liability, not an amenity. Fireboxes too close to combustibles, gas lines not run by a licensed fitter, chimney heights that do not clear the deck structure. These are the kinds of failures that lead to insurance claims, not warranty calls.
Two Different Builds, Drawn in Section
A fire pit and a fireplace are not the same build, and most of what separates them stops being visible the moment the stone goes on. Here is both in section, with the parts that get decided at design rather than on site.
A Fire Feature Pays You Back
56%
of project cost recovered at resale
9.7/10
Homeowner satisfaction (“Joy Score”)
Homeowners rank fire features among the most-used, highest-satisfaction outdoor additions: most say improving livability, not resale, was the top reason to build one.
Source: National Association of REALTORS® & National Association of Landscape Professionals, 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features. General North American industry data, not a guarantee for any specific property: actual results vary by home, market, and project scope.
Green Ladder builds fire pits and outdoor fireplaces for Red Deer and Central Alberta homeowners as integrated components of your patio and deck project. Every gas feature includes a licensed gas fitter for the line supply and connection. Fireplace builds are designed with proper clearances, fire-rated materials at the firebox, and chimney heights calculated for your specific structure. The result is a fire feature that is safe, built to last, and permitted where a permit is required.
Gas & Wood-Burning
Both fuel types. Gas is instant on with no smoke and no wood to store, but needs a line run and connected by a licensed gas fitter. Wood-burning has nothing to run to it, and needs a firebox, a chimney, and wood storage.
Built Into Patio
Fire pit bowls and raised fire features integrated directly into paver patio surrounds for a finished, intentional look.
Stone Fireplace Builds
Stand-alone masonry fireplaces in natural stone or cultured stone veneer with integrated seating surround.
Covered Structure Option
Fireplaces built under pergola or covered patio structures for year-round use regardless of weather.
Licensed Gas Work
Gas line supply and connection completed by a licensed gas fitter. Quoted as part of the project, not a separate contract.
Permit Support
We prepare the permit package and guide you through submission for fireplace and gas permits on applicable builds.
Price Range
$3,000 - $40,000+
Gas line work quoted with a licensed gas fitter. Where the build needs a permit, we prepare the package and walk you through it.
Book a Design ConsultationCall (587) 447-9009Get a price estimate →Insured & WCB certified. Permit support where your build needs one.
What separates a Green Ladder build
We teach buyers what to ask, because most people don't find out what separates a strong build from a weak one until something goes wrong years later. Full structural detail reviewed at your design consultation.
Clearances to combustibles calculated before build
Firebox clearances to combustible framing, decking, and pergola structures are calculated and designed in before anything is built. There is no adjusting this after the fact.
Licensed gas fitter on every gas build
Gas line supply, stub-up, and appliance connection are completed by a licensed gas fitter. This is not optional. It is a code requirement and a safety requirement.
Fire-rated materials at the firebox
The firebox surround, refractory panels, and base materials are selected for heat rating. Decorative stone goes outside the fire-rated zone. We design this correctly from the start.
Chimney height above deck and pergola
Chimney termination height relative to adjacent structures is a code requirement and a smoke management issue. We calculate this for your specific build.
Materials We Use
Natural Stone
Quarried limestone, granite, and fieldstone for fireplace surrounds. Each piece unique, no two builds identical.
Cultured Stone Veneer
Manufactured stone panels over CMU block core. Consistent appearance, lighter weight, easier installation.
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
Structural block core for fireplace firebox and chimney. Engineered for thermal mass and fire rating.
Corten Steel
Weathering steel fire pit inserts and bowls. Industrial aesthetic, self-patinating finish, no painting required.
Fire Pit vs Masonry Fireplace vs Gas Fire Feature
| Wood-burning fire pit | Masonry fireplace | Gas fire feature | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A fire pit built into the patio or deck surround | A full fireplace with a firebox and a chimney | A fire pit, fire table, or fireplace plumbed to a gas line |
| Permit in the City of Red Deer | None. The fire bylaw allows it, subject to clearance and screen rules | Depends on the structure and your site. We confirm before quoting | Yes. A gas permit is required under Alberta provincial safety codes |
| Licensed gas fitter | No | Only where it is built for gas | Yes, for the supply and the connection |
| What decides whether it fits your yard | The 10 foot clearance from buildings, property lines, and combustible fences | Chimney height set against the deck or pergola beside it | Clearance, plus where the gas line can reach from |
Outside the City of Red Deer, permit rules vary by municipality and we confirm with yours before quoting. We build fire features in, not portable units set on top.
Common Questions
Do I need a permit for a fire pit or outdoor fireplace in Red Deer?
It depends which of two things you are building, and they are not the same. A wood-burning fire pit does not need a permit in the City of Red Deer. The Fire Permit Bylaw allows backyard fire pits outright, but the conditions are specific: walls no higher than about 2 feet 6 inches, a spark screen over the fire, a non-combustible base, and at least 10 feet of clearance from buildings, property lines, trees, overhead power lines, and combustible fences. That clearance is usually what decides whether a fire pit fits your yard at all, and we check it on the site visit before anything is priced. Anything running gas is the other case. Alberta’s Safety Codes Act requires a gas permit to install or alter gas equipment, and the line has to be run and connected by a licensed gas fitter. Outside the City of Red Deer the rules vary by municipality, so we confirm with yours before quoting. The homeowner is the applicant on any permit; we prepare the package and coordinate the inspections.
Gas or wood-burning: which should I pick?
Gas is instant on, no smoke, and no wood to buy, stack, or clean up. Wood-burning gives you the crackle and the smell, and there is nothing to run to it. The real difference is the build. Gas needs a line run from the house to the feature and connected by a licensed gas fitter, which adds cost and brings a permit with it. Wood-burning needs a firebox and a chimney sized and sited for what is beside it, plus somewhere to keep the wood dry. Corten steel fire tables and linear fire features are gas only. Masonry fireplaces are built either way.
Can a gas fire pit be installed on an existing deck?
Sometimes, depending on the deck material and clearances to combustibles. We assess the existing structure before committing to an installation method. Some decks require a non-combustible pad beneath the fire feature.
What is the difference between a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace?
A fire pit is open on all sides and radiates heat in all directions. An outdoor fireplace has a firebox and chimney that direct smoke up and out, making it more practical under a covered structure and more comfortable in a fixed seating configuration for our shorter Central Alberta evenings.
How much does an outdoor fireplace or fire pit cost in Red Deer?
Fire features in Red Deer run from around $3,000 for a built-in fire pit to $40,000 or more for a full masonry fireplace with a seating surround. Gas line work is quoted with a licensed gas fitter. We price the feature as part of your patio or deck project after the design is set.
Can we add a fire feature to a project we already have with you?
Yes. Fire features can be designed into new deck and patio projects from the start, or added to a completed project where the site conditions support it. Planning it from the beginning is always easier and less expensive.
Questions? We answer the phone.
Ready to get started?
Every project starts with a design consultation. We visit your site, design in 3D, and give you a firm proposal before any work begins.