The market for home remodeling is already worth an estimated $450 billion, and that number is only expected to grow.

Along with basement remodeling, basement finishing, and things like wet bar installations, hiring fireplace companies to build new fireplaces in family rooms have become popular renovation projects. Whether you’ve selected a beautiful, front-facing modern fireplace for the living room or a corner fireplace for your bedroom, you must be careful when choosing the best installer.

Here are some questions you should ask fireplace companies before deciding to hire them.

Are you certified by the NFI?

While NFI certification isn’t always necessary (all a fireplace company is required to carry is a local license), it’s the gold standard for ensuring you get the best service possible. To obtain NFI certification, a contractor must demonstrate a high level of skill and specialist knowledge in building fireplaces. It’s not a deal-breaker if everything else about the company looks great. But it’s a good thing to be aware of.

How much does it cost to install a fireplace?

Unlike the first question, this one isn’t as simple as it sounds. To calculate the cost of the kind of fireplace you need, fireplace companies have to consider many factors and variables: labor, time, venting, travel distance, and installation. These complexities are just a few things the installer has to make before giving you a quote. When you get an estimated price from a fireplace company, make sure it’s comprehensive and detailed. You don’t want to get hit with unexpected or hidden costs later on.

How do local building codes apply to this project?

In a perfect world, you could simply stick a fireplace into the wall wherever you want. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple. Rules, regulations, and safety concerns all complicate the process. Some cities enforce emission limits, clearance zones, and construction material restrictions. You want to make sure the fireplace companies you’re considering are familiar with all building and heating codes that apply to you.

Have you had experience with this kind of fireplace?

Even if the contractor you want to hire has been building fireplaces for the past decade or so, you still want to look at their background. If they haven’t done anything much like your project before, at least talk to them enough to feel confident that they’ve done their homework.

These are the questions you should ask all fireplace companies you’re seriously considering hiring. By taking the right steps and precautions, you can get a beautiful fireplace with minimal hassle.