Written by D&L Tile. Read more about the author.

We’ve worked on a lot of fireplaces over the years at D&L Tile, Inc: Reno Tile, Granite & Stone. Some were straightforward tile swaps. Others involved crumbling brick surrounds, dated brass trim, and owners who hadn’t lit the fireplace in a decade because they were embarrassed by how it looked. The goal of this post is simple: give you a practical, honest picture of what a fireplace remodel actually involves in Reno, what materials hold up in our climate, and how to avoid the mistakes we see homeowners make when they try to cut corners.

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How Do I Update an Old Fireplace in Reno?

Updating an old fireplace in Reno comes down to three decisions: what you’re changing structurally, what surface material you’re installing, and who’s doing the work.

Most older Reno homes — especially those built in the 1970s through the early 1990s — have fireplaces finished in dated brick, painted concrete, or pink-and-tan tile that was fashionable once. None of that is difficult to work with. The surround (the decorative framing around the firebox opening) is almost always the focal point people want to address, and it’s also the most accessible part of the job.

The typical path we follow: remove or skim-coat the existing surface, prep and level the substrate, then install new tile, stone veneer, or a full stone surround. If the existing brick is sound, we can sometimes install directly over it using a modified thinset rated for high-heat applications — that saves demo time. If it’s crumbling or uneven beyond about 3/8 of an inch, we pull it back to clean substrate first.

Reno’s high desert climate is worth considering here. Our temperature swings — cold winters, hot summers, and low humidity year-round — put real stress on materials. Grout joints open up on cheap installs. Natural stone can spall if moisture gets behind it and freezes. Using the right installation system matters more than most homeowners realize, and that starts with heat-rated materials and proper expansion joints.

The Tile Council of North America publishes installation standards that our crew follows, and the Ceramic Tile Foundation offers certification for installers who demonstrate proficiency with exactly these kinds of applications. Ask your contractor whether they follow TCNA guidelines — it’s a quick way to gauge whether they know what they’re doing.

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What Material Works Best for a Fireplace Surround in Reno?

This is the question we get most often, and the honest answer is: it depends on the look you want and what’s realistic for your budget.

Natural stone — travertine, slate, quartzite, ledger stone — is the most durable option and looks genuinely impressive. We source a lot of our stone through our stone fabrication services and can cut custom pieces to fit unusual openings. Natural stone from the Natural Stone Institute member suppliers we work with comes graded for heat exposure, which matters near a firebox.

Stone veneer panels are a middle-ground option. They’re thinner than full stone, lighter, and faster to install, which lowers labor cost. They look nearly identical to stacked stone from across the room. We’ve done a lot of fireplace stone veneer installations where the homeowner couldn’t justify the cost of real ledgestone but wanted that same textured look. Done correctly, the result holds up fine.

Porcelain and ceramic tile give you the most design flexibility. Large-format porcelain slabs in a concrete or marble look are very popular right now — clean lines, minimal grout joints, easy to maintain. For tile around the firebox itself, you need products rated for heat. Standard wall tile doesn’t qualify. We spec tile rated to at least 400°F for anything within 12 inches of the opening.

Whatever material you choose, the hearth gets hard use — foot traffic, dropped logs, ash. Softer stones like limestone scratch and stain. Slate holds up better. Porcelain is essentially impervious. That’s worth factoring in if you have kids or use the fireplace regularly.

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Do I Need a Permit for Fireplace Tile Work in Reno?

Cosmetic work — installing a new tile or stone surround over an existing structure — does not typically require a building permit in Reno. You’re not altering the firebox, the flue, or any combustion components.

Where permits come into play: if you’re converting from a wood-burning to a gas insert, adding a gas log set, or making structural changes to the firebox or chimney, you’ll need to pull permits through the City of Reno’s Building and Safety Division. Gas work specifically requires a licensed contractor.

Nevada also has contractor licensing requirements that apply regardless of whether a permit is needed. If you’re paying someone to install tile or stone on your fireplace, they should hold a valid Nevada contractor’s license. You can verify any contractor’s license status through the Nevada State Contractors Board — their license search tool is free and takes about 30 seconds. We see unlicensed “handymen” take on fireplace tile jobs and create problems — loose stone around a heat source is a fire hazard, not just an aesthetic issue.

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What Does a Custom Fireplace Remodel Actually Look Like Start to Finish?

I’ll walk through a job we completed in a South Reno home earlier this year. The fireplace was original to the house — 1988 construction, full-height brick surround painted white, raised hearth, and a mantel that had been replaced at some point with something that didn’t suit the room at all.

The homeowner wanted a stacked ledgestone look, floor to ceiling, with a new floating mantel shelf. We started by assessing the existing brick. It was structurally fine, no cracks or soft spots, so we went over it rather than tearing out. We applied a 1/2-inch layer of modified mortar to bring it flush, let it cure for 48 hours, then installed the ledgestone panels using a polymer-modified thinset rated for the application.

The corner pieces on ledgestone are the part that separates a quality install from a rough one. They need to be cut and staggered so the seam looks natural, not like someone just glued a strip of rock to a corner. We cut every corner piece by hand and dry-fit the entire layout before setting anything permanently.

The hearth got 24×24 slate tiles, cut down at the transition to meet the existing hardwood floor. We grouted with an epoxy grout — more durable under foot traffic than standard cement grout, and far easier to clean.

Total working time was about three days for a two-person crew. The homeowner said it looked like a completely different house. That’s not unusual — a fireplace is often the first thing you see walking into a living room, and changing it changes the whole room’s feel.

Our full fireplace remodeling services page covers what we offer across different styles and budgets.

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How Do I Choose the Right Fireplace Remodeling Contractor in Reno?

There are a few things worth checking before you sign anything.

First, verify their Nevada contractor’s license as mentioned above. Second, look at actual completed fireplace projects — not kitchens, not bathroom floors. Fireplace work has specific requirements (heat-rated materials, correct expansion joints, proper installation at the firebox surround) that not every tile installer handles regularly.

Ask whether they follow TCNA handbook standards for fireplace installations. Ask about the specific thinset and grout products they plan to use, and whether those products are rated for the temperatures near a firebox. A contractor who can answer those questions directly — without looking anything up — has done this work before.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Home Builders both maintain member directories that include contractors who’ve agreed to professional standards. These aren’t guarantees, but they’re a reasonable filter.

References from Reno-area projects matter more than online reviews alone. Our climate is specific enough that a contractor with experience in comparable local conditions will make different (better) material calls than someone who learned the trade in coastal California.

D&L Tile, Inc: Reno Tile, Granite & Stone has been doing tile, stone, and remodeling work in Nevada for years. You can learn more about our team and experience on our About page. Beyond fireplaces, we also handle bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, outdoor remodeling, and tile flooring installation throughout the area — so if you’re doing a broader home refresh, we can take on more than just the fireplace.

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Ready to Update Your Fireplace?

If your fireplace looks like it belongs to a different decade, it probably doesn’t have to. A new stone surround or tile facelift can be done in a few days without gutting the room, and the difference is significant.

Contact us to schedule a consultation, or call us directly at (775) 826-7048. You can also stop by our Reno office at 111 Linden St, Reno, NV 89502. We’re happy to look at photos of your existing fireplace before a site visit and give you a realistic sense of what’s possible.