| Picture how your fireplace will be used.
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| | surround, trim and mantel choices.The
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| You've probably already got a location in
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| | hearth is the extension into the room
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| mind, but the practicality of the
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| | that provides protection to your flooring
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| location may be affected by venting
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| | while the surround provides protection
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| needs, installation clearance
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| | for the walls surrounding your fireplace.
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| requirements and fuel choices.Part 1:
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| | Requirements will vary greatly for the
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| GREAT EXPECTATIONSFirst, why are you
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| | surround and hearth based on the type of
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| installing a fireplace? Is is for
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| | fuel your fireplace burns and the
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| recreational use and entertaining? Is it
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| | individual requirements for the model
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| serving as a backup emergency heating
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| | chosen. Woodburning fireplaces will most
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| system? Supplemental heat for a chilly
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| | often require a hearth 18" or more in
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| room? Is it simply a decorative element
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| | front of the fireplace, and extending to
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| to enhance your decor? Fireplaces are
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| | each side to offer maximum protection for
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| available in a wide range of designs
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| | sparks and tumbling embers. Gas
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| fireplaces being used as supplemental or
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| | fireplaces and electric fireplaces may
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| backup heat sources will get the most use
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| | require little to no hearth or surround,
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| and a higher quality (more expensive)
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| | although incorporating these elements
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| model will be a better choice that
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| | into your design may offer a more
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| generally offers greater efficiency.Who
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| | authentic look and appeal for your
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| will be using the new fireplace? What is
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| | room.Hearths and surrounds can
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| your lifestyle? Elderly people and those
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| | incorporate a wide variety of materials
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| with health problems may not be able to
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| | just be sure and choose the right
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| handle the vigors of toting firewood. But
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| | material, in the correct thickness for
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| if you have the time to enjoy the rituals
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| | heat transfer protection, and make sure
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| of cutting, splitting and stacking wood
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| | it's installed correctly. Make sure there
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| and the idea of free heat from fallen
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| | is adequate weight support beneath the
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| trees on your property, an investment in
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| | fireplace and hearth area to support the
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| a wood burning fireplace may suit your
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| | fireplace, venting system and hearth
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| needs perfectly. Otherwise, expand your
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| | surround materials. A fireproof
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| possibilities to gas or electric
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| | underlayment may be needed in some
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| fireplaces.Fireplace design experts and
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| | installations. Here are some materials
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| chimney sweeps agree that low-end,
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| | you may consider for hearths and
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| builder-grade fireplaces should only be
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| | surrounds:Brick or brick veneersStone,
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| used for occasional, recreational fires
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| | stone veneers or cultured stoneCeramic
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| such as family gatherings at holidays. If
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| | tileSlate, marble, granite & solid
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| you expect to use your fireplace once a
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| | surface materialsMetallic surfaces such
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| week or more during the winter, opt for a
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| | as stainless steel or copperCement
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| higher end model that will last for many
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| | slabsMantels and TrimYour mantel and trim
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| years because replacement is an
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| | choice may have the greatest impact on
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| expensive, time-consuming project. Now
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| | the aesthetic design of your fireplace. A
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| let's begin with the next stage of
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| | grand mantel can take a standard
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| planning.Part 2: CHOOSING THE FUELWoodDo
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| | fireplace from ordinary to exquisite!
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| you picture burning natural firewood?
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| | Many home owners choose to allot more of
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| Wood burning fireplaces will put the most
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| | their budget for the fireplace
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| restraints on your design. The chimney
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| | installation into the mantel than any
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| system must run vertically in a
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| | other part of the project, so consider
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| relatively straight configuration and
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| | how the mantel will affect your overall
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| clear the roof line according to local
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| | look and costs. The mantel is installed
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| codes, which are a minimum of 3' in most
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| | to from the surround and provide a
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| areas - but can be excessively more
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| | finished look. Detailed mantels are most
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| depending upon your roof pitch and home
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| | often used in homes with a traditional
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| design. You'll want the fireplace
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| | design. The mantel includes decorative
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| installed in an area that's accessible to
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| | vertical trim that sits on the fireplace
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| a doorway to the outside to bring in your
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| | hearth and most often includes a mantel
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| firewood and take out ashes. A wood
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| | shelf.Make sure the mantel is installed
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| burning fireplace will also have the
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| | to allow sufficient clearances to amply
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| greatest requirements for a fireproof
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| | meet the fireplace manufacturer's
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| hearth that protrudes into the room and
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| | instructions. Deep shelves, for example,
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| for side and top clearances. And unless
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| | can present challenges with wood burning
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| you opt for a high-end, energy efficient
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| | fireplaces as the overhang can cause fire
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| fireplace fireplace design that offers
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| | hazards due to the excessive rising
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| tightly sealing doors for long burn times
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| | heat.Mantels are available in a huge
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| and upgraded designs to provide high heat
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| | variety of materials, styles and
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| output, burning wood may actually remove
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| | designs:MarbleWoodCast
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| more heat from your room than it
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| | IronLimestoneCultured
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| adds.Opening front, decorative wood
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| | StonePlasterResinLooking for a very
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| burning fireplaces are banned as new
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| | contemporary design? Contemporary designs
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| appliance choices in some areas that are
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| | use simple lines to create a harmonious
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| prone to air quality problems. Decorative
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| | feel, or exciting textures and patterns
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| fireplaces consume a lot of fuel, can
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| | that might not be enhanced by use of a
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| produce excessive amounts of smoke into
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| | mantel or shelf. In a contemporary
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| your neighborhood, and offer little to no
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| | design, consider using a simple trim the
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| heat output. So carefully consider the
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| | merely finishes off the edges of your
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| quality and features of the models
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| | surround.I have the perfect design in
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| available during your planning stages.
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| | mind! I know just how it should look and
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| Higher end models may give you many more
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| | I'm ready to go!Part 5: THE NUTS AND
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| years of service plus convenience
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| | BOLTS OF FIREPLACE INSTALLATION &
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| features that give you longer burn times,
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| | PLANNINGThe complexity of your fireplace
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| more heat from every piece of wood and
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| | design and installation will determine
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| cleaner burning that results in less
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| | how much help the average
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| smoke and a cleaner chimney.Make sure you
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| | do-it-yourselfer may participate in the
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| have a good source of firewood available
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| | project.Plan, Plan and Check Your Plans
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| and space to stack your wood pile. The
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| | Again!Does the fireplace offer the
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| type of wood you burn - and how you store
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| | features you most want?Can your home
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| and care for your firewood - will greatly
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| | accomodate any required venting needs?Do
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| affect your wood burning experience.For
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| | you have adequate space for the fireplace
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| all but the most talented
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| | plus the needed framing and hearth
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| do-it-yourselfers, a woodburning
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| | required for this model?What hearth and
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| fireplace is a job that is best done by a
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| | surround will you use?Have you chosen a
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| licensed and experienced
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| | mantel that meets clearance
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| professional.GasGas fireplaces offer a
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| | requirements?We recommend that you draw
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| convenient, realistic flame at the touch
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| | your fireplace project on paper and plan
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| of a button. Remote controls are
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| | all dimensions very carefully. A great
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| available for most models. Many can also
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| | next step is to use newspaper and create
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| use thermostat controls that adjust the
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| | a template on your floor and wall so that
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| flame or turn the fire on and off based
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| | you can visually see the amount of space
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| on the room temperature. Venting options
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| | that will be allotted to your new
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| may allow installation in nearly any
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| | fireplace installation, how close
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| room, on any floor of your home.Gas
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| | furniture will be to the new fireplace,
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| fireplaces come in a variety of styles,
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| | etc.Buy your fireplace and find your
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| sizes and designs and offer multiple
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| | contractorsNow that you've chosen your
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| venting options. Decorative models won't
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| | fireplace, your surround, hearth and
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| give you much heat, while higher end
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| | mantel, what's next?Purchase from a
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| models can heat an open floor plan nearly
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| | retailer or supplier that meets your
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| as effectively as a furnace. Direct vent
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| | individual needs. You may even find that
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| models may vent horizontally or give you
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| | a single store can help with everything
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| enough options with offsets for the vent
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| | you need: the fireplace, venting, mantel
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| to terminate remotely from the fireplace.
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| | and surround plus the installers to get
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| Every model from every manufacturer is
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| | the whole job done for you. Or you may
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| different, so check installation
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| | need to buy from several sources to get
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| requirements carefully to make sure your
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| | all the materials needed for the project.
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| design can be implemented for safe and
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| | Buy from the store(s) that offer the
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| efficient use.Gas fireplaces are designed
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| | technical support and product selection
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| to burn either Natural Gas (piped into
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| | that you most desire.Framing and
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| your home by the city gas company) or LP
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| | sheetrock will probably be needed. Is
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| (Liquid Propane) which is stored in a
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| | this a job you can do yourself, or is a
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| tank in your yard.Installation of a gas
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| | carpenter or handyman required? Make sure
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| fireplace will require a plumber or HVAC
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| | framing allows not only the proper
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| technician (check local codes) to run gas
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| | opening for the fireplace but the hearth
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| lines to the fireplace and to install the
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| | and mantel as well.If you're installing a
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| fireplace and venting system, so this is
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| | gas fireplace, make sure you have a
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| a project that will require professional
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| | licensed tradesman to run gas lines.
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| installation.Electric FireplacesOnce not
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| | Arrange for delivery of the LP gas tank
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| even a consideration for fireplaces,
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| | or connection of gas lines to your home
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| electric fires are now all the rage. They
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| | if you're adding a gas fireplace to a
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| operate at 100% efficiency and require no
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| | home that doesn't already have gas
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| venting so they can be installed any
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| | appliances in use. Gas service may
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| where. They may also be the only option
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| | include a wait from a few days to several
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| for renters or for high-rise condos and
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| | weeks, so plan early!After the framing is
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| office buildings. Designs range from
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| | done, the fireplace is installed. Check
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| small to large, traditional to
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| | building code requirements and make sure
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| contemporary. Most include a heater than
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| | you or the contractor apply for the
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| can provide plenty of warmth for smaller
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| | permit and have the required inspections
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| areas. There are no special installation
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| | done to help assure the fireplace is
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| requirements - just plug into an existing
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| | installed safely and correctly.
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| 3-prong outlet - so this is a relatively
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| | Installation of a wood or gas burning
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| simple installation that most homeowners
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| | fireplace, the venting system and the gas
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| can accomplish on their own.Now that we
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| | lines are jobs best left to a
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| know what type of fuel is right, let's
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| | professional. A safety inspection is
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| plan where it will be installed.Part 3:
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| | performed after the fireplace is
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| CHOOSING YOUR FIREPLACE LOCATIONAs we
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| | installed, checking for proper clearances
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| learned in part two, the fuel you'll be
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| | to framing, proper installation of the
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| burning in your fireplace may dictate
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| | venting system and proper installation of
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| where the fireplace can be installed
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| | gas lines.After the framing inspection is
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| based on the venting requirements of the
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| | done, you may install sheetrock, surround
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| model chosen. A woodburning fireplace in
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| | and hearth materials, and the mantel.
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| an upstairs bedroom is not practical
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| | This part of the project may be done by
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| because you'll be toting wood up and
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| | talented homeowners, or may be left in
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| carrying ashes down.Sometimes a
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| | the hands of tradesmen specializing in
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| compromise will be required to meet
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| | the materials you've chosen such as tile
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| venting and clearance requirements of the
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| | installers, carpenters, general
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| fireplace style you choose. Your ideal
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| | contractors or talented handy-man
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| location between two windows may not
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| | companies.After your fireplace
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| work, but the more spacious area on the
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| | installation is complete, a final
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| opposite wall would be perfect. Or
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| | inspection by the building inspector is
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| perhaps the woodburning fireplace you
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| | required for gas or wood burning
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| prefer between the windows can't fit, but
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| | fireplaces. This helps assure that
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| a gas burning model will. So determine
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| | another tradesman has not covered
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| how important the location of the
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| | combustible areas of the fireplace with
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| fireplace is to the design you have in
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| | surround materials (such as covering
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| mind and remain flexible during this
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| | vents on the fireplace with tile) and
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| stage of planning.PlacementDepending upon
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| | that the hearth and mantel are installed
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| the era, fireplaces have been designed
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| | with proper clearances. Final gas
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| through the ages with a variety of
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| | inspections are also done at this time,
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| styles. A corner fireplace may provide
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| | perhaps by a different inspector.After
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| the perfect balance for other elements in
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| | final inspections are done, follow your
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| the room. Flat or low-profile hearths are
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| | manufacturer's instructions for break-in
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| more practical in smaller rooms where
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| | use. This usually involves small, low
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| you'll be less like to stub your toe
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| | fires that help cure paint and refractory
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| walking by. Flat hearths were popular
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| | materials used on gas and wood burning
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| from the early 1800's to the 1940's.
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| | fireplaces. Review use and safety
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| Raised hearths may bring the fireplace up
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| | instructions with everyone in the home
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| to offer a better view from a bed or
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| | who will be operating the new
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| sofa. A hearth raised 16" to 18" offers
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| | fireplace.Now uncork the wine, call your
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| additional seating in the room. Think of
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| | friends and family, light a fire and
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| the design elements in your room, how the
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| | enjoy! Your new fireplace will add a
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| furniture will be arranged, and the type
| |
| | special warmth to a chilly evening.
|
| of fireplace you're installing. Raised
| |
| | You've made a great investment in your
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| hearths allow less bending when loading
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| | home's value and to your quality of
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| or tending to a wood fire. If you're
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| | life.This article copyrighted by THE
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| trying to replicate the look of a
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| | FIREPLACE CHANNELKaren Duke is a
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| particular era then research the style of
| |
| | fireplace, chimney and hearth industry
|
| fireplaces, surround and hearth materials
| |
| | expert of over 25 years in both the
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| plus mantel styles that were popular at
| |
| | retail and service sectors. She is a CSIA
|
| that time.I've chosen my fuel and the
| |
| | Certified Chimney Sweep and has numerous
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| room it's going to be installed into, now
| |
| | hearth industry certifications. She is
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| how should it look?Part 4: CUSTOMIZING
| |
| | the founder and webmaster of and she is
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| YOUR FIREPLACE DESIGNA fireplace is
| |
| | the co-founder and webmaster of , which
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| usually a generic box that holds a fire.
| |
| | is one of the largest online fireplace
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| Decorative accents provided by the
| |
| | retailers in the world. She makes her
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| manufacturer (such as trim styles and
| |
| | home in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Karen's
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| door or window finishes) will be your
| |
| | contact information can be found on
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| next decision. The greatest element of
| |
| | either of the above sites.
|
| your design style will be the hearth,
| |
| |
|
