Five Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Fireplace
If you’re dreaming about adding a fireplace to your home, you’re not alone. Realtor.com ranked fireplaces number one in its 2015 list of must-have home features, Houzz recently named hearths and fire features as a top trend for 2016, and fireplaces are the most-desired decorative appearance product in a new home. Of all the home amenities, fireplaces are by far the most comforting and romantic, truly making the heart of a home.
Purchasing a fireplace is not something you do every day, so it’s smart to consider all your options. Whether you are adding a fireplace to your existing home or having one installed in a newly constructed house, experts suggest considering these important questions:
1. What style of fireplace do you want?
If you think a traditional brick and mortar fireplace is your only choice – think again. Style options abound and there’s a fireplace to fit every décor style. If you gravitate toward classic or traditional design, there are so many fireplace models you will absolutely love! A few examples are the Heatilator Caliber nXt and the Heirloom Series.
On the other end of the spectrum, contemporary style fireplaces are sleeker, shinier, and stylized – more along the lines of something you’d see in Dwell magazine. Many feature linear flame patterns, rich materials like black onyx, and panoramic viewing angles of the fire. Some examples are the Rave Series and the Novus Evolution. Contemporary style fireplaces also redefine placement, as they are often positioned at a higher level on the wall, similar to that of a piece of art.
After perusing the options online, we’d suggest jumping in your car and visiting a hearth dealer in your area for a closer look.
2. What fuel will you burn?
When thinking about the ultimate hearth experience, the crackling sound of wood burning often comes to mind. Wood has been a mainstay for hundreds of years, but other fuels have distinct benefits and are also worth considering when choosing a fireplace.
The two factors to consider when making a decision about fuel are availability in your area, and the amount of interaction you want to have with your fireplace. Obviously a wood burning fireplace will take more of your time than a gas fireplace.
If your home isn’t connected to natural gas or propane, a gas fireplace isn’t in the cards and an EPA-certified wood burning fireplace may be perfect for you. An electric fireplace is also an option if you are looking for an inexpensive alternative. View our fuel choice options to learn more about the various fuels for fireplaces and their qualities.
3. How much interaction and maintenance do you want?
This is an important question to ponder. Gas and electric fireplaces require little to no interaction or maintenance, unless you consider operating a remote control a chore. On the other hand, wood burning fireplaces require more maintenance for making and keeping fires burning, as well as cleaning. It boils down to your personal preferences, and how much time you want to spend with your fireplace.
4. What is your budget?
There are various price points for fireplaces – from basic units that are economical and functional, to premium models with all the bells and whistles for the best in home comfort. You can quickly compare models and prices on the Heatilator website here.
5. Do you care about return on investment?
Adding a fireplace to your home will pay dividends in the form of enjoyment – and it will make your home easier to sell when the time comes. Fireplaces ranked number one on the Realtor.com Top 20 Must-Have Features of 2015 survey with mentions in 23.8 percent of their listings, nine points ahead of wood floors and 11 points ahead of granite countertops. According to a spokesperson from Realtor.com, “Listings have gotten ever-more detailed and adorned in recent years, and certain features appear more and more often as selling points. So popularity among listing descriptions is kind of like being listed on the S&P 500—it shows that a feature is no passing trend.”
[heatilator.com. (2016, February 23). Five Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Fireplace [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.heatilator.com/Shopping-Tools/Blog/Five-Questions-to-Ask-When-Shopping-for-a-Fireplace.aspx]