Fireplaces have traditionally served as a natural focal point in a home, supplying warmth and comfort.
Typically used for heat, a fireplace can also function as a conversation piece outlined by tile, stone or brick.
Today, fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new home buyers, while half of all U.S. households have at least one fireplace or freestanding stove, states the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Additionally, 59% of those home owners consider the fireplace to be a major design feature of their home, and 73 percent of wood-burning fireplace owners say they use them to enhance the home’s atmosphere.
Many contractors around Boston said a gas fireplace is a standard feature in their company’s house plans.
Typically stone, tile surround, or a white basic mantle, is used, but customers can also customize the fireplace.
Many homeowners are turning to manufactured or stone veneer to create the same look at a fraction of the cost or gas fireplaces that come with a mantel.
The most energy efficient fireplace on the market is a direct-vent gas fireplace that has glass doors.
Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) reports a fireplace remains the most popular choice and adds significant value to a home.
Most fireplaces are no longer made of traditional brick and mortar, but are engineered and pre-built by manufacturers.
More than seventy-five percent of all fireplaces installed each year are factory-built and shipped to the home or retailer.
With today’s venting options, HPBA said fireplaces, stoves, inserts and other hearth appliances can be installed almost anywhere in the home.
Many stoves, fireplaces and inserts are engineered to burn fuels derived from renewable and sustainable sources such as wood, pellets, corn, and other alternatives.
Because people typically use less than 40 percent of their home, warming the rooms with a fireplace, stove or insert also enables optimal energy efficiency by turning down their central thermostat.
For more information on fireplaces and fireplace inserts for your home, new construction project or home remodeling project, contact West Sport in Sudbury.<
Herald Standard
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