Choosing the Right Fireplace for Your Home

September 18, 2015

The fireplace is one of the most prominent features in your home. Not only does it need to complement your home style, but it also needs to be the perfect gathering place for your family.

This is why it is important to take as much time as needed when choosing the right fireplace. For over 20 years we’ve been in the residential development industry, we at Luetgert Development have built homes with a variety of fireplace styles. In this article we’ll highlight some of the differences between a gas and wood-burning fireplace.

Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplaces have slowly risen in popularity; however, they lack some of the appeal of traditional wood-burning fireplaces. By this we mean that, with a gas fireplace, you will not get the visual appeal of burning logs and the crackling sound associated with the process. But this shouldn’t be a deterrent from considering this type of fireplace for your home.

Gas fireplaces have come a long way from when they started. Nowadays, many people are hard-pressed to tell the difference between a top-of-the-line gas fireplace and a wood-burning fireplace.

Two of the main selling points for these fireplaces are the ease of maintenance and how much more economical they are when compared to wood-burning fireplaces. Because there is no wood being used, gas fireplaces require little cleaning time. In addition, many gas fireplaces are now equipped with remote controls, making turning the fireplace on as easy as flipping a switch.

Wood-Burning Fireplace

wood-burning fire place

By far the most popular fireplaces are wood-burning. They bring in that old rustic grandeur from long times past, and are perfect gathering areas in a home. That being said, wood-burning fireplaces are not meant for everyone.

The first thing that must be taken into consideration is the price. If you’re designing your home, then adding a wood-burning fireplace to your plans won’t be that costly. If you plan on adding a wood-burning fireplace to your already existing home, however, you will need to be prepared for the expenses that you will incur. In addition to this, consider that you will either need to cut your own wood or purchase logs for the fireplace.

Maintenance is of utmost importance for wood-burning fireplaces. While this type of fireplace creates a beautiful, tranquil ambience for your home, the burning logs produce ash, which will need to be cleaned on a regular basis. In addition to this, the fireplace and chimney will need to be cleaned at least once a year for proper maintenance.

Fireplaces are the perfect addition to any home. They enhance the beauty of your home and provide for the perfect gathering area for your family. If you’re in the process of remodeling or designing your home, and are not sure of the type of fireplace you should choose, contact us! We at Luetgert Development are happy to help.

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