Fireplaces and Home Values: How Much Do They Add?

What can a wall mounted fireplace do for your home’s value? Quite a bit, according to real estate experts. If you plan to eventually sell your home and you do not currently have a wall mounted fireplace, you may consider adding one so that you can raise the asking price when you decide it’s time to sell.

How much value can a fireplace add to a home? According to the National Association of Realtors, a fireplace can add as much as $12,000 to the value of a residential property. The same rings true for condominiums: According to Sotheby’s International Realty, adding a fireplace to a condo can raise its value by up to $10,000.

Logically, a new fireplace is going to be a big selling point; buyers appreciate a home that has as many new features as possible, especially when an old, outdated model could be a safety concern. In fact, a leading chimney repair company in Washington state reported that 90% of older fireplaces fail inspection. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey, almost 40 percent of existing fireplaces in residential properties are not usable. All things considered, it just makes sense to have a new fireplace installed if you plan to sell your home one day.

So, how should you choose what kind of fireplace to install? It may be a good idea to look at what’s popular with buyers right now. According to real estate agents, some of the most popular fireplace trends among home buyers are:

• Small, sleek fireplaces that occupy minimal wall space

• Gas fireplace in condominiums, for convenience and safety

• Wood burning fireplaces for single family homes in cold weather areas

Of course, we have all of those options here at Custom Fireplace Design. Our modern fireplaces include wall mounted fireplace models, suspended and hanging fireplaces and more – and, we have both gas and wood burning varieties. You are bound to find one that will add substantial value to your home.

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Using Your Built In Fireplace for the First Time

The first time you use your built in fireplace, there is a simple protocol to follow for safety reasons. First, you want to make sure you have the proper safety equipment installed. That includes two essential alarm devices: a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector, both of which may be required by law (depending on your state or province). Smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning are both potentially deadly risks, so please have these devices installed if you do not already.

Next, you want to check your fireplace’s chimney for debris. Many people underestimate the probability that debris can accumulate in their chimneys, but we assure you that it can. In windy areas, this is an especially prevalent risk – and in nearly any geographical location, birds can make their nests inside chimneys. If you light a fire and there is a bird nest in your chimney, killing the birds is not the only risk. You will also put yourself at risk because smoke will back up into the home; after all, it has no other place to vent. Also, make sure there is a flue cover at the top of the chimney. This will prevent sparks, which could cause a fire on the roof if they get out of control. A flue cover will greatly reduce the risk of that happening.

Okay, those things are done – but there’s still a little more work to do before you can enjoy your fireplace for the first time. It’s simple, though; just make sure your chimney has been swept completely. It should be cleared of creosote and soot build-up, both of which could cause a chimney fire. You also want to open your fireplace damper, which is the metal flap located right inside the chimney near the front of the fireplace. You should be able to pull the damper down to open it.

Now you can prepare your fire, whether you are using natural wood logs or clean burning fuel, and use your built in fireplace for the first time. Enjoy it!

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Do You Need a Fireplace Consultant?

You might – and if so, we have one! If you want a custom fireplace design, but none of the options in our gallery meet your precise specifications – or, you do want one of our designs and you have questions on the practicality of that design for your home – that’s when you can enlist the help of our custom fireplace consultant, Vince Volpe!

With 23 years’ experience, Vince can answer all your questions when it comes to a custom wood burning fireplace, including the best fireplace design options for your space, the best installation methods for your contractor to use, the best operational methods and the most highly recommended service options for keeping your fireplace well-maintained.

Remember: Fireplace design isn’t just about looking great. It’s also about safety, which is why our fireplace consultant service includes advice on things like:

• Floor protection
• Proper installation
• Chimney sizing
• Clearance reduction

Vince is a certified Wood Burning System Designer and Air Spillage and Pressure specialist, so he is also extremely well versed in fireplace safety. And while he does specialize in wood burning fireplaces, he can also explain how your fireplace can be retro-fitted with a gas burner system so you can save money on firewood and alleviate your environmental concerns.

Plus, he not only works with homeowners, but home builders, architects and interior design professionals as well. If you are employed in one of those professions and you have clients that want a custom fireplace, we encourage you to become a professional partner of Custom Fireplace Design so you can take advantage of the consulting services we offer. Your job can be completed more efficiently, more safely and even more affordably because of our fireplace design and consulting! Fill out the contact form here to request a consultation with Vince Volpe; he gladly works with clients throughout North America.

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Ways to Clean Fireplace Glass

If you spend any time researching our modern fireplaces, you’ll see that many of our models do not have glass panels in the front. However, some do; after all, some buyers have to make safety considerations. If you purchase a fireplace that does have safety glass, you will be relieved to learn there are many affordable ways to do it. Typically, fireplace glass can be cleaned by simply wiping it down. If there is a little cloudiness, regular household glass cleaner will normally do just fine.

But what if you have an unfortunate accident, like allowing a piece of clothing to get too close to your fireplace glass? Sometimes, that can cause the fabric to burn on the glass and it may seem impossible to get off. Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to stay there forever! Some ways you may be able to remove it are:

Foaming oven cleaner – this is a go-to solution for all kinds of clean-up disasters
TSP solution – this is a heavy duty cleaner used by painters and construction workers
Paint thinner – If the first two remedies don’t work, you may consider giving this a try

However, these are only good ways to clean fireplace glass if the area feels smooth to the touch. If the glass feels rough to the touch, that is a situation that may be a little harder to tackle. Try carefully scraping it with something non-abrasive, such as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Softening the spot with hot water or steam first is probably going to make the job easier, so if you have a steamer that you can use, great! If not, try preparing the area with a hot, wet washcloth.

These are some of the ways you may consider cleaning fireplace glass, if an uncommon accident was involved. Of course, you can minimize your chances of needing to do this by practicing good fireplace safety. Don’t wear hanging clothing while tending to your fireplace, and never lean on the glass; this will help prevent a messy mishap, and it will ensure your safety as the owner of one of our modern fireplaces.

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96% of Residential Landscape Architects Now Offer Fireplace Design?

That appears to be the case. Recently, The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) published the results of its 2013 survey of more than 4,000 landscape architecture firms; this survey specifically related to the act of product selection where residential and hospitality design were concerned. When we say “product selection,” we mean furniture and structures, naturally – but we also mean live plant installations, water features and – you guessed it! – fire features.

So, what did the survey reveal? The first was not necessarily a surprise: 86% of all landscape architects that service commercial facilities (specifically, hospitality and restaurant establishments) now offer design and installation for fireplaces, firepits and other fire features. As many people know, a growing number of restaurants now have fireplaces indoors, and many of them outdoors as well – especially in colder geographical locations throughout North America.

As for hotels and resorts, many of them now have fireplaces in their guest rooms in addition to lobbies, bars, banquet halls and other spaces. Now, for the really interesting part: What this survey revealed about residential landscape architects and fireplaces. It turns out that an astonishing 96% of residential landscape architects now include a fireplace, firepit or other fire feature in residential projects. That must indicate serious demand for outdoor fireplaces among homeowners! Certainly, it means that high net worth homeowners who can afford to hire a landscape architect are demanding outdoor fireplaces.

The good news is, you don’t have to be one of these high-earning homeowners to own your own outdoor fireplace. You can select one from our catalog at Custom Fireplace Design; or, you can enlist our help in a custom outdoor fireplace design that’s perfect for your backyard. If either of these options interest you, take a look at our gallery. We know you will be impressed.

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Fireplace Ideas for the Workplace

Can you have a fireplace in your office building? Sure you can! A fireplace can add incredible ambiance to a workplace. Some ideas for office building locations where a fireplace can be an incredible addition are the:

Lobby – Every business owner wants guests to feel welcome when they come in, and what better way to do that than with a fireplace? Having a fireplace installed in the lobby is the perfect way to disarm prospects and clients, no matter what kind of day they’re having. They’re bound to be impressed, too!

Conference room – Staff meetings are not necessarily events that workers look forward to. But if the conference room is made into a warm, welcoming place, they can be! Consider having a fireplace installed in your conference room to add instant warmth (figuratively and literally) to a space that really needs it.

Break room – One of the biggest workplace trends going right now is the idea of designing the office to feel more like home. When you do this, your employees can feel more at ease about the time they spend at work. Putting a fireplace in the break room is a move that can help foster a more collaborative spirit among your employees, and who knows? They may even spend more time at work.

Of course, it isn’t always practical or feasible to have a wood burning fireplace installed in a workplace. However, it is completely possible to have a fireplace feature that is safe, practical and easily operated: our Vapor Fire system, which lets commercial facilities enjoy the benefits of a fireplace feature safely and without venting requirements. It uses a steam vapor mist and LED lighting to create an authentic fireplace effect that looks like a real fire. Vapor Fire is perfect for nearly any workplace, particularly office buildings. For information on this and other fireplace ideas for the workplace, contact Custom Fireplace Design today.

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The Roots of the Suspended Fireplace

Here in the United States, many consumers are unfamiliar with the suspended fireplace; once people see a suspended fireplace, they often remark that it is one of the most unique fireplace designs they’ve ever seen. For those people, it may come as a surprise that the design we now know as a suspended fireplace has been around since 1967 – the pinnacle of the mid-century modern design era.

Created by sculptor French Dominique Imbert, the Gyrofocus was actually the first suspended fireplace to pivot 360 degrees. Although Imbert only intended to create a fireplace that would warm his studio in the south of France, the Gyrofocus and a sister product, the Antefocus, soon became the centerpiece products of the Focus contemporary fireplace line.

Now, the suspended fireplaces that define Focus fireplaces can be found in locations ranging from art galleries in Marseille, France to condominium homes in Tokyo, Japan, to prestigious design museums such as the Guggenheim in New York City and the museum of Modern Art in Stockholm, Sweden.

Buyers love the clean lines of suspended fireplaces, which is perhaps what makes them perfect for an urban environment. Unlike a “traditional” fireplace that is built into the wall, suspended Focus fireplaces are installed onto the wall; this is a unique distinction that sets them apart entirely from other fireplaces. Of course, there are built in Focus fireplace models as well; in fact, there are now more than 60 Focus fireplace models available.

In Europe, there are distributors that sell Focus fireplaces exclusively to European buyers – but here in the United States, homeowners, business owners, architects and designers can purchase Focus fireplaces directly from us! Custom Fireplace Design is the exclusive North American importer and distributor of Focus fireplaces. Visit our website for examples of the Focus fireplaces we have available.

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