Upgrading your fireplace
Fireplace remodeling. When you’ve been in the world of remodeling for nearly a quarter of a century, you see firsthand where money is saved when homes are built, good or bad.
Carpeted bathroom floors (hey, at least your feet stay warmer), postage stamp-sized decks built out of fir, and MDF boxes in kitchens fitted with golden oak facing – portrayed as cabinetry.
But let’s not forget those seldom-used, inefficient recessed openings in your living rooms, providing an excellent draft during the winter months, likely accentuated with red bricks, better known as a fireplace. Before recent energy efficiency codes, can we say that those fireplaces were any different than what our forefathers had?
With so many of these inefficient fireplaces installed in many homes, perhaps you’re one of those considering an upgrade. Here are a few things to remember if you’re venturing down that path.
Remodeling Fireplace Options and Design
Most local fireplace retailers focus on the sale and installation of fireplaces only. When it comes to fireplace remodeling, homeowners are, for the most part, on their own. However, many homeowners who replace their fireplaces also need to update the area around the fireplace.
Remodeling the area around the fireplace could include things like a building permit, demolition, framing, hearths, mantels, electrical work, masonry work, tile work, cabinetry, countertops, lighting, flooring, drywall repair, and painting.
When considering the multitude of these remodeling options, design help is essential. Since 2014, Stewart Remodel Design Build has employed interior designers to work with our clients on all remodeling projects, including fireplaces.
We have updated many fireplaces over the years, sometimes as one-offs and other times as part of a larger remodeling project, like a kitchen remodel or a whole house.
There is a gap in the Fireplace Remodeling Industry
Recognizing that there is a gap in the fireplace remodeling industry since no single company installs the fireplace while also remodeling the area around it, we have focused on fireplace installation and remodeling by hiring Kevin Fields. Kevin has decades of experience in the fireplace, outdoor heater, and BBQ industry.
We recently acquired a mechanical license with the building department to perform all fireplace work in-house, including running gas lines.
Lastly, we have established accounts with multiple fireplace manufacturers, like Regency, Majestic, and Heat and Glo, to name a few. This enables us to buy directly, helping to reduce costs.
Winter will be here sooner than any of us would like, which makes now a great time to reach out to Stewart Remodel Design Build to get a head start on that fireplace remodel.
See some of our fireplace before and after photos, or learn more about our fireplace remodeling services.