When people dream about the perfect room, many imagine a fireplace in that room. If you are building a new room or remodeling an existing one, you can add atmosphere and focus to your home by incorporating a fireplace into the design.
There are certain things you have to consider when thinking about a fireplace beside style and appearance. First and foremost, will you be using your fireplace as supplemental heat or primarily for aesthetics? If you want heating, you can’t beat a free-standing iron stove. Iron stoves radiate heat long after the fire goes out. Free-standing iron stoves come in shapes ranging from the traditional “pot-bellied” stove to modern shapes and colors.
A freestanding stove should be located in a large open area so the heat can more evenly cover the space. You can choose a stove that burns wood or one that burns pellets. There is nothing more romantic than a wood fire, but wood means things like chopping, or storing, or purchasing and bringing home. Wood fires must also be carefully tended and watched. Pellet fuel stoves burn small, ½ to one inch pellets made from compressed sawdust, wood chips, bark, crop waste, or waste paper. Some models burn nut shells, corn kernels or small wood chips. Pellet stoves have higher combustion rate and heating efficiencies than regular wood fireplaces, and produce very little air pollution.
If you would prefer a fireplace to a stove, you can choose from fireplaces that burn wood, pellets, or gas. At one time most fireplaces burned wood.
Today, the majority of fireplaces are gas. Gas is more energy-efficient than wood and is essentially mess-free. Gas heat is immediate. Gas, whether natural or propane, is clean burning. When vented outside, a gas fireplace gives off a limited amount of particulate emissions and carbon monoxide, which makes it more environmentally friendly than wood fireplaces. Gas is much more convenient, and the new gas logs and flames are quite realistic, but not nearly as romantic as a genuine wood fire. You could also consider an electric fireplace which can give you the appearance of flames without heat, which might be fun during a romantic summer evening; or “flames” and heat at the flip of a switch. An electric fireplace is your safest fireplace, but don’t count on it keeping you warm in the event of a power failure!
With the exception of the electric fireplace and a certain type of gas fireplace, all fireplaces need venting, or a chimney. Venting must be carefully considered when designing your dream room.
The type fireplace that most people think of when they think of “fireplace” is masonry, made of stone or brick. The classic masonry fireplace is the most expensive option. It requires a chimney made of brick or stone attached at the top to vent combusted by-products from the dwelling.
There are many ways to ornament your wall fireplace. You may choose to ornament with a simple shelf above the fireplace. Surrounds made of stone such as marble or granite are popular. Wood surrounds with mantles add a warmth even without a fire. Or go all the way to luxury with an entirely trimmed-out wood wall or cabinetry. Your options are endless.
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