Repair or Replace?

Is your existing fireplace damaged or working improperly, or are you trying to improve its appearance or efficiency? You can usually repair most parts of a fireplace, and you should. Cracked mortar can allow heat to escape to combustible elements of your home, causing fire. If your chimney is not functioning properly, smoke and carbon monoxide can accumulate inside your home.

You can create a more efficient fireplace, or change the look of your fireplace by changing portions of your fireplace rather than replacing the entire fireplace. A new mantel can give an old fireplace a new look. A fireplace insert can dramatically increase the heating efficiency of your fireplace.

Venting Options: Chimney, Direct-Vent, or Ventless

Until recently, if you had a fireplace, you needed a chimney to remove the smoke and provide the draft (pressure) to draw air to the fire to support combustion. Today, two fireplace technologies exist that do not require chimneys.

Direct-vent fireplaces are prefabricated from metal and are designed to be installed in wood-frame construction without a foundation or a chimney. They use gas or propane as fuel, burn efficiently, and vent directly out a wall. They're much easier and less expensive to install than masonry fireplaces and offer greater flexibility in their placement. They are more efficient and less polluting than wood-burning fireplaces

Vent-free or "no-vent" fireplaces burn gas very efficiently and produce only low levels of carbon-monixide. These units have an oxygen depletion sensor to shut off the gas if the oxygen level in the room ever drops below a safe level. Vent-free have very high efficiency ratings. On the downside, their fire is smaller and less realistic looking than other fireplaces, and codes forbid their installation in some states and counties.

Get Help of Do It Yourself?

Have your fireplace cleaned and inspected yearly by a certified chimney sweep. Unless you know a lot about and have previously worked with fireplaces and chimneys, we do not recommend this as a do it yourself project. The risks of fire and asphyxiation, if the installation is done incorrectly, are not worth the satisfaction or money saved. The exception to this is replacing a fireplace mantel, which is a do it yourself project of moderate difficulty that does not pose risks.  

Brands

Many of the top fireplace brand manufacturers, like Majestic, Superior, Heatilator, Lennox, and Napoleon, manufacture a variety of models of wood burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. Electric fireplaces is dominated by brand manufacturers which make only this style of fireplace.

Cost

The cost installing a chimney are very variable, depending on the complexity of the job and how many floors from the fireplace to the roof. Here are several cost estimates for fireplace installation:

Build masonry fireplace                    $3,500 to 5,000

Install prefabricated fireplace          $2,000 to 2,500

Reline chimney with terra cotta        $2,000 to $2,500

Fuel Type

Wood makes a beautiful and aromatic fire, but requires tending. Gas produces an attractive fire, it is clean burning, and requires no tending. Electric fireplaces do not have a real fire, but create an image of a fire. The heat source in an electric fireplace is an electrical heater that, combine with the image of the fire, create an illusion of a wood burning fireplace.  

Full Masonry or Pre-Fabricated Fireplaces

Full masonry fireplaces are built in your home and made of brick and mortar. They can use wood, natural gas, or propane as fuel. Because building full masonry fireplaces is labor intensive, they are the most expensive type of fireplace. They are also heavy, often weighing over 5 tons. Make sure your home is designed to support this much weight. If your home sags under the weight, it can cause the mortar to crack, creating a fire hazard, particularly with wood fuel.

Pre-fabricated fireplaces, also called factory-made or manufactured, have been growing in popularity for the last 25 years. They are easier to install, lighter, and less expensive than full masonry fireplaces. They can also be more efficient. Pre-fabricated fireplaces can burn wood, natural gas, or propane. They usually have an insulated steel firebox which may be lined with artificial firebrick, cast iron, or other decorative material. Pre-fabricated fireplaces are sold with a firebox and chimney that are designed to work together. Many pre-fabricated fireplaces are sold as complete kits: firebox, chimney, facing, mantel and trim kit. They come in a very wide variety of styles, sizes, and configurations.

Style

Style generally refers to the overall look and feel of a home or room. Style can reflect a tone like casual, formal, or traditional; style can reflect influences from around the world, like French Country, Japanese, Swedish, or Tuscan.  Style allows you to make your personal statement. A fireplace is one element of an overall design, but it is an important element because your guests will gather around it. It is important to get the design elements of a home working in concert to reflect a style. You do not want to use a Victorian fireplace if your home’s architecture and decorations are Japanese. A modern fireplace would not work well with an Edwardian home. There are also certain elements of a home that traditionally relate closely to each other. A fireplace and its screen and tools should have a close design relationship. If you are not familiar with how fireplaces reflect styles, it is a good idea to go to a fireplace showroom. If you are unsure of what style each fireplace represents, ask a salesperson.

Mantel and Surround Materials

Fireplace mantels and surrounds come in a tremendous variety of materials. Wood, marble, limestone, gypsum, plastic, tile, composite resin, cast stone, and more. Many are available in multiple finishes, like wood which can be painted or stained. Find a style that complements your room, and then select a color that relates to the other colors in your room. If you are having trouble deciding, take pictures of your room so you can get advice from your fireplace retailer or etailer.

Fireplace Inserts

Fireplace inserts are a good way to make your old masonry fireplace more efficient. These inserts are fast and easy to install and burn on gas or wood. It is a great way to inexpensively add an energy efficient heat source to your home without changing the style and character of your old fireplace.