Fireplaces: The Hot Topic
Fireplaces can be a great addition to any home. They create a centerpiece for any room they are in and they can be visually stunning if done the right way. However, you can’t just throw it in a room and call it a day. There are a number of factors to consider when thinking about putting in a fire place. Let’s take a look at what they are.
Gas or Wood Burning?
The first thing to consider is if you are going to go with a Gas or Wood burning fire place. You will need to consider your local legislation. For example, in California, wood burning fire places are now illegal and you can only install gas fire places. So be sure to check with your local building inspector before you decide which way to go. A wood burning fireplace also requires a chimney, so if you don’t have one on your house, there could be a significant increase in cost to adding one on. For most people, Gas is going to be the better way to go. It’s less messy, not banned in any states (that I know of), easier to install, and overall a more convenient option.
Where to put it?
If your home already has a fireplace built in and you are simply trying to replace or upgrade it, then this decision is easy to make. However for a lot of people there is an existing fireplace and a space needs to be chosen. When picking a space to put a fireplace be sure to think about the flow the room. A fireplace can be a great centerpiece to a room, especially if you don’t want the focus of that room to be the television. Consider how much space you want for the mantle. Are you looking to keep it small and cute, or do you want it to make a statement by stretching from floor to ceiling? Also consider places like corners and shared walls between rooms. There are a lot of options out there for fireplaces these days, and some will wrap around corners giving you additional viewing points of the fireplace. Some come as 2 sided, so you can see through the fireplace into another room. This kind of fireplace can be great as a centerpiece between the master bathroom and bedroom. Sometimes the right decision is to remove a fireplace because it dominates a space too much, like we did in one of our recent renovations:
What’s it cost?
This is hard to answer precisely. The variations in size, type, location and so many other factors really plays into how much it will cost you. There are lots of great places out there that can help you price out and understand what it will take to install a fireplace. So do your research, figure out what you want, then look for a professional to help you get it done!
