It was a pleasure working with Ralph! He went above and beyond and did a fantastic job. We couldn't be happier with the final look of the fireplace. read more

Fireplace Improvements - Before - Fireplace Services Near Me

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I was referred to Ralph Byrne from my Fireplace store where I purchased my fireplace unit. They also gave me the names of several different independent contractors. Also I searched "yelp" for the same type of contractors. After meeting and interviewing several different companies. I determined that "fireplace improvements" was the best company for my needs. Of course, the bid/price was most important for my uLtimate decision. However; Ralph was the consummate professional. His knowledge, expertise and experience was quickly noticed from the very first day of the rebuild. Just for disclosure, I was also doing a full condo remodel at the same time. I have heard that different contractors clash or butt heads during a build but that really was never an issue. The only issue that I had was from the city! The City (The building and planning division) in there infinite wisdom, postponed my plans to finish my remodel Approximately 3-4 months late. But all said and done, the rebuild of my fireplace came out beautifully! I could not be happier! Ralph was such a pleasure to work with, He was always on time, he never skimped on the quality of materials and was always fair on his pricing. He never added to his original bid to bump up the price (Many contractors always add to the original contract) but, Ralph never did. He was always neat and tidy. Putting away and cleaning after leaving my Job site. On top of everything, he is a very kind and understanding individual. He listened to my concerns and always delivered what he had promised. That being said, I could not give more praise or to "fireplace Improvements". I give Ralph Byrne my highest recommendation! Thanks so much Ralph for my beautiful fireplace! read more

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Don't waste your time on this business like I did. I called five different times and he never bothered to respond to a phone call or text. I called morning, noon, night (literally) and different days of the week over the course of two weeks. Called both yelp listed number and linkedin number and still nothing. Even filled out the form on the website. Waste of my time. Looks like he does good work whenever he actually does work. Pretty disappointed. read more

Ralph is by far the BEST contractor we've ever worked with. IGNORE all the 1 star reviews here. They all talk about his slow response to emails. But here's the truth. When he's working on your job, he is 100% focused on it and doesn't take any breaks to answer emails/texts. Also, once he starts on YOUR job, he responds VERY quickly to all texts and emails. HONESTY: I think this is the most important thing for me. Before the job, he quoted us a certain amount. Then once he started the work, it was a smaller job than he originally thought, so he offered us a discount. I've never had any other contractor do that before. QUALITY OF WORK: Ralph is the most detailed and meticulous contractor we've ever met. Every brick was lined up so perfectly. He even made sure to cut out any blemishes on the stone and marble we picked out so that we would have the perfect look. He's a true artist. The mantel and fireplace were EXACTLY what we wanted, and everything came out looking so beautiful. In addition to our fireplace/mantel, we also had an existing chimney leak. He was able to come out in 1 day's notice and get it fixed just before we started raining PRICE: His price was one of the best we got from different contractors. Other contracts were going to buy a pre-made mantel, and Ralph built us a custom mantel for less money. PROFESSIONALISM: Ralph is extremely nice, courteous, and professional. He always showed up on time, and made sure the area was clean before he left for the day. He never took a break while he worked. He worked extremely hard, but never rushed his work to make sure everything looked perfect. read more

Fireplace Improvements - Fireplace Services Near Me

Ralph did a wonderful job for us with our electric fireplace installation. Not only is he adept at everything fireplace and mantels, not to mention electric work, and referrals to find The perfect hearth slab, but he is also a very patient and thoughtful person who understood my many questions and specific things I wanted with our project. We just love the work he did, it's so clean and literally exactly what I had envisioned. Very reasonable rates, Ralph also was always thinking ahead with multiple solutions to challenges to make our project a success. thank you Ralph we just love it!!! read more

Every once in a while we do business with someone special and for us hiring Ralph was it. Honest, punctual and extreme attention to detail. He removed the fireplace in our new house and it looks like it was never there. Too bad we only had one, it would have been great to work with him again. I highly recommend him. Great job and service at a reasonable price. Thank you Ralph and God bless you. read more

Ralph comes out and presents himself as being very professional and I'm kinda thinking, yeah, this guy can do the job. He emails an estimate the next day, then he flatlines......... No response to voice mails or emails, then several days later, he responds with no explanation that he will get in touch tomorrow to take the next step. Then flatlines........ I actually emailed him to ask him why he flaked. No response. He definitely has issues that keeps him from being consistent. I hope he works them out. read more

Having worked with many contractors across various residential construction and renovation trades, we're so happy to have found Ralph at Fireplace Improvements after we purchased our home. The chimney had a very large crack in the brick on the back wall of the firebox, as well as a poorly-installed gas line and tile hearth. Ralph did a beautiful job rebuilding the wood-burning fireplace and chimney, exposing the original brick-work, and also worked alongside our plumber to ensure smooth installation of the new gas line. We felt secure with Ralph, and he did a terrific job on the work. We second the 11/28/2018 5-star review by Paul P. read more

Our experience with Ralph is as a dedicated, honest and skillful craftsman. We sent out a variety of requests for quotes and he was a very reasonable option his level of professionalism. Throughout the work, he was communicative and realistic in expectations of work conducted as well as availability. Re other negative reviews about communication, we experienced a few hiccups but nothing out of the norm for any professional relationship. He was very responsive to any and all of our concerns and desired for clarity when it came to the work. I would recommend Ralph to anyone needing fireplace support, and would trust his referrals as well. Thank you Ralph! read more

Great experience with Ralph and CHR Improvements. We were purchasing our first house and the brick chimney, the biggest I have ever seen, had to come down sadly. Ralph was actually chosen by the previous owners to do the job. We were nervous because his price seemed so reasonable but in the end he did great work that flawlessly integrates with our home. You would never know that it wasn't always stucco or that it was new! That's a good thing. We were very satisfied and are currently awaiting quotes for several more projects! Ralph is "our guy" and we recommend him to anyone we can. read more

Ralph was by far the most professional, comprehensive, timely, not to mention fairly priced contractor to bid on and execute our fireplace restoration. It was a fairly large job, and Ralph did everything we needed, and nothing we didn't (unlike the other bidders) He was also on time on each visit, cleaned up property and was very respectful of my time. I couldn't say anything about Ralph other than fantastic and highly recommended. Other reviews talk about how he might not be as responsive as needed, this is most likely because its a small shop (thus the competitive price ) and he's so high quality that he is in high demand. read more

We hired Ralph from CHR Improvements to remodel our old fireplace, and I am extremely glad that we chose him for the job. Ralph is as professional as they come. Remodeling can be very stressful when you are choosing someone to perform the work. We did not experience this with CHR Improvements. The price we paid was very reasonable for the quality of workmanship we received. Ralph does a great job at explaining all the work that needs to be done and making sure that the customer is always satisfied. He had great ideas to help me complete the vision I had for our fireplace. Our old brick fireplace was an eyesore. We decided to go with travertine for a more modern look. Ralph even custom built a mantle for us using our existing fireplace shelf. We are so happy with the work that was completed and I cannot even count how many of our guests have complimented the new look of the fireplace. The fireplace has transformed the look and feel of our living room. I recommend CHR Improvements for any remodel projects you may have. You will be happy you hired him. read more

Fireplace Improvements - Fireplace Remodel using travertine with a custom built mantle. This replaced brick that ran from the hearth to the ceiling. - Fireplace Services Near Me

Ralph was a pleasure to work with. He did a huge job for me and it went great. Will use him for all fireplace work in the future Taylor read more

Ralph was an incredibly detail-oriented perfectionist who not only completely transformed our fireplace, he completely changed the look of our main living space! We are absolutely in love with the transformation. This was a dated stone facade which was NOT my vision at all. I had a very specific look I was going for and he was able to deliver the custom fireplace of my dreams! The best thing was he is a general contractor so was a "one stop shop" - everything from demolition, moving the gas line, fixing the chimney internally, extending the chimney, built all the paneling and mantel in his shop, did the tiling, installed the sconces / electrical. (Previous quotes for this project had me having to find separate people for all of these different jobs... overwhelming!) He was meticulous every step of the way. While the project took a little longer than anticipated, this was done during COVID and he was extremely careful with his precautions. I've found it's always best to be patient when there's a renovation project happening (assuming the contractor is an honest and hard working person and not just dropping the ball, which Ralph was absolutely a phenomenal find!) I'd wait the extra couple days any time knowing the end result is done properly. For anything fireplaces, look no further! He's the expert. After all, he ONLY does fireplaces, so he's the best. read more

Fireplace Improvements - The final result we are absolutely in love with - Fireplace Services Near Me

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Extremely satisfied with the entire process. Ralph did a great job on my fireplace with a quick turnaround time and a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to upgrade or remodel their fireplace. read more

Fireplace Improvements - Fireplace Services Near Me

I chose Ralph because I loved a photo of one of his recent jobs on his website. I initially contacted him at the start of a very long escrow and Ralph was patient until the close. He then proceeded to transform a very plain and boring fireplace into the beautiful centerpiece of our home - at a very reasonable price. Ralph is not one of these guys who will slap on a prefab frame and call it a day. He is a craftsman - and does most of the work himself. So one thing you have to keep in mind is that it might take slightly longer to communicate with him (he is busy) and see the job to completion. But the end result will really be a gorgeous work of art. We are thrilled with our fireplace. read more

Fireplace Improvements - Fireplace Services Near Me

I have waited a few months to write this review so I can comment on the quality of Ralph's work as well. Ralph was extremely professional throughout the entire process. He met several times prior to starting work so that he understood exactly what we wanted. We asked for something that could house a speaker in the hearth of the fireplace and Ralph did not disappoint. The entire front panel can come off so I have access to the inside. Ralph custom makes the mantel and can cut it to whatever length, depth, and thickness you would like. He can stain it many colors to match your house and it is and looks quality. The masonry work is amazing. We have 2 kids and they can walk on the quartz hearth and touch the front stone without damaging the fireplace at all. He has done this many times so he can recommend what he believes will look best as well. This fireplace is what every person comments on when they see our home for the 1st time. It does take some time for him to finish the work but I promise you that you will not regret waiting! It will be flawless every time and if it's not, I guarantee you that he is the type of person that will fix it. This is roughly 6 months after he finished the work and it looks exactly like it did the day he finished. Could not be happier and he deserves every bit of business that comes his way! read more

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Ralph/Fireplace Improvements recently completed a fireplace remodeling job at my home, and I could not be happier. I found Fireplace Improvements after doing some online research, and after reading the reviews I decided to give them a call. Ralph promptly returned my call and we were able to coordinate a time for him to come over via email. He visited my home to see the fireplace and we discussed what I wanted to change. Several days later he provided an estimate for the work. After I ordered the tile and materials, we arranged for him to begin the work. Ralph demo'ed the old fireplace, installed new tile/grout/caulk, extended the fireplace wall in order to center the fireplace on the wall, textured and painted the wall, and built and installed a custom mantle. Throughout the project, Ralph was professional and punctual, and his workmanship was excellent. He also provided valuable feedback and ideas concerning the overall design. During the project, in the very few instances when I asked him to change something he had already completed, he was happy to make the modification, and I felt that he was truly interested in making sure I was happy with his work. He was also extremely responsive to my texts and always notified me in advance when he would be coming and going, which was important for me and my pregnant wife who also have two kids and a dog - suffice to say our lives are already very hectic, so adding construction to the formula generally creates chaos, but Ralph was helpful in minimizing any obstruction to our daily routine. Overall, I am extremely happy with the finished product, and having obtained other quotes I can attest that it was done at a very reasonable price. I will be recommending Ralph and Fireplace Improvements to all of my friends, and if I ever need any additional work I will be contacting Ralph again. Thank you Ralph! read more

Fireplace Improvements - After - Fireplace Services Near Me

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Ralph is a true "old school" craftsman! it is hard to find anyone who does this quality of work these days. it's true that he was a little hard to get a hold of at first ( 1 email, 2 calls) but I persisted and boy am i glad i did! keep in mind that Ralph is a small business owner without a secretary. Some messages may fall through the cracks , so don't give up after 1 call ... ( TIP: try texting as well) . do know that once he is on the job he communicates very well and keeps you apprised every step of the way. we had a tough job ... total demolition of a 1920's fireplace with an uneven foundation. Ralph did an amazing job. Everything looks perfect. Honestly, I don't know how he did it. He takes great pride in his work and it shows! Bottom line : if you are a cranky, impatient person, you should go with a "wham bam" big company but if you want amazing work done at a reasonable price, Ralph is your guy. I could not be more pleased!!! read more

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!! HE RIPPED US OFF. WE PAID A DEPOSIT OF $800.00 ON A $1,900 JOB AND HE NEVER FINISHED THE JOB! Ralph took our deposit; almost 50% of the value of the job and then skipped town. He did the demo and then skipped town with the rest of my money. I now have a half completed job and he has never returned my calls or emails. He also damaged one of my walls and did not tell me about it. This was a simple job; no need to bail. Tear out some old tiles and replace with new ones and install a mantle. I have to go to the state to try to get my money back! read more

Ralph showed up on time for the appointment and then I got the estimate the very next day as promosed. Everything seemed to be going smooth. I email him to ask when he can start the job, no reply, I called him and left message, no reply, then called again, still no reply. A week later, I sent one more email to let him know that I would move on to other contractor. Then supprisingly, he email me back the next day appologizing he had a family emergency and had to leave town for a few days, and he promised to get back to me later that day to talk about moving forward with the project.... that was the last time I heard from him.....never a call or email after that..... After I read some of the previous comments, Ralph is definitly having issues. He might be professional at what he is doing, but as doing bussinse and treating customer wise, he is anything BUT professional. read more

We had a great experience with CHR Improvements. Ralph was courteous and reasonably priced. We explained what we wanted and he gave suggestions for additional changes that were fabulous. His creativity, craftsmanship, and attention to the smallest detail exceeded our expectations. See the before and after photos. read more

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Simply put, Ralph is a fireplace artist. He saw the mantel I bought online was too tall and he was able to modify the mantel to fit perfectly. He expertly installed the stone on the face and hearth and even recommended who I should get the stone from. He also saw that the existing fireplace wasn't to code and not safe, so he added new brick to the front and built out an accent wall. Now everything is safe and beautiful. I will definitely ask Ralph to do more work for me. read more

Fireplace Improvements - Ralph built out the accent wall, installed the stone on the face and the hearth, the mantel and the trim. It's beautiful! - Fireplace Services Near Me

Ralph is a true craftsman. From the consulting phase to the final placement of the handcrafted mantle my wife and I couldn't be happier. He did an amazing job with transforming an eyesore to a prime feature in our home. His work with the stone was so precise and detailed, he fully finished corners and recesses to look uniform. He took extra car to integrate the hearth, floor and sides to make sure all was flush and smooth. He handcrafted a mantle to directly match our cased entryways and crown moulding to fully integrate the fireplace into the room. Its our favorite home feature now thanks to Ralph. All at a great price. read more

I've emailed him 5 times to ask for an estimate. He never responded. After reading these reviews I'd stay away.

I was looking to redo our fireplace mantel. Came across this business and the pictures looked promising. Unfortunately, like other fellow Yelpers, I did not get a call back or reply back to my request on yelp. This review is solely based on their lack of response. I tried 2 times to reach out to this business. After all, I can relate that sometimes you can miss the first Attempt to return calls, but the second time is just flat out unprofessional! Even if you have too much business, you should return the call! I've contacted many contractors, and sometimes they admit they're too busy, and I completely respect that. Too bad this business lacks that decency. read more

I'm so happy with the work Ralph did for me. This is the second time I used his services. Great prices and he always pays attention to details. I'm a real estate agent, and it's nice to have him working for my team as well. Showed up in time. read more

VERY happy with our new, updated fireplace. Our old gas/wood burning fireplace looked very depressing and out dated. We hired Ralph to update the look and change the fireplace to be a modern looking crystal glass burning fireplace. Ralph was very professional and did an AMAZING job. We picked our own materials and he worked closely with us to deliver what we wanted. He even built and installed a custom wood mantel. I would recommend Ralph to anyone looking to improve the look and feel of their fireplace. Thank you! read more

Ralph, the owner, completely refurbished and updated our large and poorly maintained fireplace and chimney. He cleaned out the fireplace and firebox, painted the fireplace with special fireplace paint, and removed old gas logs and dangerous gas burners. He Installed new firebrick, a new remote starter and linear gas burner that he fabricated to fit the unusual size fireplace. Finally, he added silica sand, and FyreGlass, swept out the chimney and flue, and installed a new spark arrestor and cap on the chimney. Ralph Byrne was friendly and highly professional in all our interactions. He was always on time and was careful to keep the work site clean while he worked as well as when he finished each day. His estimate was straightforward, honest, and clear. He explained code-related issues, the best way to do things, and made recommendations that saved us money by not recommending things that we thought might be needed. The work was done quickly, professionally, and with a minimum of mess. And all the work took only two days. We are extremely pleased with our entire interaction with Ralph, from the first visit for an estimate thru the completion of the job. Our fireplace and chimney have been completely updated, made much safer, and our cleaned and modernized by a true professional. We have nothing but wonderful comments to say about Ralph and the work he's done for us. read more

Was looking to remodel a fireplace with floor to ceiling Palos Verde rock. Finally found Ralph's company on line in September. Ralph came to give an estimate. He listened to what we envisioned and then gave us some very good suggestions on how to achieve our vision. He took a lot of time with us explaining what the remodel would entail. A few days later he sent us a quote. His estimate was very detailed on what work would be done. He always showed up when he said he would. He even worked with our schedule when we had to go out of town for a few days. Ralph takes great pride in his work. Our fireplace is at a weird angle but with his experience and knowledge he was able to make it work. We were extremely happy with the finished product and would happily refer Ralph. read more

We had a fireplace that was in desperate need of either replacing or remodeling. After we got an outrageous quote of $6K to replace the gas fireplace system from a local company, I searched online and came across CHR. Ralph was very quick to return my call and got me an estimate within two days. He was very professional, friendly, respectful, and courteous. Ralph gave us some great ideas what could be done to the existing fireplace. We found his rates to be very reasonable. We decided to hire him to do the work. We signed the contract and agreed on a start date. The fireplace was to be completed within a weeks time. After a week delay, Ralph was able to begin work. Each day Ralph came and went and each day left his work area clean. We had an unusual situation with our old fireplace which made it difficult to remodel so we understood there might be some delays. Ralph however persevered and after about a month our fireplace was finished. Ralph managed to transform our fireplace into a work of art. We were impressed with the quality of his work and his attention to detail. However, as much as we loved the job he did and as much as we liked the guy, I gotta say the most frustrating part of working with Ralph was his lack of responsiveness. I can't tell you how many voice messages and texts he either never responded to or responded to days later when all that was being asked were updates on when he was going to show up or any delays he may have had. Towards the end it became a guessing game when he would show up or return our calls. So for anyone considering hiring him, keep in mind he'll do an amazing job for you and will transform your fireplace but it may be challenging getting him to be responsive to you. read more