There can be many reasons you begin updating sections of your home – from going green to modernizing to adding more room. During all the contractor’s interviews and the long hours of pouring over images of possibilities, homeowners sometimes forget they can update the fireplace when they remodel other aspects of their home.

Remember The Top

A fireplace has three sections. The first is the part you see inside your home, while the second part is hidden inside the walls, and the third portion is the section that extends beyond your home’s roof. Check with a professional chimney sweep service for an evaluation of the masonry and lining quality of your fireplace before remodeling the lower sections.

Identify the Combustion

Deciding on the fuel type your new fireplace will burn is a good place to start when remodeling. Will you choose wood, gas, electric, or pellets to fuel the burner? At this point, it is important to consider if you want a freestanding unit that protrudes out into the room as in olden days or a sleek modern look that hides into the wall. They type of combustion will determine the flue and chimney required by building code.

Choose a Design

Your new room remodel will have a large influence on your fireplace design. Whether you choose stone, brick, marble, or tile to face the unit may depend on color and elements of design within the remodeled room. You can also choose fireplaces with a contemporary feel that almost disappear into the area or an elegant mantle as a focal point to top the fireplace. Some homeowners make the hearth the room’s focus by adding shelves around the burner.

Fireplaces have been important to humans for centuries. If you are lucky enough to have one in your home, have an inspection to make sure it is up to code before you begin remodeling the lower section. Then choose a ventless design, a wood burning stand-alone, or a hidden gas-burner to add elegance to your newly remodeled home.… Read More..