How To Build a Fireplace

With all the fireplace options out there, picking the right one
can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help make the decision
easier.

1. Choose a style that fits your home. For example, if you live
in a prairie-style home, you want a fireplace that reflects that
feeling, not a baroque masterpiece. Find a company that offers a
range of options so you’ll be assured of finding a fireplace
that is the perfect complement for your home.

2. Pick the right material. Not only do stone surrounds offer
natural beauty and add dimension to a space, they also are safer
than wood or resin surrounds. In fact, updated fire codes in
many communities restrict the use of some wood or resin
surrounds. However, stone is expensive and can be hard to work
with, requiring experience and special tools. A great
alternative is Milestone Architectural Stone, made from hand
cast, lightweight concrete.

3. Set a budget. Having a number in mind before starting a
project helps focus your options. Your contractor or designer
can suggest ways to save money. For example, less weight
translates to savings in many ways, including reduced labor and
shipping costs and quicker project completion time.

4. Make sure your fireplace can withstand the elements. Outdoor
fireplaces require special considerations, since they’re exposed
to wind, rain and snow.

5. Will you do it yourself? Unless you’re a stone mason, you
probably wouldn’t try to install a natural stone fireplace. But
some gas fireplaces can be installed by do-it-yourselfers. The
material can be cut using a circular saw, and installation is
straightforward using their complete installation guides.

6. Get expert advice. If you’re lucky enough to be using an
interior designer or architect, they can help you choose a
fireplace that is the right scale for your project.

From a craftsman bungalow to a suburban rambler to the
backyard, no matter where you put one, a fireplace adds drama
and enjoyment to your home, not to mention increasing its value.

For more information on gas fireplace products,
visit http://www.gas-fireplaces.or
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Perhaps one of the greatest things about living in the new millennium is that many people focus on adding color, character and dimension to homes. It certainly is no fun when interior design leads down a path that is years into the past! The truth is that when it comes to fireplace remodeling many people think of it as quite the project. While furniture, rugs and wall colors can be changed with great ease, an old fireplace is much harder to redesign and often it ends up sticking out like a sore thumb even when the rest of the room has been beautified. A clean, light-colored fireplace will change the face of a room and bring your home and your feelings back to the present. Remodeling your fireplace allows you to concentrate on the future and to forget dreading your passé home interior!

As you would be already aware the fireplace is the focal point of most rooms. Thus in order to add character to it, one may want to use the seasons as an opportunity to raise a usually dull fireplace. So essentially, whether a home owner is attempting to create that cozy feeling of home, or astonish guests with finesse and grandeur the fireplace needs to be dressed up for the occasion. Possible ideas for a fireplace mantel can simply come from holiday decorations. For example for Christmas one can use the fireplace mantle to showcase family traditions over the years with the use of pictures and artistic elements that a home owner considers significant. Additionally the fireplace mantel can be used to display gifts received, or some gifts intended to be distributed.

Fireplace mantels are greatly responsible for the personality of a fireplace. Basically it can either slip seamlessly into a period room or jolt a contemporary room to life by adding a surprise. A crackling fire in the fireplace can be a lot of fun on a cool evening, but most people who have wood-burning fireplaces don’t actually light a fire that often. This means that most of the time fireplaces are just dark voids in the living room that is often neglected. Perhaps because of this concept, more and more people are sticking candles in their fireplaces. Using candles to add romance, silhouette and a cozy feeling to the fireplace is a wonderful and economical remodelling tip. Try these today and see how much they lend life and vigor to a dull and drab fireplace.

Some people like the rich color of dark-red bricks around the fireplace while others simply do not. The truth is that, if the room features light-colored walls, those bricks tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Many people consider the option of painting the brick but paint is a drastic step when it comes to brick, because it really cannot be removed. Thus the possibility of regret is quite high! Some wonderful instructions on how to lighten the bricks around your fireplace without actually coloring them can be easily found on the net.

I'd like to build a small kiva style fireplace on my patio. Anyone know where I can find plans and/or details for one? I did a search and couldn't come up with anything useful. I'm sure the information is out there, I just don't know where to look. Thank you in advance for your help.

Traditional Kiva style fireplaces were built out of mud bricks so here is what I would try.

Main structure from brick covered with Thoroseal for that smooth, solid appearance.

You can do your own plans with the area you are working with. Get some chalk and draw a few boundaries and then create from there.

You can also use things to build around such as an old drier drum for the base, you can cut the metal as you desire for the opening. The cylinder would be easy to work with and around.

i am trying to build an outdoor fire place and need help on design plans, set up, and how to for a few items

Try searching the web for "outdoor fireplace pictures" and other variations. You'll find hundreds of examples. Some of the best ideas are pictured as portfolios on the websites of professional landscapers and brick layers.

Once you've seen some ideas you like, perhaps try and draw up some simple working plans yourself to work from. Google has cool free software called "Sketch Up" that would do the trick perfectly.

If you're going to have someone else do the the construction, just print out pictures of the examples you like and have them figure out the details.

As an alternative to building an outdoor fireplace, you might want to consider a pre-made patio fire pit. There's lots of really unique fire pits that might convince you to change your mind.

Hope that helps!

Any suggestions of specific websites for fireplace/mantel decorating? I have a huge rock fireplace that I loathe…would like to dress it up!!

If the fireplace eally is HUGE, your decorations will have to be large as well. Because stone is natural, work with the seasons. Autumn is a wonderful time for leafs and gourds, pumpkins and the like. Winter comes with many themes, it's not all just Santa, try decorating with a collection of snowmen, small decorated sleds, snowflakes and don't forget the beautiful winter greens and berries. Spring is the birth of a new year, perfect for flowers to perk up a room after two seasons with no growth. And summer, why not try seashells, and or photo's of family vacations. I have a collection of crystal candleholders I've collected from yard sales, they're great to add some color at anytime of the year. I hope I was able to help.

This fireplace wall mural is beautiful:

http://www.tatouagedesigns.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=fireplace

Our first fire in the fireplace at the new house. This was on March 1st, 2008.

Duration : 8 sec

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I have removed the old fireplace in my lounge and I've bought a cast iron surround. The problem is I have to rebuild the fireproof stone area and I wondered if there were any tips anyone could give me

if you do decide to do it yourself, you have to ensure that you seal all joints arond the firebricks with a proper fire cement availiable from most DIY stores. Ensure the flu is free from dust and rubbish or you run the risk of smoking yourself out and getting gassed from the fumes, if atall your in doubt get a pro in !

We use the fireplace so our repair job must withstand heat.

plaster of paris
or clay

.

We are not using our fireplace so we want it to look like something else and we have no idea what to do? please help.
The fireplace makes the living room look backwards because we have a big screen tv so we cant move it and everything is facing it and we want to like decorate it and make it look like something else. I would tell you an example but I really don't know what kind of something to go over. We just need some ideas or websites!!! Please help us find the perfect thing to make it look right. thank you lots (if you help)

seal it and build a bookshelf inside, or wine rack. Could even put a fish tank ( put the light higher inside) or tv and/or entertainment center.