Fireplace Tips, Ideas & Buying Guides

Introduction The benefits of owning a fireplace go well beyond a warm room on a cold night. A fireplace adds comfort, atmosphere, and a natural focal point that shapes how a living space looks and feels. How much you gain depends on the fireplace type, the fuel...

Introduction A fireplace is often the heart of a home. It warms the room, sets the mood, and gives everyone a reason to gather. Like any appliance that produces heat, though, it needs regular care to stay safe and work the way it should. A neglected fireplace can...

Adding a fireplace is one of the more satisfying upgrades a Utah home can get. It is also one of the few projects where the rules matter as much as the design. Utah fireplace building codes govern where a unit can sit, how it vents, and what has to be approved before...

Introduction A fireplace can be the best looking feature in the house and still leave you reaching for a blanket. You feel the warmth when you sit close, but the far corner of the room stays cold. That gap between how a fire looks and how it actually heats is the most...

Introduction Ventilation is the part of your gas fireplace you never see, and it does more work than almost anything else in the system. A direct vent fireplace is sealed behind glass and uses a coaxial pipe, meaning one pipe inside another, to pull combustion air...

Use up and down arrow keys to resize the meta box pane. Introduction A fireplace changes how a room feels, but it also changes how a household has to move through that room. Families with crawling babies, curious toddlers, or a dog that likes the warmest spot on the...

Introduction A fireplace is usually the first thing people notice in a living room. When it looks dated, the whole space feels dated with it. A well planned fireplace remodel changes the character of a room without touching the rest of the house. Updating an outdated...

Introduction Most homeowners think about resale value at some point during a remodel, and fireplaces are no exception. A fireplace shapes how a room looks, how comfortable it feels, and how buyers respond during a showing. Remodeling for personal enjoyment is not...

Introduction The fireplace surround is the finished material that frames the firebox opening, and it does more work than most homeowners expect. It sets the tone for the room and has to hold up to heat year after year. Choosing well means balancing style, durability,...

Introduction The fireplace surround is the finished material that frames the firebox opening, and it does more work than most homeowners expect. It sets the tone for the room and has to hold up to heat year after year. Choosing well means balancing style, durability,...

Introduction An outdated gas fireplace pulls the whole room backward. Dark brick, a heavy oak mantel, and a brass-trimmed insert from the 1990s can make an otherwise updated living space feel stuck in another decade. The good news is that targeted changes often...

Introduction Fireplace placement is one of the most important design decisions you will make when building or remodeling a home. The spot you choose shapes how a room feels, how people gather, and how warmth moves through the space. The right location improves...