First thought: What kind of builder FORGETS a part of the house?

Second thought: Listen to what he's telling you. He's saying HE CANNOT add a chimney at this point. HE DOES NOT have the skills to make this happen. Remember that HE FORGOT to build this (or to mention it to you) and trust what he's saying.

How important is this to you? Personally, I'd be fine with a gas fireplace.

Do you have the option to bring in a more skilled craftsman to complete this task?

What is he offering in terms of compensation? This should be significant.

The fireplace and chimney should be shown in the approved plans. If it's a masonry fireplace, it will need to be supported down to the footings, so information should appear on the foundation plan, floor plans and elevations. If so, that's a big miss and a big correction. Assuming both the fireplace and chimney are missing, you might consider a pre-fabricated wood burning fireplace. They take a 15 3/8" insulated metal flue pipe instead of a masonry chimney which will be a much easier retrofit.

"Builder forgot chimney"

Not a good sign.

A masonry chimney requires a foundation. That would be a huge miss by not just the builder but a number of trades. Was it on the plans but not built? Or did you request a wood-burning fireplace and did not notice that it was not included on your plans?

These days, we are including many more direct-vent fireplaces than wood-burning. There are many great options and they produce a lot of heat. They do not require a full masonry chimney.

That is crazy! I'm sorry that happened to you. Personally, I'd look into direct vent fireplaces as suggested above. I live in a southwestern city and for most of the winter, it seems the city bans the use of wood burning fireplaces because of the added pollution. I'd want to know how something so major got missed. Was it on the original plans? Then I would see if I could get a discount off the bill and install a direct vent fireplace or something similar.

Tract house? If there's no foundation for this, it's not going to get done. Too expensive. 75K expensive for a foundation, masonry chimney, firebox, and the roof that wasn't designed to have a chimney. Even if there is a foundation, a direct vent would be a FAR better option at this point. Many locations are not even allowing an old fashioned wood burning fireplace. Almost without exception, gas inserts are what is being done by builders of even high end homes. No one wants to deal with the pollution and cleaning out ashes and half charred wood.

I recommend going over the house plans with a fine tooth comb to see what else your builder forgot. Are the bathrooms done yet? I know several people that had drywall in the bathroom where cement board should have been used. If a fireplace was on the plans, and this bozo forgot to include it, I would be asking for a big discount. If you barter it, for example, want more landscaping rather than just a cash discount, the builder possibly be more willing to agree.

What type of build is this, custom, tract/developer, semi-custom, etc.?

Custom build. The house is 2 story and on a cement slab. The fireplace is framed out in the main room which is open to the second story.

Good luck with the build.

If I were your BIL, I would barter heavily towards some other benefit from the builder and forget the masonry fireplace. They’re not all they’re cracked up to be. Trust me on that.

You apparently are ticked off at the builder. It’s likely he’s ticked off at you and your family too, so I advise you and your BIL to finish up and disassociate with him asap.

Our builder forgot to add a chimney

What are you calling a chimney? Just the part that extends above the roof?

What type of roofing do you have?

You are not providing enough information for anyone to give you a meaningful response.

Back in May you said "We just built a new house and when turing on the vaccume our lights flicker.".

What happened to that house?

Do you need a masonry chimney or could .you have a woodstove with a pipe chimney and a masonry or stone backdrop if you wanted? I would never trade my woodstove for a gas fireplace. Lots of woodstoves with pipes are installed in existing structures. Your woodstove dealer should be able to do it.

Or out through a wall and an exterior chimney:

I'm with Olychick. I wouldn't trade my wood stove for gas either. If you get a EPA certified wood stove they are cleaner burning. They are also not heat sucks like many wood burning fireplaces. A lot of heat goes up the chimney with wood burning fireplaces but not so much with wood stoves.

It sounds like it is too late for a wood burning fireplace without major work and money. If you want something wood burning look at wood stoves or settle for gas.

Is the fireplace actually there but it just has no chimney or was the entire fireplace just forgotten?

@PPF. I am inquiring for my sister and brother in law. We all are building on some land and my house finished in April. My sisters is still in framing, which started in 2021. We unfortunately all got into contract with this same builder which is why we are having different issues.

The builder framed out the fireplace surround with 2x4s, but forgot it was supposed to be wood burning and did not do the chimney. The roof is GAF shingles. Not sure if that is enough information.

I'm just trying to see if it is possible for them to have a wood burning fireplace or if it really can not be done

I'm just trying to see if it is possible for them to have a wood burning fireplace or if it really can not be done

Again, what are you referring to when you say chimney.

is it's just the part that extends above the roof, it may be added and the flue dropped in.

Of course it can be done. Ask the builder for specifics.

And as always, have your sister and brother in law responding if possible.

Dereck Swordsward , serial spammer will be back but in the meanwhile 2 year old post long since resolved I would be certain.