A great way to add ambiance to any room is to install a fireplace. And these days we aren’t just limited to those old fashioned rather dated white mouldings, there are many great contemporary styles and designs to choose from.
But before you do anything you need to decide which type of fireplace would be most practical for your home. Does your home already have a chimney? If not this may seriously limit your options unless you are willing to install a chimney.
Then you need to consider the size of the room you had in mind, because fireplaces are intended to generate heat having a gargantuan medieval open fireplace in a small room would probably melt the plaster off the walls. So think practically about whether you will be able to enjoy the fireplace in comfort without feeling to hot or cold.
So what options are there? Many more than you would think, you can choose between open or closed, free-standing or traditional and gas, electric or wood burning. Again consider which is going to be more practical when it comes to supplying fuel for it and equally importantly cleaning it.
Consult with a professional to find out exactly which type would suit your needs best but here is some more basic info.
Closed system fireplaces often give a more contemporary feel and are more energy efficient as they allow far less heat to escape through the chimney but are more expensive to install. Open fireplaces bring a traditional romantic atmosphere to a room but are less energy efficient and can be rather messy.
With the electricity crisis still a reality gas fireplaces have become very popular with South Africans. They allow you to heat your home independently from Eskom and are very easy to maintain. They also generate no mess as they use gas to generate heat. Their downside seems to be that they are not as energy efficient as their wood burning counterparts, the gas used to fuel them is also more expensive.
You should also familiarize yourself with fire safety and the proper maintenance of your fireplace and its chimney ventilation system. You should have your fireplace annually inspected by a professional and keep a fire extinguisher near it that everyone in the family knows how to use.
A well installed, tasteful fireplace will please many people and can only add value to your home if you wish to sell on in the future, as long as it is well maintained.
If you do decide to install a fireplace make sure you use a reputable company with a proven safety record, remember you are bringing combustible items into your your home and you should never take short cuts!
