Buying a new fireplace is an extremely individualized experience that adds an element of coziness to your space. Your fireplace should reflect your design sensibilities, your home’s personality, and your individual needs. The fireplace buying experience should reflect this, and provide a customized, individual experience.
There are many different factors to consider before choosing the right gas fireplace for your lake house…
Placement-
One of the most important factors to consider is where to place your gas fireplace in your lake house. Placement of gas fireplaces has evolved from the traditional locations in family rooms or living rooms. Today’s interior design trends place them in any room where ambiance and warmth are desired, which can be just about any room in the house!
Imagine turning on your fireplace to soak in the tub or to work in your home office. Bedtime reading in the warmth of a fireplace could calm your nerves and pave the way for many nights of restful sleep. There are also see-through and multi-sided fireplaces, which can be enjoyed in more than one room at a time—a great option for owner’s suites.
Heating-
Before you start looking at gas fireplace designs, you need to know how much heat output you need. That largely depends on how much space you are heating.
If you are heating a small space, you can choose a model with a lower BTU output. If you are heating a large, open-concept living space, you will need a model that produces more heat. Choosing the wrong heat output can result in too little heating, or the room being much too warm when the fireplace is on.
Measure the dimensions of the area you are heating, including the ceiling height, before you talk to a fireplace professional. A contractor can tell you which models will work best for heating your living room, as well as when it makes sense to choose a model with a fan.
Style-
Choosing a gas fireplace that ties your lake home all together is important. There are a wide range of gas fireplace styles to choose from, and one of them is sure to strike your fancy. Traditional-style fireplaces feature realistic logs, flames and embers with varying fireboxes and surrounds to complement a home’s classic décor.
Contemporary design trends have influenced many home building products and fireplaces are no exception. Many modern-style fireplaces have media such as pebbles, stones, colored glass crystals or a combination of those materials instead of traditional fireplace logs. They may also be a non-traditional size or shape, with in-line flames, LED backlighting and sleek finishes on the surround to complement today’s modern styles.
What is the Right Venting System For Your Home?
Traditional B-Vent Fireplaces
A traditional B-vent gas fireplace requires a chimney. It draws combustion air from inside your home and exhausts combustion gases outdoors.
B-vent fireplaces comply with most local ordinances and regulations. However, they are one of the least efficient options since they lose a lot of heat via the chimney and use heated air from inside your home for combustion.
Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces
Direct vent fireplaces are considered a safe and efficient alternative to fireplaces with traditional brick chimneys. These fireplaces use a completely sealed venting system to bring outside air into the firebox and exhaust combustion gases outside your home.
Direct vent is often a preferred option because it maintains indoor air quality and protects your home’s efficiency.
Investment-
There are gas fireplaces for all budgets. As you contemplate how much you want to spend, keep in mind the return on investment that adding a fireplace brings to your home’s value. Fireplaces are popular home amenities, and many homeowners want one, including those who may consider buying your house some day when it’s time to sell. Nearly 80 percentage of real estate agents in the poll conducted by Angie’s List say both indoor and outdoor fireplaces increase a home’s value by anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. They also say that when it comes to luxury homes, outdoor fireplaces count as a must-have.
Adding a gas fireplace to your lakefront home is an amazing way to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Think about curling up with a cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a book next to the fireplace with the amazing view of the lake right outside your window… Life couldn’t get much better than that!
Posted by Scott Freerksen “The Lake Guy”