A gas-burning fireplace in Lenexa, KS gives you real fire without the woodpile, the smoke, or the 15-foot setback the city puts on wood fires. The real work is the gas line, the footing, the clearances, and keeping it lit in a north wind, which is why DW Elite Decks, building outdoor living spaces in Lenexa since 1997, plans the fireplace and the structure around it together.
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Lenexa’s recreational fire rules are written around firewood. A wood fire has to sit in a pit or behind masonry, stay under 2 feet tall and 3 feet across, wear a spark screen, and sit at least 15 feet from any structure, vehicle, or combustible material.
On a typical backyard with the deck off the kitchen, 15 feet puts the fire out in the grass. A gas fireplace certified for outdoor use is installed to the manufacturer’s tested clearances and the fuel gas code instead. That’s why it can live on a deck, under a roof, or inside a porch. We confirm the specifics for your unit during permit review.
What you get with gas:
Kansas Gas Service runs natural gas to most homes here, so a natural gas fireplace is usually the default. A propane fireplace earns its spot in a few specific cases.
| Natural gas | Propane | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel supply | Piped from your meter, never runs out | Tank or cylinder that needs refills |
| Installation | New line from the house, permitted and pressure-tested | Shorter trench or none; tank placement and screening |
| Running cost | Usually lower per hour | Usually higher per hour |
| Best fit | Fireplace near the house or inside a covered structure | Fireplace far from the meter, or a finished yard you don't want trenched |
Burners are built for one fuel. Propane packs roughly 2.5 times the energy of natural gas per cubic foot, so orifices and pressure settings differ. A unit set up for one fuel only switches with the manufacturer’s conversion kit.
The most common surprise with a fireplace gas hookup isn’t the fireplace. It’s whether your meter and pipe have room left.
The surface under the fire decides most of the design.
Rather gather around a circle? See gas and wood fire pits. Set on real wood? Our wood-burning fireplaces page covers chimneys and draft.
We file the paperwork, schedule the inspections, and meet the inspector. Here’s what’s involved:
Local service reviews and hearth forums keep circling the same few complaints. Here’s how we head them off.
Lenexa sits on rolling, open ground, and winter winds come out of the north and northwest. Gusts near 60 mph have been recorded at Olathe weather stations next door. We face the firebox away from that wind, use glass wind guards where the unit allows, and favor electronic ignition with flame sensing.
Rain getting into chimneys and chases is one of the most common fireplace repair calls around the metro. Chase caps, crowns, flashing, and a drained burner pan keep water off the burner and ignition parts.
Clay soil swells and shrinks, and freeze-thaw works on every joint. Footings at depth, proper lath behind the veneer, and weep details keep the stone where it belongs.
An outdoor gas fireplace warms the seats in front of it, not the whole deck. For full coverage, pair it with Infratech infrared heaters, a partial wall, or a porch enclosure.
Thermocouples, thermopiles, and ignition modules are the parts that wear out. We help you choose a unit whose parts are easy to source locally, so a repair takes days, not weeks.
If you’ve been comparing gas fireplaces near you, most results are showrooms that sell the unit. We build the deck, roof, porch, or patio it sits in, and we plan both at once.
Browse finished work in our recent projects gallery.
Tell us where you want to sit and how often you’ll light it. We walk your yard for gas meter location, wind, and grade.
We size the gas line and match a fireplace to your deck, roof, or patio clearances, then handle the drawings, permit, and any HOA review. Every bid is line by line, as explained on our pricing page.
Our crew sets the footings, builds the frame to code, and a licensed gas trade runs the line. We light it with you and show you the shutoff before we leave.
Finish it with deck lighting and deck railings that match the stone and trim.
Yes. The new gas line needs a permit and a pressure test inspection, and a built fireplace on a deck, roof, or footing goes through building permit review. We file both and handle the inspections.
It depends on the distance from your meter, the pipe size your total load requires, and whether the trench crosses patios, irrigation, or pool plumbing. We price the gas line as its own line item so you can see exactly what it adds.
Yes, if the unit is certified for outdoor use and installed to its listed ceiling and side clearances. Those clearances get built into the roof framing, which is far easier at design than after the roof is up.
Natural gas is usually better when the fireplace sits near the house, since it never runs out and typically costs less per hour. Propane makes sense when the fireplace is far from the meter, or trenching would tear up a finished yard.
They warm the people sitting in front of them, especially on a covered deck or on a porch that blocks the wind. For heat across a whole seating area, most homeowners add infrared heaters.
Yes, when the framing is built for the weight and the unit sits on the noncombustible base its manual requires. Gas units send most of their heat up and out rather than down into the boards.
Many outdoor gas units are designed to run without a vent, while others use a direct vent or a decorative chimney. The unit’s listing and your HOA’s rules decide which way we go.
Often, yes, with a gas log set or burner certified for the firebox and a new permitted gas line. We check the firebox condition and the chimney first, since cracked masonry should be repaired before any conversion.
We also build in Shawnee, Olathe, Overland Park, Leawood, and south Kansas City. See every service area.
Send us a photo of your backyard and where your gas meter sits. We’ll tell you what the city allows, what your gas supply can carry, and what it will cost.
Request a free bid or call (913) 782-7575 to start planning your gas-burning fireplace in Lenexa.
Granted a Class A building license for operation in Johnson County, Kansas. This is the top license type for any contractor.
Deckorators chose DW Elite Decks as its First Certified Pro Spotlight Feature.
Awarded the coveted Angie's List Super Service Award (many times), which is only given to the top 5% of all Kansas City deck builders.
Nationally recognized by Rich Noonan, the Eight Time Emmy Award-Winning Reporter for Fox News!
Westbury Certified Master Pro. Beacon of distinction as the bar is set high to earn this coveted status.
At DW Elite Decks, we pride ourselves on delivering craftsmanship that meets and exceeds industry standards. As Kansas City’s premier custom deck builder since 1997, we ensure every project is executed with proper permits and passes final inspections, guaranteeing code compliance and long-term safety.
