How to Choose the Right Fireplace

With only five months averaging a high of 70 degrees or higher, if you are looking to move to Denver, Colorado, you might want to consider a home with a fireplace.

Nothing makes a house feel like a home in the winter more than a beautiful fireplace. Fireplaces are often taken for granted and underutilized. If you spend enough time shopping around, you can find the perfect fireplace to suit your style, while being energy efficient as well. Whether you are looking for a home that already has a fireplace that you can repurpose, or you are building a new home, there are a lot of options to consider.

In Denver, almost all new house plans have at least one fireplace incorporated into their design. Although fireplaces are typically found in great rooms, living rooms, or dining rooms, you can also consider putting a fireplace in your master bedroom for an extra cozy feel.

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is how you and your family will use the fireplace. Is your fireplace going to be used on special occasions only, or as the primary source of heat? You also need to decide if you want fuel-fire or real fire, which basically relates to how easy of maintenance you want as well. Determine whether or not you would like an electric, gas, or wood burning fireplace.

When choosing between gas, electric, or wood, think about cost. The trend towards gas fireplaces comes from the lower cost and maintenance they offer. If you choose a wood-burning fireplace, keep in mind that upkeep can be a hassle if you plan on using your fireplace as a central source of heat, and it is more expensive to build since they require a chimney build of masonry. Wood-burning fireplaces require you to plan out exactly how you would want it built and out of what construction materials. Brick is the most commonly used building material for wood-burning fireplaces because it does not show smoke stains. However, you can also choose from stones such as: limestone, marble, or slate.

If you are aiming towards a more modern look for your home, gas and electric fireplaces are typically much smaller and sleeker. They also come in a box so you save a lot on construction costs and time. You can also look for one with a high efficiency rating, called AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Rating).

Not only can choosing the right fireplace help save you money, it can also add significant value to your home's resale value.

When moving to Denver, get fired up about your new home and look for the best fireplace to suit your needs.