Does your home lack a favorite amenity—a fireplace? If you’ve been wondering whether a fireplace can be added your existing home, the answer is yes. A fireplace is an excellent upgrade that adds sought-after ambiance and can increase the value of your home. One of your choices is to have a masonry fireplace built on, but there are far less expensive and at the same time aesthetically pleasing options, as well.
Budget For Fireplace
A driving force in your decision about a fireplace addition may be cost. The price tag on having a fireplace built can be very high. A general estimate is in the range of $10,000 to $20,000; there are many different variables that can affect cost, such as the masonry materials you choose.
If you add a gas fireplace, total cost between buying the appliance and having it professionally installed is approximately $4,500. Installation is usually more than half the cost.
Electric fireplaces and gel-fuel fireplaces usually cost at least $400. They are portable and convenient.
Operating expenses of your fireplace should be considered, too. If you have a fireplace that burns wood, annual chimney cleaning at a cost of $100 to $200 should be factored into the yearly budget. Gas fireplaces need a service check every year, which costs approximately $125.
If you choose to buy and install a biomass fireplace that burns wood or pellets, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. It’s worth checking into.
What about ongoing costs? Firewood is the least expensive fuel source for fireplaces. Of the utility-supplied heating fuel options, natural gas is the least expensive, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The least expensive, natural gas, is followed by heating oil, propane, and electricity.
Federal and Local Building Codes For Fireplaces
Due to federal and local regulations, a fireplace should never be built or installed in a home until building codes are consulted. Certain types of requirements you may need to abide by in adding a fireplace include the following:
- The height of the chimney
- Firebox and flue construction
- Minimum clearance around vent pipes
- Limits on fireplace emissions
Wall-mounted ventless fireplaces don’t require a chimney, but they are also not allowed in some municipalities.
Additional safety issues that come under building codes include fuel storage. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, firewood needs to be stacked so that it can dry out before being brought inside for burning. It’s important, however, that the fireplace is not stacked against the home because it is a fire hazard. If you are buying a gas fireplace, there are regulations regarding the source of natural gas or propane and how it is piped into the home.
What Rooms Can a Fireplace Be Added To?
Since zero-clearance fireplaces are among your options, you can install a fireplace in just about any space in your home. Decide where you will get the most enjoyment out of your new fireplace whether the main living area, the kitchen, a bedroom, or even a bathroom. Once it’s installed, you could decide that one fireplace is great but two or more would be even better.
Where to Shop for a Fireplace
FyrePro offers a showroom with fully-installed burning displays, to help customers get a feel for how a fireplace or other hearth appliance will look in their home. You can consult with the experts at FyrePro, and they can help you figure out which type of fireplace is best for you. Contact Ft. Collins’ favorite hearth store since 2002 at (970)266-8556 or stop in to visit the FyrePro showroom at 4631 S. Mason Street, Suite B5, in Fort Collins, CO.