Designing the Best Fireplace for Your Home
There’s nothing like a fireplace to keep you and your family cozy on winter nights. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have a fireplace already installed in your home, you may be pleased to find that there are plenty of fireplace construction options for your home.
Keep it Simple With Electric
If you don’t have a chimney and don’t want to build one, an electric fireplace is your best option. This type of fireplace is portable and plugs into your wall, so it requires no remodeling to install. These fireplaces are best suited for smaller spaces, as they won’t produce as much heat.
Gas is Greenest
A natural gas fireplace is your most environmentally friendly option, as it creates no pollution and requires no chimney. Gas fireplaces light instantly and have easy-to-use temperature controls to keep your home cozy, but not sweltering.
Classic Brick
Brick fireplace construction will require some remodeling, including chimney installation, but this simple and durable option is your best bet if you want a real wood-burning fireplace that will fit in nicely in any home. If you love the natural heat of a roaring wood fire and don’t mind chopping or purchasing logs to keep it running, this may be the fireplace for you.
Smooth as Stone
For an elegant and efficient wood-burning fireplace, consider a stone design. Stone fireplaces will require a bit more effort to install, and will also require you to build a chimney, but they blend in well if you have multiple fireplaces in your home, and require little maintenance. Stone also retains heat, keeping you warmer longer.
When building and installing your fireplace, be sure to contact a professional to ensure proper safety precautions are taken and that all elements of your fireplace, including your chimney, damper, hearth and firebox are up to code. Even if you think you know what you’re doing, it’s worth the extra step to ensure your family’s safety.
Stay warm during the winter months. Fireplace construction can add a cozy element to your living space and help you to turn your house into a home.