What Can a Fireplace Upgrade Include? You Might Be Surprised.
Because a fireplace is a central part of any room, it can really put a damper on things when it no longer works well or looks amazing. This is when a fireplace upgrade is in order.
American Chimney & Fireplace of Lexington, KY, would like to share a few great ways you can upgrade your fireplace and literally transform your entire hearth area.
A new fireplace for your home
If your masonry or manufactured fireplace is failing and starting to look drab, it may be time to replace it. A new modern fireplace or fireplace insert will bring you:
- Increased heating performance
- Lowered emissions
- Safer operation
- Stunning good looks
- Reduced maintenance and repair costs
Reasons to upgrade your fireplace
Here are five good reasons.
- The fireplace has cracks in its surfaces
- Your current unit doesn’t appear to be safe
- You’re spending a lot of money on repairs
- The fireplace is too drafty
- The design of the fireplace no longer matches the décor of the room
What kind of fireplace do you want?
In the world of fireplaces, there are two main options: a manufactured fireplace and a fireplace insert. Both styles can run on wood or gas, but there are some differences you should know about.
Manufactured fireplaces
These units are made in a factory and come ready to be installed in a wall in your home. They’re available in a range of BTU outputs and heat-efficiency ratings.
Manufactured fireplaces don’t require the building of a chimney, but they do require that a chase be erected and attached to the outside of the home. The “chimney chase,” as it’s called, houses the pipe that drafts the fireplace.
Fireplace inserts
An insert is a factory-made unit that’s placed into the open firebox of an existing fireplace, usually a masonry fireplace. Inserts aren’t designed to be installed in a wall.
A powerful fireplace insert will bring more heat and far less draftiness than the open masonry fireplace it’s replacing. Many gorgeous styles and design features are available in today’s gas and wood fireplace inserts.
The area around the fireplace
Whether you go with an in-wall manufactured fireplace or a fireplace insert, you have a lot of options for how you want the overall hearth area to look.
Fireplace surrounds go around the fireplace and can take up an entire wall. They can be built from brick, stone, granite, wood, rock and other attractive materials. You can have your surround custom-built or select a handsome pre-made surround.
Other fireplace-area upgrade options
Along with a stunning surround, consider these options:
- Lovely set of fireplace tools
- Beautiful fireplace screen for safety and aesthetics
- Classy raised hearth
- Custom-built log storage receptacle
It’s your room, so you decide
As you can see, there are numerous ways to upgrade and customize your fireplace and the entire hearth area. When it’s time to get started, American Chimney & Fireplace is ready to help. We install all types of fireplaces and inserts throughout the Lexington, KY, and southern Indiana areas. We can customize your hearth area any way you want it.
Speak with a fireplace expert by phone or get in touch by using our contact form.
