Affordable Free Standing Fireplace Installation & Repairs Services
Small closed-combustion stoves for De Waterkant cottages, sized for compact lounges and routed through the roof where heritage rules allow.
De Waterkant is a tight grid of cobbled lanes and colourful terraced cottages on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, right on the edge of the city centre. We help owners add warmth to these small, historic homes without spoiling the street face, and we look after the chimneys that are already there.
FIRE FLAMES SERVICES
Choose the service you need below. Please mention whether the property is a cottage, a guesthouse or an apartment, and tell us about parking and access in your lane.
Small closed-combustion stoves for De Waterkant cottages, sized for compact lounges and routed through the roof where heritage rules allow.
Inserts that bring an original De Waterkant fireplace back into use, with the old flue checked, swept and lined first.
Wall-mounted gas and electric fireplaces for De Waterkant apartments and renovated cottages with no usable chimney.
Built-in and freestanding braais for De Waterkant courtyards and roof decks, scaled to the small spaces these homes have.
Gas braai installation and conversions in De Waterkant, with the gas line done properly and a Certificate of Compliance issued.
Pizza ovens and compact outdoor kitchens for De Waterkant roof terraces that look out over the harbour and city.
Chimney sweeping and repairs in De Waterkant, including old flues that have sat unused for years and need checking before a fire is lit.
De Waterkant is a historic residential quarter of Cape Town, and its terraced cottages share walls, roofs and often chimney stacks with the house next door. Much of the area falls under heritage protection, and buildings older than 60 years generally need a permit from heritage authorities before significant alterations. A new flue on a street-facing roof slope can attract objections, so we look for routes at the back of the house or into an existing chimney wherever possible.
Inside, rooms are small and ceilings can be low, which changes what is safe. Clearances to combustible floors, timber beams and furniture matter more in a narrow cottage than in a large lounge. We match the heat output to the room so it does not overheat, and we check party walls and shared chimneys so smoke cannot find its way into a neighbour’s home.
Where a cottage has a sound chimney or a hidden flue route, a small wood stove gives real warmth on a wet winter night. Have a look at our freestanding closed-combustion range from R7,490, keeping in mind that a lower output model usually suits these rooms best.
Gas suits De Waterkant guesthouses and lock-up-and-go homes. Guests can light it with a switch, nobody needs to haul wood down the cobbles, and balanced flue models can vent through a back wall rather than the roof. All gas work comes with a Certificate of Compliance.
For flats around the Cape Quarter and cottages where heritage rules rule out any external flue, bio-ethanol and electric fireplaces add a flame with no structural changes. They are also simple to remove if you sell or let the property.
Gardens are rare in De Waterkant, so braais usually go in a walled courtyard or up on a roof deck with views over Table Bay. We build compact wood braais into courtyard walls and fit small gas units where space and fire clearances are tight. Because the houses sit so close together, we plan the chimney or hood carefully so smoke clears the rooflines and does not drift into the windows across the lane.
| Installation labour, freestanding unit, single-storey | R3,500 to R4,800 |
| Freestanding fireplace installation incl. flue | R6,000 to R18,000 |
| Built-in / insert installation | R18,000 to R45,000 |
| Gas installation incl. gas line + CoC | R12,000 to R35,000 |
| Built-in braai installation | quoted on design |
Heritage applications, flue relining in old shared stacks, carrying equipment along the lanes and any roof repairs are quoted after we visit the house. See our fireplace installation Cape Town page for the full picture.
Give us your De Waterkant street and a short note on what you are after. If the cottage is heritage graded or part of a sectional title scheme, tell us early so approvals can run alongside the planning.
Call +27 73 209 3004If the work changes the outside of the building, such as a new flue or chimney, approval is usually needed in De Waterkant. Internal units like bio-ethanol or electric fireplaces normally do not need it. We can tell you which route your project falls into after a site visit.
Sometimes. Each fireplace needs its own sealed flue inside the stack, so we inspect it and usually reline your side before any fire is lit. If the stack is in poor shape, gas or bio-ethanol may be the better choice.
Gas is popular because guests can use it safely with a switch and there is no wood to store or ash to clean. Bio-ethanol and electric options work well in rooms where a flue is not possible.
A large stove can overheat a compact room, so we size the unit to the space. A smaller closed-combustion model gives steady, comfortable heat without driving you out of the room.
Often, yes, as long as the roof structure can carry it and there is enough clearance from neighbouring buildings. We look at both before recommending a wood or gas braai.
Yes. Along with De Waterkant we work across Green Point, Bo-Kaap, the Cape Town city centre and the rest of the City Bowl.