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Fireplace Design - Where Do I Start?

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




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