Beat the Wind and Rain with a Seattle Stone Fireplace

The unmatched vibrancy and social culture of the Emerald City puts a premium on inviting gathering places in your home. Nothing adds to a living room, family room, or home entertaining in general like a stone fireplace. Whether you enjoy curling up with a good book or the pleasant conversation of family, friends, and neighbors, basking in the warmth and soft light of a fireplace is a luxury like no other.

More than just ambiance, modern fireplaces provide an incredibly comfortable and romantic source of home heating. They provide the type of heat that makes you forget about the damp, dreary Seattle weather without drying out your skin as forced air heating systems are notorious for doing. Plus, homeowners who have central heating will find that the frequent periods of cold, but not freezing, temperatures offer the perfect opportunity to turn off their central heating for the luxurious feel of their fireplace.

Installation of Brick and Stone Fireplaces in Seattle
Even hardcore Seattleites who are unfazed by the extended period of rain and clouds will instantly fall in love with the look and feel of a stone fireplace in their home. In fact, many homeowners have dreamed of a real stone fireplace in their home virtually forever and don't need to be sold on the idea of a stone fireplace at all.

As far as process goes, brick and stone fireplaces are handled by highly skilled masonry contractors. By definition, these fireplaces are customized for your home, and the beauty of the finished product will convince you of this fact. Of course, this also means installation may take a week or two and can render this area of your home temporarily unusable. Nearly every homeowner finds this a small price to pay for the final result. Finding a reliable and trustworthy contractor will also minimize the inevitable intrusive feeling of having a relative stranger in your home.

Seattle Gas Fireplaces and Pre-Fabricated Fireplaces
Although nothing can match the ambiance of a brick or stone fireplace or an old-fashioned wood burning fireplace, some homes and situations can make these fireplaces impractical. The relative advantages and disadvantages of wood versus gas fireplaces are fairly self-explanatory. Wood fireplaces provide the authentic crackling and appearance of the traditional fireplace that gas fireplaces continually get better and better at imitating but never fully achieve. On the other hand, gas fireplaces eliminate the need for purchasing and storing firewood and the constant need for stoking and managing a real fire.

Pre-fabricated fireplace units are significantly cheaper than custom brick or stone. Their highly insulated design also makes them more energy-efficient and safer to install near combustible materials, such as wall framing. The downside is that they have limitations for the appearance of your fireplace surrounds.

Costs of Seattle Stone Fireplaces and Alternatives
The cost of installing of a fireplace naturally depends on the nature of the fireplace. A brick or stone fireplace in Seattle tends to run around $3,000, but can vary for simpler or more complicated fireplace designs. A pre-fabricated unit, by contrast, is more likely to run around $1,000. Though custom-built stone fireplaces are more complicated by nature, the process of installing a stone fireplace is typically easier on the homeowner. A masonry contractor will typically take care of every last detail for you, while pre-fabricated units may need some supervision to ensure that the manufacturer's model will fit in your available fireplace opening.

Seattle Stone Fireplace Installation and Safety
Before, during, and/or immediately after your fireplace installation, be sure to talk to your Seattle fireplace contractor about operation, maintenance, and general safety. You don't want this beautiful addition to your home to become a hazard or liability. The Seattle Fire Department offers this piece of advice for Seattle homeowners: Be sure that "the fireplace is equipped with a sturdy metal screen. The chimney is checked before each heating season and repairs are made as necessary." If a fireplace repair or remodel is what you really need, ServiceMagic can also refer you to several, prescreened Seattle contractors who are capable of providing these auxiliary fireplace needs.