Like anything else built into the structure of a home, a fireplace can become dull-looking and outdated over time, particularly when it's in a room with modern decor.
There are lots of ways to bring new life to a fireplace that has become an eyesore or you're just plain bored with. And now is a good time to do it.
"For homeowners who may have missed out on updating their fireplace in the fall, late winter is a great time to take advantage of sales on overstocked hearth accessories before the warmer seasons arrive," says Jess Baldwin, vice president of marketing, merchandising and product development for Monessen Hearth Systems, a hearth-products supplier that also sells Majestic and Vermont Castings brands.
Options can mean investing several hundred to several thousand dollars in the project. For instance:
Inserts: Inserts are the priciest way to rejuvenate a fireplace, but they're also the most energy efficient, particularly when converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas.
"Homeowners looking to update their fireplace and add a cozy ambience to their home can do so with the installation of a fireplace insert -- which can fit in a pre-existing fireplace," Baldwin says. "Besides the aesthetic appeal, fireplace inserts can result in increased heat output, reduced emissions and improved efficiency."
Some people love the crackle and ambience of wood. Hauling wood and cleaning up ashes -- that's all part of the wood-burner experience. But for others, not so much, and that's where inserts come in.
"A lot of people don't want to burn wood anymore," says John Malarney of Patio, Deck & Hearth Shop in Newbury.
Says Matt Patterson of Country Stove Patio & Spa in North Royalton, "We've sold a lot of gas inserts and vent-free gas logs lately."
An insert is a fireproof box that's surrounded by steel or cast iron and fronted by insulated glass, creating a closed combustion system that helps trap heat. You can continue using natural wood with some inserts, and the wood will burn more efficiently because of the heat containment. But most inserts are for gas.
Some inserts are equipped with a blower that forces hot air into the room through front vents, making the fireplace more efficient, Malarney adds.
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