Gas is cleaner and starts with a switch; wood gives you the real fire and crackle. Gas needs a licensed plumber for the line — we include it in the quote.
Usually yes for anything attached to the house, anything with a roof, and gas lines; freestanding pergolas vary by city. We check before we price.
Travertine stays cooler underfoot and looks higher-end; pavers are easy to repair; concrete costs less and goes faster. We bring samples to the estimate.
Steel. Wood posts rot at grade in DFW soil; galvanized steel in concrete is the difference between a 7-year fence and a 20-year fence.