I had a gas insert installed in my condo and went from an old wood burning fireplace to a nice gas turning Chaska 25. Summit was easy to work with and installed the unit without issue. Nice guys and did a great job. Thanks so much! read more

Summit - Before - Condo Fireplace built in the 80's - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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It is so refreshing to do business with the Summit team. Their relaxed professionalism reflects their knowledge and allows one to work through the project of converting a wood burning fireplace to a beautiful clean rock gas insert. After checking out several other fireplace insert folks, I can only reiterate all the positive comments that have been written about the entire Summit team. Without hesitation, I recommend Summit Fireplace and Grills. Thank you!!!!! read more

Best experience from this place the moment we stepped in the door! Maybe it's because it was a cold rainy day last spring and this shop was so warm and cozy when we walked in on account of the fire places all being on...I don't know, but it was heavenly! I could've hung out there all day with their dog sitting by the fire. Ryan and Ted were super friendly and patient and helped us throughout the whole process. I had tons of questions about the existing size of the fireplace hole and wanted to make sure we got the largest insert possible. I'd emailed them several times with photos and even had my mason guy call them when he was rebuilding the brick. All the time the guys here were helpful! They recommended a good electrician and plumber for the electric and gas lines and everything was done professionally and timely. The insert install itself was great and everything went smoothly. I can't express enough how much I love this gas insert! I'm not sure who enjoys it more, me or my dog. It's beautiful to look at and gives off a nice amount of warmth. It's by far my favorite part of our new house. read more

Summit - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The Summit staff is so congenital and helpful. No high pressure sales only top notch service. They helped us select the gas fireplace that was best for us, removed the old wood burning fireplace and installed the new. They gave me a list of contractors to get bids from and I was extremely pleased with who I chose. Can I say his name? Jim Waksdahl. read more

Summit - My new gas fireplace from Summit. Love it! - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Another satisfied customer. These guys are really down to earth and know what they're talking about. We are incredibly happy with our purchase of a gas fireplace insert for our home. For gas and electric hook-ups we went through their contractors. Overall a very good experience regarding the installation and final product. read more

Ted and Ryan at Summit Fireplaces are the best! From the initial phone call, to installation, to after installation questions, they showed time and again their commitment to 1st rate service. We had never had a gas fireplace before, and with so many options available, we needed a trusted source. Summit is that source! Ted's knowledge and help, was key in our deciding on the right fireplace for our needs. There was never any pressure, only a commitment to making sure we were making the right decision. Ryan was so helpful throughout, and coordinated with our contractor during the process. And Daniel and his crew, were first rate during the installation. Even after the installation, Ted and Ryan were always ready to answer any questions we had. Look no further than Summit Fireplace, for outstanding service and beautiful fireplaces! read more

Summit just completed the installation of my new fireplace insert - it could not be more beautiful and I could not be happier. From the beginning, Derek, Ted, and Ryan have been totally professional. I have lived in Castro Valley all of my life, but did not realize Summit was here in Castro Valley. I had gone into several fireplace companies around the Bay Area and most acted like they could careless about my business. I found Summit by doing a Google search. I walked into their store and met Derek. To make a long story short, Derek followed my wife and myself home. He measured my fireplace and gave me a proposal the next day. He then discovered that a part he had planned to use was no longer available from the manufacturer. He came back out to my house and re-measured the fireplace, so he could fabricate the part. I then thought the price was going to be adversely affected. To my surprise the price dropped by $50! The installers were great, every part of the installation went perfectly and I am now enjoying the fireplace immensely! I will recommend Summit to anyone and everyone. read more

Summit - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I went all over the east bay looking at fireplace inserts and can say without doubt that's these guy are the best. Loads of information and willing to spend as much time as necessary with no pressure to buy answering all your questions. Save yourself some time and gives these guys a visit! You won't be sorry! read more

This place was recommended to me so I drove to Castro valley and I was not disappointed. From start to finish I could not be happier. From quote to installation Ted Ryan and Derik were very professional and know the products. They were always responsive and customer service is excellent. If u are thinking of changing out your fireplace call them first u will not be disappointed read more

Just had our new gas insert installed and it is better than I could have imagined! We have an odd shaped fireplace but really wanted an insert and not a stove, and Ryan worked with us to find an insert that would fit and got a custom-made shroud to work with our space. They made the process unbelievably easy - they coordinate the electrician and plumber to do the work before the install (the other quote I got was almost 2x the price, and I would of had to find, hire and coordinate the electrical and plumbing (for the gas line) work myself). Every member of their team was great to work, professional and fast! Couldn't recommend more! read more

Purchased a Kozy Heat insert to replace our old wood burning fireplace. Went down to their showroom to see all of their options available. Ted was very knowledgeable and listened to our concerns then directed us to the Chaska 29 model. Other reviews were 'spot on' regarding no high pressure salesmanship. Installation only took 2 hours by Ryan and Derrick. Both worked very well in tandem and answered all questions posed (and photos taken) during the install process. Highly professional team with customer service treated as a priority. Just our luck that outside temperature is in the 70's with more of the same in the immediate forecast. We are hoping for a cold front to come in to fully enjoy our newest investment! read more

We needed to do something about our ugly old brick fireplace in 20 years old house we bought couple of years ago but were not sure what. We drove to Castro Valley to visit Summit Fireplace based solely on excellent Yelp reviews. Store owner Derek is a humble down to Earth guy which is not typical for contractors who usually behave like they want to rip you off right away. Derek was very patient, polite and spend lot of time walking us around store showing different options, demoing, trying to figure out what we want. Then next day he sent several estimates for different options and continued to communicate with us to help us to make a right decision. Compare that with a fireplace store in Dublin which we also visited and where the owner shop was behaving arrogantly with smirk on his face, did not make any moves to show us any fireplaces and hinted that unless we spend 12 grands he is not interested. He also never sent us estimate even though he promised to do so. I do not know may be we did not look rich enough for his tastes. I also contacted with former Summit customer who also told me that she could not find any fireplace store which was interested in doing job for a reasonable budget until she found Summit Fireplace. In the end after couple of other visits to Summit we selected Delano - the modern gas fireplace from Kozy Heat - very affordable and very gorgeous looking, you have to see it in person to appreciate how much value you are getting installing it. Derek also did not change much for installation so money we paid to Summit were considerable less than that Dublin store would potentially charge us. After fireplace arrived Derek came to install it with his partner Ryan. My (general) contractor who was doing gas line and finishing was very impressed with Derek and Ryan which says something. When Derek turned on Delano we were surprised how fantastic it looks - it has a mode when gas is off but lights are on and it looks fabulous, you do not need even to turn on gas to enjoy it! It also has a option to install fan which turns it into heater even though in generates a lot of heat even without it. read more

Summit - Kozy Heat Delano with lights on. - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Ryan and Ted are awesome! I have been looking for a new gas insert for over 1 year. I came across Summit Fireplace, and say no more! Their staff is experienced, responsive, and patient. They will help you pick the right fireplace in your budget; measure and deliver in a timely manner. They are amazing and I would give them the highest recommendation to anyone considering an upgrade! read more

This may be the only negative review of Summit Fireplace and Grill, but please take it to heart. Summit misled us about the heat that their installation would provide, then, instead of trying to remedy our issue, they acted to protect their own interests. See following detail. - We bought and had installed a Chaska-25 gas insert from Summit for about $5300. - Summit estimated and contracted the job without coming to our house o They assured us the insert would adequately heat an 800 sq ft room. - The gas guy had to alter the gas line at an extra cost of $300 above the $450 we already paid. 2 guys worked 1.5 hrs total and installed 30 feet of flex gas line. o Summit could have made us aware of this extra expense if they came to the house to do the estimate. If you are approached with a similar change order, decline it and let Summit deal with it. - We ran the insert a few mornings. It was clear that it didn't provide adequate heat. o Our room is less than 300 sq ft with an 8 ft ceiling, far from the 800 sq ft that Summit quoted. If we had known, we would not have bought the insert. o On the highest heat setting and second highest blower setting, it took an hour to increase the temperature 3 (sometimes only 2) degrees at only 5 ft from the insert; for example, from 60 to 63 degrees. That's still cold, not warm! - Ted came out, turned on the flame, looked at the flame, said it appeared to be working as it should, gave us a replacement remote (I have no idea why; the remote wasn't the problem), and left. o He did nothing to confirm whether our issue was real. He did not check venting, the gas line, or anything else. - We called Ryan and said we wanted the issue fixed or remove the insert and refund our money. o Ryan said he would talk to Ted, then get back to us. o After 4 days with no reply, we sent a written statement of our request, which we believe is the only reason they then contacted us. o Note that we had provided documented tests of the poor heating, with multiple invites to Summit to repeat the experience to confirm on their own, all declined. - Ryan and Ted (I believe) then came to the house. o As Ryan requested, we had PGE first come out to confirm adequate gas pressure to the house. o Ryan tested that adequate gas pressure was getting to the insert and tested the temperature of the glass at the face of the insert. o The temperature at the glass wasn't the problem. It's that we can't sit 5 ft away and get warm. o Again, no effort to confirm our issue, research causes of our issue, or remedy the issue. o Their actions seemed intended to build some defense of their system and installation that were not related to our issue. o Although we asked 'What now?', they just left. - This was ultimately resolved as: o The PGE guy had earlier suggested that we test the blower by watching the smoke from a piece of incense. o We saw that the Chaska-25 blower was weak. o At about 2.5 feet away from the insert, we saw an otherwise imperceptible air flow in the opposite direction actually impede the heat from blowing farther out from the insert. o We turned on our house heater fan to draw air into a vent away from the insert. This workaround allows the heat to progress into the room and provide adequate heat where we sat 5 ft away. o Compared to alternatives, this workaround was a satisfactory enough solution for us, so we didn't pursue any other action, except to request that the electrical line be replaced with metal-clad wire, as the PGE guy also had emphasized. Summit had their electrician replace the wire. o Summit says they install to code, but when asked once, Ryan couldn't identify the entities whose code they follow. What irritates us is that Summit could have avoided some problems by just coming to the house to do the estimate, and that they then made no attempt to recognize or resolve our legitimate issue. So beware of Summit's false claims, poor processes, and selfish objectives. read more

The summit folks are awesome. They were great during the process of selecting a fireplace place insert, and during installation. After having a couple of minor issues with the fireplace insert, they responded promptly and courteously, and best of all the problem was fixed. Thank you Summit! read more

Summit - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

We recently converted our wood burning fireplace to gas with ceramic logs. We contacted Summit based primarily on their favorable Yelp reviews; and we are pleased that we did. Ryan and Ted of Summit were very helpful, courteous, and professional. The positive results of their work exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend Summit to anyone looking for fireplaces or grills. read more

I needed to replace my Vermont Castings gas insert which harmonized well with a custom fireplace in my home built in the 20's. I visited a few different stores for gas inserts, but their limited inventory did not offer the traditional look I wanted. Summit was a pleasant discovery as they carried many different brands and actually offered a couple fireplace inserts that I liked. This store stands out, not just because of the product selection, but also because of the employees in this small family-like operated shop. I spoke with Ted, a sales person, and he helped me tremendously. We talked in detail on questions I had, and, if he didn't know the answer, he researched for me with a quick email response. I didn't get this kind of attention in the other stores I visited. Summit, for the most part, uses their own installers; again, part of the family-like operation. The installers came earlier than scheduled in order to accommodate a schedule conflict I had. The installation was quick (about 1.5 hours....including more talking time with me and my Q's). These guys were friendly and professional. I'm a true customer and happy with my purchase; now I just can't wait until the heat wave is over. I strongly recommend Summit. read more

These guys are the best, very professional, great installation. I would recommend this company for anyone interested in a gas fireplace. read more

Summit - Terrific installation. Thanks guys - General Contractors Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Probably no surprise from the reviews that these guys are just awesome!! Professional, knowledgable, super competitive with prices, and best of all, just all round really nice people!! My husband and I explored all our options in the Bay Area and would have gone with Summit but live a little far out for them in San Francisco. Even knowing this, the Summit guys spent almost an hour with us talking us though all our options and giving us down-to-earth advice. They were super helpful and extremely generous with their time. If you're in the East Bay and looking for a fireplace, or a gas insert you're in luck - stop scrolling Yelp and just pick up the phone and call these guys!! It's that easy. read more

We hired Summit for a fireplace insert. Made the process simple, gave good advice, and never up-sold me. Helped us find the product that was best for our needs, and provided quality service through the whole process. The installation was quick, seamless, and clean! And they gave us a thorough tutorial of the fireplace. Would hire again in a second! read more

We're recent transplants to California. And while we were still acclimating to the climate a bit, we had a new fireplace insert added by Summit Fireplace and Grills. It's the best ever. No more furnace. We turn it on for a while to warm things up in the morning, and whenever the wind is really blowing (and it blows a lot). It's attractive, as well as super efficient. Thanks, guys, for your superior product and great service. read more

Nice company ,their work exceed my expectations! I am glad we have chose them to do our fireplace work.

As a business, it is nice to have another company you trust to send your customers to and that is exactly what we have with Summit Fireplace and Grills! Derek and Ryan are always quick to help and volunteer in the community, and all of our customers have been more than pleased when they get work done by them. Glad to have another great business in town! read more

I don't give a lot of reviews but I have to say the guys at Summit are great! We had two inserts installed and everyone involved from the electrician to the plumber(for the gas line) to Ryan, Ted, and Derrick were all very professional and friendly. I recommend them without hesitation. read more

We are sitting in front of and enjoying our new fireplace insert installed by Summit. When we stopped by their store, Derrick gave us a rundown of our options. Very informative. He even came out to the house to do a field evaluation. We moved forward and are now enjoying our Valor. Their service, knowledge and prices are top notch. read more

I had a completely positive experience with Summit from beginning to end. I had started my search with two other companies before finding Summit in an online search. The other companies were recommended by friends - one in San Francisco (sort of high end) and one in Oakland. Those were complete busts - the Oakland people scheduled a visit and then never showed, the SF people had nothing to show me and the person I spoke with didn't seem to know much. I went online and found Summit, then emailed them with the dimensions of my fireplace and some photos. Ted responded quickly, and had something that would work. I drove out there and they had the unit in the shop so I could see exactly what it looked like. (Important!) I ordered it practically on the spot and have not been disappointed. They recommended a plumber for the gas line who did a great job and I think at a reasonable price. Ted had to order a custom sized metal surround that took exactly the amount of time he said it would to arrive from the manufacturer. He told me the whole process would take about 5 weeks at this time of year, and it did. The installer they use, Daniel, is also great. I promise I am not related to these guys in any way! I just thought they did a really good job both in customer service and with the installation process. And I totally love the insert, and my dog hasn't moved from in front of it since it was installed. read more

Previous five star reviews are accurate - a great experience with Summit Fireplace of Castro Valley on a Valor Legend G4. Exemplar communication/education with me the customer, my multiple questions answered with patience and respect. Install occurred on time, finished early. Zero collateral damage, always a plus! A pleasure to work with Ted, Ryan and Derrick. Worth the drive to Castro Valley. read more

This is overdue but we used Summitt about a year ago and needed a new gas fireplace. We had to take down our chimney and sadly our fireplace. Our contractor measured incorrectly after we ordered the fireplace. Summitt was very accommodating and ordered another one and sent back the original one with no problem. Ryan and Derrick were professional and responsive. They didn't try and charge us for shipping and were super nice about it even though it was our fault. The store itself is fairly small and at the time didn't have a lot of fireplaces on display. That would be my only criticism but other than that they were great and would use them again. read more

I am simply in awe of the competence and effectiveness of the summit fireplace team. Ryan and Derek are so incredibly customer focused and will honestly do whatever it takes to make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase and sales experience. Their communication is top notch, by email, text message, or phone. They even managed to squeeze in my installation the day after I called to schedule. Prior to the install, they came out to the house four or five times to coordinate with the contractor doing our remodel to ensure a perfect fit with the right hook ups. This was, of course, free of charge. In a purchase such as a new fireplace or insert, not only is the product extremely important but the sales installation and service experience has to be spot on. Ryan and Eric made me feel like I was buying a Ferrari, and the new unit is just as hot. I honestly can't give a higher recommendation than these two and they're excellent product line. I promise we did our homework, and visited a number of the other stores in the area. While the breadth of the selection at Summit may not have been as big as some of the others, the quality of the units and above all the attentiveness of the service far and away exceeded anything else we saw. Had I known how competent the Summit would be, I would have happily paid double what we did. As it is, Summit's bid came in solidly competitive and we're just thrilled with the outcome. A top-notch A+ operation, you won't be disappointed!!! read more

We recently needed our gas fireplace insert replaced. I saw great reviews about Summit on Yelp so I emailed pictures of our existing insert and measurements for a replacement. Ryan responded within a day or two with recommendations to include links that described the inserts and a quote. He followed up with a phone call but no pressure. We visited their store a few weeks later and ordered an insert. We were very impressed with Ryan and Derek. They were professional, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful and even came by to double check my measurements to be sure all would go smoothly. They communicated with us and worked around our schedules to install the insert. Derek installed the unit within a couple weeks of ordering. I would highly recommend Summit Fireplace! Great guys and professional service. read more

Ted from Summit Fireplace made purchasing our new fireplace insert a great experience...thanks again we are ready for winter.....recommend this business read more

The guys at Summit Fireplace are awesome! They are super friendly and knowledgeable! They were able to connect us with an electrician and gas guy to get everything set up who know the process and work with Summit often. The guys did the install and were great with scheduling. read more

I highly recommend Summit Fireplace! Derek, Ryan and Ted were great to work with on my project. I needed a gas fireplace with certain specifications. I wanted a narrow depth but not too narrow. They were very helpful in suggesting just the right fireplace. It really helped to have a team that understood my requirements and were able to quickly recommend just the right fireplace. My order was placed right away and delivered on time. These guys are the best! read more

Ted and the team at Summit Fireplace are the best! From the selection process through installation, their service is fantastic and the quality of their fireplace inserts is top notch too. We have worked with them on the purchase and installation of two fireplace inserts during the past year. Most recently, we had them install one that had to fit within an existing enclosure surrounded by a rock hearth. They came up with a solution that works perfectly and looks like the hearth was built around it from the start. We have recommended Summit to our daughters and their husbands, and would recommend Summit to anyone who wants to buy a fireplace insert. Thanks guys! read more

I LOVE my new Chaska insert! I had been wanting to convert my wood-burning fireplace for some time, mainly because I love the look and feel of a fire, but with the increasing number of Spare-The-Air days in the Bay Area, I was finding that I couldn't count on having a fire when I really wanted one. I started an online search for a company that would do the installation of a gas insert. The reviews of Summit were so overwhelmingly positive that I called them first. Ted was very informative over the phone, and invited me to come to the store to see the fireplaces in action, which I did. As a result of the reviews and my conversation with Ted, I knew I was going to contract with Summit. I'm a person who always gets at least 3 estimates, but after visiting the store room and meeting with Ted, I didn't even CALL anyone else. My experience with Summit was painless; actually, it was fun. No surprises, just an easy progression from initial estimate to electric/gas line installation, to gas insert installation. Don and Joe, who did the electric/gas line installations respectively, called me directly to set up times for their work. Both were prompt and professional. Ryan came out to my house to take some measurements, and he, too, was polite, informative, and professional. I communicated with Summit via email and telephone, and I got prompt, comprehensive responses to my questions. This was the least stressful home improvement project ever for me! I highly recommend Summit Fireplace & Grills! read more

The gentleman of Summit Fireplace did a great job for us, and we are very happy with the outcome. Our gas fireplace insert installation was not standard, and required a bit of house surgery. Summit was able to manage it well. We definitely recommend. read more

I have lived in Castro Valley for over 20 years. How great to be able to use a company that is local. And the service was outstanding. We ordered a new BBQ insert. Ryan did the work and did a great job. If you go to the shop you may be greeted by Jersey, a wonderful old Labrador. Everyone is friendly and we would highly recommend this company. read more

This place is worth the drive from Walnut Creek! Excellent service - clear, patient and accurate descriptions of their good assortment of products that helped us make the perfect choice. And, the installation they provided was efficient and expert, and finally - they're really nice guys! We highly recommend Summit!!!! read more

These guys were great!!!! Contractor they sent who ran gas line noticed my water heater was 20 years old and sitting on a rotted partial board base. They replaced water heater and base the same day and gave me a great price.....fireplace gas insert is awesome and the install was fast clean and perfect. So happy with product and total experience I am going to add a gas fireplace in my downstairs mancave. Great company and Ted was great thru the whole process read more

I went to another place in the area and felt like I was buying a used car. So ended up at Summit, super happy I did. We ended up ordering and installing a new gas insert, the whole process was easy and the guys were super helpful and honest. They recommended electrician and gas and when the unit came and they took time with the installation. I also like supporting a local business, I recommend them. read more