Embers West Inc

We went to the show room and liked what we heard and saw so we decided to move forward. They came out to get the measurements and discuss our plans, everything was in order and we were ready to pull the trigger. That was on March 20th, at the time of this post it is April 9th. We've emailed them twice trying to get the quote and have yet to get a response. I have heard one of the number one rules of sales is "answer the phone" well they aren't answering, we were prepared to spend about 8K on our project, it baffles me that a company would leave money on the table like this. Update 4/11/25: Whether it was due to this post or not I don't know, but we received the quote on 4/10/25. I will update if we move forward with their services. Update 1/27/26: This update is long over due but still relevant. The quote they gave up was basically an FU quote where the number was so high that no reasonable person would except it. At this point I don't remember the actual number, but it was over 10k. For reference, the company we did go with, did a fantastic job, had great customer service, answered all our questions thoroughly and promptly, and did the job for just under 5k. I don't know what the problem is with Embers West, but be careful if you use them.

This is THE PLACE to go in OC if you want a fireplace! WE did a new construction home and we hired embers west early on. They were communicative, had great service and excellent pricing! Use them for your fireplace needs!!!

Absolutely the epitome of quality service. Margot answered my call when I was looking for a wood stove. She helped me by referring quality companies for the stove brands that they work with. I then did my own homework on the products. All were top rated in the industry. No upsell. In fact Fransua came out and down graded me to a smaller less expensive stove due to space. Follow up was impeccable. Their installers (embarrassed I forgot their names) were super professional. Took every step to protect my floors. Went above and beyond on a perfect install. I kept an eye on the whole process and nothing was less than perfection. These dudes need a raise!! Anyway. You won't go wrong if you choose Embers West for your needs! Thanks again Embers West team. Mike.

Very poor customer service. Many emails and calls remained unanswered. Sammie seems to alwasy be in a bad mood when you talk to her. Once I called her at 4:50Pm and she was mad that it will be 5PM soon and was not willing to talk to me. Not a great experience at all.

I REALLY wanted them to replace my fireplace. They had something I liked, seemed to be knowledgeable, and had a generally positive attitude. Unfortunately, many attempts to schedule a site survey to confirm scope of work resulted in nothing. I exchanged many emails and got many promises that someone would schedule the site survey, but nothing happened. I generally liked the people and what I saw, but the lack of effort on their part to move things along made me wonder what sort of service challenges I might face once the work started - if it started.

Easily best Fireplce installation company in Orange and Los Angeles counties. From top bottom Francois has the skills, knowledge & craftsmanship to build you the fireplace of your dreams. Embers West was always on time, always super clean and their crews were very respectful to me and my family in our home. Their pricing is competitive, and their quality is second to none. Choose Embers West if you need a fantastic fireplace.

Embers West Inc was the best decision we made for our new fireplace and mantle. Francois and Serryn are fantastic and were so helpful every step of the process. We purchased the Napoleon HDX40NT fireplace and Magra Hearth Wood Silver mantle. We also had Embers West Inc install both items and that too was the right choice! Great price, superior customer service and the best overall value! We highly recommend Embers West Inc! Thank you, Francois and Serryn!

I could not be happier with the installation team and Francois. From initial consult through all of the experience was done to perfection. I absolutely will recommend them.

From start to end my experience with Embers West and Francios was 10+. I did my research and went to other "fireplace" stores, but when I stopped into Embers West I was blown away by Francios' knowledge and the fun and generous way he shared it. I ordered a LOVELY 3 sided unit. It was delivered here and when we had questions about how to frame it, Francois and his guys answered them (and even came over to have a look). Our project spanned the entire Covid pandemic so it was a long time before the happy day we called to finalize the unit. Francois and Jason came out and finished the installation and the thing is drop dead gorgeous. The service and is just what you want. Even though our project was delayed delayed delays (NOT by Embers West by everything else) Embers West had all our parts and the driftwood addition stored away and it all came together beautifully!

Embers West, Francois, Jason and the entire crew were amazing! Francois guided us to a solution and his crew executed the demolition and construction beautifully. We are beyond happy with the finished product and our fireplace is better than we ever expected. Highly recommend working with Embers West

Was referred to this number. Called and they said they are 6 months out and can't help. Didn't even ask what I needed...

We were a bit hesitant to move forward with Embers West given a few of the older reviews, but after meeting with Francois, he earned our business by being forthright, patiently explaining all of the pros and cons of various fireplace options and maintaining a high bar of excellence. His team installed two fireplaces for us (gas and electric) and the quality of their work was fantastic. We also appreciated the timely updates and communication from ordering to installation and are now working with Francois on our outdoor fireplace. Thank you Embers West!!

Francois is awesome. He took the time to answer all my questions. From the moment I picked out the fireplace, to the installation, to the termination cap, he will walk you every step of the way. I appreciate his honesty, and WILL NOT sell anything you don't need. He is truly looking for satisfied customers rather than customers just lining his pockets. Francois is a class act and I highly recommend him and his team!

Maybe they're busy, maybe they're unprofessional, maybe both. I reached out to them for an estimate on remodeling my fireplace. Initially the contact seemed pretty prompt. I gave them pictures, inspiration pictures, supplied all the information they needed, set up a consultation a week later. Francois was great on the phone, seemed very knowledgeable, had a nice portfolio. Well, that's where the story ends. A week goes by, no estimate. I reach out asking for the estimate, was told it was coming in the next day or so. Another week goes by with no estimate. At this point I decided to go with someone else. I ordered my own electric insert, hired my own electrician, and the mason I ended up hiring finished all the work (gorgeously I might add), and still...no estimate from Embers West. All together I spent about 10k between the people I ended up using. I guess Embers West must be doing pretty well if they can just ignore work. But the spotty communication and lack of follow up isn't professional at all.

Francois and the team at Embers West were great to work with. Francois took the time to show me and my wife all the different options for our remodel project. I took in several inspiration photos and drawings and he helped turn our dream into a reality. The team was prompt, clean and we love our new fireplace. I would highly recommend them if you are looking for great results.

During the holiday my family room ( fireplace)  was the center of attention. I heard so many compliments from friends and family  for the beautiful work done by Ember West . I can not thank Ember West enough for being meticulous .The whole crew was easy to work with and very professional. I had a vision for the fireplace/ mantel in my  family room and Ember West made it happen! I am so glad I found Ember West. Francois was able to use my Inspiration and came up with a beautiful design. He chose the perfect stone and mantel for my family room. There were a lot of processes and services involved during construction and each one of the contractors was professional and very good at what they were doing. Francois made the entire  process very smooth and pleasant. He explained everything before moving forward and never tried to over sell you. He went above and beyond his duty and even offered free service to help me choose a faucet for my kitchen which was not related to his contracted job. I would like to thank  each one of the crew, the stone guys( extremely professional and hard working group), the cabinet guys, the painter, and the crew who removed the old fireplace and  replaced it with new. If you have a fireplace project in mind and want it to be done professionally, I highly recommend Ember West. Keep in mind a meticulous job requires time and detail and Ember West did it

Went with Embers West for my renovation since they could provide a turn-key job. I had them rip out my old white brick fireplace face, replace it with stacked stone and custom wrought iron doors and mantle, plus run electrical and hang my TV above the fireplace. The finished job looks great and I'm very happy with the results. The only negative was the job took longer than expected (on both sides) due to some unforeseen issues, plus my work and vacation travel schedule. Through everything Francois was patient with the project and provided updates consistently. Initially, Francois came out and provided me a quote. I asked for clarification on a couple of things and they had no problem emailing me updates. Through all phases of the project the crews were on-time, took care to cover and tape my furniture, carpet, TV, etc. and answered any questions I had. Francois took me to two places to look at stone and we discussed options for a mantle and overall design. Deposits and payments were easily handled online via their website. After initial demolition, the electrical crew came in. Unfortunately upon removing drywall, we discovered there was no framing above the fireplace to mount the TV to (they built and installed a frame) and there was seismic shelling on the studs. This meant consulting a building engineer and that delayed us a week. After consultation, they confirmed with the City inspectors their plan was OK and the electrical and drywall was finished. When we were ready for masonry there was a short delay due to an illness in someones family. In the interim I selected and ordered the custom doors. We scheduled a day for masonry and the day before Francois went to pick up the stone. Unfortunately the supplier had broken a significant amount of the stone. I had the option of selecting new stone or waiting for a new delivery from the quarry (6 week delay). I chose to wait as I really liked the stone I'd selected. Finally the stone arrived, the masons installed it, the doors were installed and the finishing crew came into fix the carpet and baseboards since the hearthstone was smaller than the original fireplace. The end result was worth the wait!

After several attempts over several months to try and get a response from them, we regrettably have to move on. We had Francioux out to our home and he came up with some great ideas. We were ready to move forward on our project with an understanding that the quote would take one to two weeks and the project to begin after the holidays. Trouble is we never heard from them again (minus one text that he responded to promising he would get back to me). Since then I've left several messages and actually spoke to someone in the office on two separate occasions. Both times they assured me someone would be in contact with us. His portfolio was amazing and his ideas were great...too bad that's where it all stops

At my stage in life, I'm hardly looking for new places to eat or where to grab a drink on Yelp. Yup, you guessed it ... I'm searching more for contractors for whatever project I'm working on for my home. So if you're reading this review, I know you're specifically looking for a contractor to modernize your dated fireplace because I'm 100% positive you didn't stumble upon this review because you're browsing through my profile pics because I'm no attractive looking female with a bunch of profile pics. The folks over at Embers West were a pleasure to deal with. Communication was super easy and they very responsive when I had any questions or when setting up my initial cost estimate. Super selection, fair pricing and a reasonable schedule to get my new equipment in stock and installed were a few of the reasons I ultimately went with Embers West. So now go look through Google images, Pinterest, Flip or Flop or whatever show you get your design ideas from, then take them here and see how much it would cost to make your fireplace dreams become a reality. I truly believe you'll find something to fit your budget ...

If you're in the market for a fireplace, look no further. Save your time and money and come here first. You'll be glad you did. I almost learned that the hard way. I was about to buy a fireplace for my outdoor patio at another retailer. They wanted $4000 for a 48" linear fireplace. Just something inside told me that seemed really high, so I found Embers West on Yelp. Not only did they save me $1000 off the price, but I got a 60" instead of the 48"! Francíos is great. He had my fireplace personally delivered in time for the contractors to install it. I also purchased a non combustible mantle shelf, that no, and I mean no can tell it's really concrete and not wood! We will recommend Embers West to all of our friends and family!

I loved the high rating and excellent reviews posted for this company but unfortunately they did not meet the high expectations. After I uploaded all the visuals for my project they (Sammi) told me they were going to set up an appointment with the owner, Francois, but never contacted me, I had to call them to set it up. After finally talking to Francois, he told me the next step would be for him to come up with a few options for me and that they (Sammi) will send me the estimates. After waiting for 2 weeks I called them to find out the status. Sammi was not available, so somebody else on the phone took my message and said she will pass it to Sammi. It has been 6 weeks, and I never heard from them. I am very disappointed. Very unprofessional and poor customer service.

After trying other fireplace businesses, I came across Embers West. The owner, Francoise, was not only professional, he was extremely knowledgeable. I learned more about my fireplaces in 10 minutes than I learned during hours of in line searching and visits to their fireplace stores. The experience was a throwback to times when business owners knew their craft, gathered as much information about what you were looking for, then helped you reach that goal in a simplistic fashion. I definitely recommend Embers West.

Took over a week to get a quote back after calling several times to remind them. Finally, after getting the quote, it wasn't even for the details I had discussed... Also, they are crazy expensive... they quoted me for adding an insert and removing some bricks (probably like 30-40 bricks), little wood and drywall work, and running a line for the TV cables: $10k... AND that didn't include all the parts!!!... ya, no thanks!!!... I'm gonna look elsewhere or may just end up doing this myself... I can't even imagine what I would have been quoted if they actually quoted me for what I asked (which is more custom than just adding an insert)... No way I'm hiring someone to work with gas lines who can't even quote me what I asked for!!

First of all "purchasing a direct vent fireplace is not something the average homeowner knows much knowledge about being that it's not something you can walk into a store to just purchase" - it can be very overwhelming. I searched a few places before this one and Embers West was the one who made me feel so comfortable purchasing and gave me a lot of knowledge and after purchasing walked us through it every step of the way. Jason (the installer) was so kind and pleasant with tons of knowledge and patience. The owner - François really believes in happy customers! Best part is after you buy the product, they don't just leave you. They make sure to have happy customers which is rare these days unfortunately. Really appreciate the customer/consumer relationship they have. Customer service is great here!! If I had to do this again I'd definitely go here and highly recommend them!

My wife and I have owned our Cottage in Laguna Beach since the 80's, and we were having issues with the City about our Gas log fireplace. Francois suggested a Gas Insert to solve the Construction issue and keep the Neighbors Happy. We have completed the project, and our Fireplace is the Centerpiece of our Home. Francois helped us with a beautiful stone Facade and a contemporary insert that not only looks fantastic but also heats our home with a Remote programmable thermostat. The Service Techs and the Office Employees were delightful to work with, and went above board to be helpful! Embers was also very competitively priced! Lynn and I highly recommend Embers West!

The sales rep is rude and impatient! Don't bother! Had an appointment to meet and sent our pictures. But the sales rep is so impatient and didn't want to show pictures Or explain more as I am so clueless about what kinds of fireplaces available. After 20 minutes of that attitude, i don't feel like I am coming back or recommend to anyone every. I don't think anyone deserves this treatment and attitude!

I am reviewing Embers West's installation of a Mendota FV44 sealed combustion gas insert (combustion air comes from outside & fumes vent to the outside). The product has a remote with a thermostat & ability to control the flame height, circulating blower speed & a dimmable halogen light. There is electric ignition (no standing pilot flame) & a battery-pack to light the flame in case of a power outage. If you're in the market for a gas fireplace, look no further. Save your time and come here first. You'll be glad you did. We chose Embers West because they had the highest Yelp rating of the several local fireplace businesses (well-deserved - with over 3 dozen reviews). My wife & I had researched gas fireplace inserts online before calling EW & were partial to the Mendota brand. When we met with Francois Tiab (owner & chief technical person), I provided photos & measurements of our 1955 brick fireplace; he agreed that Mendota was our best choice. Francois impressed us enough that we saw no need to check out any other businesses (so I can't comment on his pricing versus others). He was personable, professional & extremely knowledgeable & we enjoyed working with him. Francois made it clear at the start that our project needed several visits from them but I did not ask for a schedule; the project took 3 months & cost a bit over $8k (actually $500 less than the quote- Serryn (office manager) emailed us to say Mendota was having a sale- we would not have known otherwise). If your project needs to be completed quickly - then you should discuss that with Francois up-front. A few times, I had to call to find out the status - Serryn got us an answer right away each time (also when I had tech questions). The installation encountered a snag & Francois quickly resolved it. This is all normal for custom work. The gas line & electrical connection were installed before EW started. Mario was the installer & he was great (friendly, punctual, took time to do things right, brought tarps to protect the carpet & wore protective booties over his shoes). He used a "sniffer" to check for gas leaks. Payments were easily handled online via their website. Their showroom had sample installations to help select finishes & the artificial logs. The finished job looks great & I'm very happy with the results. I definitely recommend Embers West.

Absolutely the epitome of quality service. Margot answered my call when I was looking for a wood stove. She helped me by referring quality companies for the stove brands that they work with. I then did my own homework on the products. All were top rated in the industry. No upsell. In fact Fransua came out and down graded me to a smaller less expensive stove due to space. Follow up was impeccable. Their installers (embarrassed I forgot their names) were super professional. Took every step to protect my floors. Went above and beyond on a perfect install. I kept an eye on the whole process and nothing was less than perfection. These dudes need a raise!! You won't go wrong if you choose Embers West for your needs! Thanks again Embers West team. Mike.

By some stroke of extremely good fortune I heard about Embers West about a year ago when we were in the process of purchasing a home that needed a lot of updating. I was speaking with a friend at my children's elementary school at pick up one day about being in the market for a good contractor to re-do our kitchen and family room and eventually an addition, bathrooms, etc...basically everything in time. Another mom who I didn't know well at the time overheard and and invited me to come over and see her newly remodeled kitchen. She said that her contractor (Francois) was top notch and she had been working with him on various projects over the past few years. Upon seeing her custom kitchen I knew I had to meet this guy. I loved everything about it, the design, layout, cabinetry, style and detail were beautiful. She and Francois had designed it together and as I later found out for myself, he is a creative genius and a perfectionist (almost to a fault ;-). Over the next several months I worked with Francois on designing my own dream kitchen. We decided to completely gut the existing one and change everything. We decided to move the appliances around, add an island with a farmhouse sink, add a bank of cabinets where there had only been a partition wall giving me extra counter space and a prep sink, raise the ceilings and install a really awesome telescoping door that leads out to the patio. During this process we met up to go shopping for tile, counter tops, fixtures etc. and he was always responsive and helpful anytime I would call or send him a text with questions or to bounce ideas off of him. He helped me every step of the way with the design and his input was always well thought out and on point. The funny thing is, I didn't even know that he had a fireplace business until we were several weeks into our remodel. As the kitchen was coming along, we decided that the adjacent family room needed to be updated also, mostly because we knew the kitchen was going to be so spectacular. The fireplace was very 1970's and the carpet had to go. Francois and his guys began work right away on this room as well. He helped me to choose a beautiful stacked stone tile that coordinated with the kitchen countertops and a beachy log set that consisted of sand and driftwood in keeping with our home's coastal style. You often hear nightmare stories about contractors and doing a remodel in general, especially when you are living in your home throughout the process. It can be stressful when you have 3 kids and no kitchen over the period of several weeks but Francois made it as painless as possible setting us up with a little kitchen area in the dining room and checking in on us daily to make sure things were going smoothly and that we were happy with the progress. Also, I was really blown away by all of subcontractors that were in and out of our home during this time. Every single one of them was engaging yet professional and happy to answer all my questions and address any concerns I had (even doing extra work not related to the project at hand). I also want to share that not only did Francois go above and beyond what one would expect from any contractor with the projects that he was hired for, he made it his business to take care of every issue we had with our house during the time he was working here. As I mentioned before, we had recently purchased this home and were finding that there were issues with pests, plumbing, electrical, and so on and if Francois found out about it, (which he most always did because I would complain to him) he would have it taken care of. I consider myself totally spoiled at this point! In the end, we have a stunning, custom kitchen that I completely love and is the envy of my friends, and a comfortable and stylish family room that compliments the kitchen in every way thanks to Francois and his team at Embers West. Most importantly, I have a relationship with an incredible contractor who I respect and trust. I should mention that almost a year later we are working with Francois and Embers West again making over our dining room and living room (which includes re-doing the fireplace) and turning a foyer closet into a mudroom. We are well into the project having added wainscoting, built in bookshelves and corner display cabinets and created a huge built in workspace for my three children to do homework and study. So far things are going smoothly and I continue to be impressed with the craftsmanship and work ethic of every one who works with Embers West. Francois is an honest, creative, incredibly hard working and visionary contractor. Throughout my relationship with him and everyone at Embers West I have been made to feel respected and that our satisfaction is a priority. I hope to continue to work with Francois on all of our future projects (and there are many) because I truly believe that he is the best in the business. (pictures to follow soon)

To give credit where credit is due, I found this place through YELP while trying to find a place that can 1) Remodel my fireplace 2) Take Credit Card *Bonus 3) Also do backsplash for my kitchen...Honestly this is hard feat in the OC area since the majority only take cash or only try to sell prefabricated fireplaces.[Drove and called all over the OC and beyond]. After a call and quick meet with Francois and Serryn and a short drive to MSI (Where contractors buy their material since most of it is not on site) I knew exactly what I had wanted. I took the photos to Francois and scheduled an appointment for an estimate with measurements. His quote is in the ball park with the competition. He has insight and gives options of what can be done along with photos (I was trying to decide with or without a mantel). Once the decision was made to go with Embers West, we needed to wait to see how soon the material would be available to set the date for the work to begin. Two weeks later they started with the fireplace. The fireplace was a 3 full day process, putting marble over an oldschool brick masonry fireplace. They start at 8:30am and finish at 4:30pm. The material is cut on site and put in piece by piece and they clean up after. I am extremely pleased with the end result. It completely transformed my living room. The fireplace is the first thing you see as soon as you walk in through our front door and now its not a sight for sore eyes.NOTE: If you decide to purchase a fireplace door they'll need to measure after the fireplace is remodeled and then the door needs to be custom made, another 3-4 weeks out. The backsplash project took another 5 weeks to get started. I did not know what I was missing until it was put in. A full 2 day project. The backsplash tied in with fireplace perfectly. I had always wanted backsplash and NOW I'm sure the next house I purchase will definitely need one as well. Extremely pleased with the backsplash. The kitchen looks completely new and refreshing. Happy wife Happy Life. The whole process was well done, clean, professional, and I'm 5 star satisfied.

Embers West designed and installed a gas fireplace. Professional and courteous. Only down side was a little slow in responding but they do get back to you!

I'm so glad I chose Ember West for my remodeling new home. I talked to lots of contractors but no one even close to Ember West on paying attention to details and expertise. I had lots of ideas and they helped me a lot to choose the best option on my remodeling from selecting Fireplace, best matching stone, and even find the best sound system fit into final design. Francois was so helpful and easy to talk to. He puts lots of time to just understand what we are trying to do and helped us to improve our initial idea. This is my first remodeling experience, and I have to thank Ember West for making my first experience such a pleasure and fun. They work on time and deliver even sooner than expected which surprised all of my friends who had multiple experience working with contractors. There is no body coming to my home and not notice the great job they done. I definitely recommend Ember West to anyone who wants headache free contractor with fantastic quality.

My 80 year old mother is updating her fireplace and saw an ad in Home Mag for Embers West. We first sat watching their photo gallery on a large TV that was extremely helpful in educating us. Then the sales associate spent time discussing multiple options with us. When she understood what mom was looking for, she directed us to California Mantel & Fireplace. Her referral is greatly appreciated, it allowed my 80 year old mom to learn all her options AND feel confident about her decision. Thanks Dalida & Regina

Great service, products and we received exactly what we had envisioned. Francois was easy to work with and provided all we needed. Highly recommend a Embers West. We have a new fireplace with a beach feel and very clean. Thanks!

Francois and team did an amazing job removing our existing mantle, rebuilding the firebox, building out a beautiful brick face and installing a remote controlled gas fireplace. The finished work looks beyond what we imagined - we would definitely work with Embers West again and will recommend them to family and friends!

I've reached out to them twice in the year and both times for a fireplace remodeling project and both times they replied back stating they are too busy at the moment to take on any new projects. They did respond in a timely matter which is nice, but why have a yelp page with all your contact info if you can't really take on a any more new business. Just going to waste people's time that call in to try to get a bid on a project.

When other sellers had several reservations on whether we could fit a linear fireplace into our space, Francois had products that had no problems in fitting in. So much better than other sellers, Francois is more knowledgeable about the performance and installation than any other retailer I visited. He is easy going, had great displays and had products that outperformed other fireplaces I had seen. He came out quickly and went over all the details as well as worked with our contractors. The end product was exactly what we wanted and for no more than other retailers. It takes up far less space in our den, heats better and has a nice feature of LED under-lit glass on the bottom. When it is warm, I turn this on without the fire for a warm ambiance without the real heat! We are going back for a made in USA BBQ grill next. I highly recommend Embers West!

Excellent and knowledgeable service. Embers provided excellent guidance over the phone, saving me $, and when I needed onsite help they were there on-time and fixed my issue within minutes. Very pleased! David

After reading other stellar reviews on yelp, we decided to hire Embers West to resurface our fireplace. Absolutely no regrets. Francois hires real professionals and the work is top notch. We had a fireplace that underwent a few bad makeovers and we wanted to return it to it's original state. The original fireplace had been covered over with rocks and then the rocks were chipped off and a wood frame and drywall was installed over the busted up brick. Once we discovered that it was a working gas fireplace, we decided to tear the drywall off and resurface it with a brick facade. We had to source larger format bricks to match the original bricks used and had to have them cut down to thin brick veneers. A little pricey for the materials, which we paid for, but worth it. Francois works with a really talented masonry guy and he cleaned up the torn up original bricks and laid the veneers perfectly. It honestly looks like the original fireplace now and we couldn't be happier with the work. Embers West is not the least expensive option out there for sure, but if you want the job done right, I would advise not to try to do it on the cheap. Use Embers West. The extra money it cost was well spent! Thanks Francois!

We just spent the afternoon with Francois picking out a slab for our fireplace. He is extremely patient, professional, knowledgeable and an incredibly hard worker. We're excited to work with him and are so grateful we found him! Serryn is wonderful and has been extremely helpful and quick to reply to our emails. We're so excited for our new fireplace! Thank you both.

Ember west helped us replace our old fire with a gas insert. Initially, we were pleased with Francois knowledge and approachability, answered many of our questions on our initial call and visit and that is why we decided to go with this company. We are happy with the product that was installed, it warms up our home very comfortably and looks beautiful. However, the service and interaction with Francois is what is reflected in the lower rating. Once we signed a contract and paid a 50% down, Francois was very slow to respond to phone calls or emails regarding updates on when the product will be delivered, when installation would occur, and no verbal installation instruction. Additionally, Francois would not respond to my emails but only to my husband, so it is not clear if there was issue with communicating with women vs men. There was poor communication with us and the need to run the gas pipe. Once the pipe was installed, there was a lot of hesitation from Francois to return to help us get the fireplace to work. Its disconcerting that we did not get clear prompt communication during the installation process, but the moment everything was completed, communication on what is owed on the remaining bill was instant.

Overpriced or limited options, I just needed a few parts to get a gas fireplace set up and going again. I didn't need a lot of parts but I was quoted over 200 dollars for a complete set, that seemed to be my only option here. I ended up getting the few parts I needed down the street for 57.98. I may give them another chance if needed but I would suggest getting quotes from more then just one shop, I hope it was just a misunderstanding...

Francois did a great job! Very professional and a pleasure to do business with. One of the few times that we ordered a service for our new home, got exactly what we wanted, and in a timely manner. We love our new fireplace!

Embers West is one of a handful of places that carry the Big Green Egg BBQ in the area. Got the medium size one from them and have used it at least once (if not more) every week since I got it. These guys did some fireplace remodel work for a couple of my friends and the results were amazing. Worth stopping in if you're in the area and in the market for anything fire related.

I was excited to work with Francois and his team to renovate two fireplaces. After several phone calls and emails, I still haven't received a response. It's been about 2 weeks, and I've still not heard back. It maybe a busy time of year for renovations and for contractors.. but ignoring potential clients is extremely rude and unprofessional.

Francois installed our fireplace four months ago. We were going through a major renovation on our new home purchase. The entire process itself deserved a 5 star. Francois is very knowledgeable and accommodating. I am extremely picky and did extensive research on different brands with different vendors and prices (I run an accounting department so can claim I know a little bit about $$). Francois was by far the most competitive. Now the reason why he deserves 6 stars! Fast forward 4 months later, we pushed something on the remote control to start the fireplace and it wouldn't start. Called Francois and he showed up the same day. Now that's truly great customer service.

I just had my Majestic Outdoor Fireplace repaired by Embers West Inc. and was more than impressed by their high quality of repairs. Their technician Mario was amazing. He was exceptional in his knowledge of what needed to be done, his speed in which he completed the task and above all his professionalism and super outstanding attitude. Because of the experience I had with Embers West, I without question highly recommend Embers West For any fireplace needs!

Amazing!!! We renovated our home in LaVerne and hired Embers West to design and build two new fireplaces...Francois rocks...This guy is a true artist and created the most amazing design...I had many contractors in our house and Embers West was the cleanest by far...Mario is an amazing craftsmen and was great to work with...I would recommend these guys to anybody...If you want to change or build a fireplace, hire the absolute best...Embers West

I have nothing but good things to say about these guys. They converted our fireplaces in 2013 and did an excellent job! They were easy to work with and very professional. This year I had to have them come out to look at one of them I couldn't get to turn on (after almost a year of no use). Turned out the gas wasn't on! Duh. I couldn't have felt more stupid, but they were so nice and didn't even charge me. What a lucky surprise! I HIGHLY recommend them :)

I have used Francois Tiab and his crew at Embers West twice. The first project involved replacing a dated, rustic looking, wood-burning flagstone fireplace with a sleek, modern porcelain-tiled gas fire and ice design with a floating, multi-wall hearth. Also, the four walls of mahogany wood were replaced with new drywall, and all the floor moldings were replaced. The quality of the work and materials was superb. The most striking feature was one suggested by Francois -- lining the firebox with sheets of stainless steel. When the fireplace is on, the flames reflect off the stainless steel and the result is breath-taking. Francois was able to take the ideas I had gleaned from the internet, and merge them into one awfully beautiful fireplace. The tile work was flawless. The job was completed on time and within budget. The second project was the renovation of a 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath duplex unit which was unchanged from the year it was built - 1953. The project involved installing an all-new electric panel and wiring including 14 recessed LED fixtures and 4 new flush mounted ceiling fixtures. New plumbing lines were run in the kitchen, laundry, and both bathrooms. The main bathroom was completely gutted and a new bath tub installed. A separate stall shower was built which was absolutely magnificent. A recessed shelf was built into one of the walls to hold shampoo, bath gel, etc and a small, diagonal bench was created. The bench and the shelf were a work of art. I am extremely picky by nature, and the tile work that was done was flawless. I could not find one, tiny thing that wasn't perfect. A wall-mounted two station bathroom vanity was installed with Hansgrohe fixtures. The shower door -- by Design in Elegance, Whittier -- was also flawless. I have used them before and have found the quality of the work -- all done in house -- and the materials to be unsurpassed. The crowning touch over the vanity was a matching mirror made from the same wood as the vanity and a gorgeous 36" LED light fixture. The laundry room, half bath, and kitchen were gutted, and the water heater in the laundry was removed to make room for additional storage cabinets. It was replaced by a tankless unit mounted on the exterior wall of the laundry. The toilet, mirror, and sink in the bath were removed and replaced with modern fixtures. Francois added one more excellent touch, a sink that was mounted sideways for space and style. A new mirror was hung above the sink, and a new LED fixture was placed over the mirror. Concrete was floated in these three rooms, and new porcelain tile was installed. Concrete was used rather than Hardy board so that the level of the floor tile was perfectly matched to the level of the hardwood floor in the dining room and living room. All new cabinets and appliances were installed, and a beautiful quartz countertop was created with gorgeous mosaic glass tile above it. A new self-cleaning gas oven replaced an old electric range and a combination microwave/exhaust fan was hung above the oven. I also decided to include a counter depth refrigerator so as to not detract from the smoothness of the design. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this project was that our agreement was a simple verbal price estimate sealed with a handshake. I have entered into this type of agreement with only two contractors in my life -- Francois Tiab and my painter Derrick Thomas who has worked for me for over 25 years. After the project was finished, I felt a bit sad for two reasons. The first is that I enjoy the bantering between myself and Francois. We both have an eye for design and perfection, and I know that the end result will be magnificent. The second reason for the sadness was that this unit looks so much nicer than my own home which means I'll be working with Francois again in the future. I want that exact same bathroom in my home, and I want to remodel the fireplace in my living room. I placed an ad for the property on Zillow, and it was leased by the first couple who saw it. With the elevated rent the property commanded, I calculated that the payback on the remodel would be within three to four years. The project came in on budget although the completion date was 30 days longer than originally estimated although this was not entirely Francois's fault. I have no hesitation whatsoever to recommend Francois and his crew at Embers West. They're great guys and the best at what they do.

We had a phenomenal experience working with Embers West! They installed a gas fireplace insert into our old (and tricky) 1920s house. Their mason made all of the repairs to the brick in only one day with no mess or dust left behind. The installers explained everything about the process and usage of the insert so we felt comfortable using it. The owner, Francois Tiab, is a true professional and called me several times to update me on the installation schedule and to ensure that we were happy with our new fireplace. We could not be more pleased with the result, and could not recommend the Embers West crew more highly.

You have found the best fireplace business anywhere! Francois and his team are uber-knowledgeable about all facets of this business. A true expert. Just what you want when you are dealing with a fire based product! The prices and service are extraordinary. Ive referred friends to Embers West with total confidence. I an thrilled with my new firebox and the pretty crystals, lighting, etc. thank you Francois!

Francois & his team did a great job on my fireplace installation! The staff were friendly, professional, patient & answered all my questions. The fireplace installation was done smoothly. I had a couple of problems come up (related to building structure) & Embers West did a great job in accommodating me. One thing that I really appreciated about Embers is that they make sure you have a finished product before payment. Most other businesses will demand some kind of payment before the job is done. I highly recommend Embers West for fireplace installation! :-)

So great that Francois opened up his new showroom. I have worked with him in the past and he is amazing. He is a talented designer and his knowledge of the construction trade is extensive. He and his crew were professional and worked really diligently. I hired Francois to do one fireplace and when I realized how great he and his team are I had them do my kitchen and two bathrooms as well.

This review is a year late, but Francois and his crew remodeled our fireplace. Now if you look at his work from these reviews or even his website, you know they do grand beautiful work. Our place isn't like that. We live in a town home with a modest fireplace maybe 5x6 feet. Even though our place was a small simple project compared to what they have done, he treated us like I'm sure he treats all his bigger clients. He listened to what we wanted and took us shopping for the materials. He offered us suggestions but never forced anything on us. His suggestions were spot on by the way. Once the process started, his crew worked overtime to get the job done earlier for us. The quality of their work is second to none. Amazing what a small, but proper fireplace can do for a living room. I haven't even mentioned the functionality. The new burner is beautifully decorated and the heat fills our entire down stairs. If you have a smaller fireplace and look at all the grand things these guys have done, don't be intimidated. They will hook you up.

Embers West found the perfect fit for my linear fireplace needs! Francois is very knowledgeable and came up with some very creative ideas for hiding my A/V components behind my flat screen. The crew that came out to install was very professional and did a great job! I would absolutely recomend this company to anyone who needs to upgrade thier fireplace!

Can't say enough good things about the customer service at Embers West! They are always johnny on the spot with anything I have asked for. They continuously help me load my truck with coal and are extremely friendly !!! So happy I bought my Green Egg from them and continue to do business there! Thank you guys!