Boston Stone Fireplace

Forty miles south of Boston you'll find the famous Fireside Café in Middelborough, Mass. While Middelborough is best known as the home of Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice, you'd be remiss not to stop at this world-renowned restaurant that takes its name from its signature stone fireplace. Stone fireplaces like you'll find at the Fireside Café aren't uncommon in Greater Boston, and if you're thinking about adding a fireplace to your home in Beantown, choosing a Boston stone fireplace is about as authentic as you can get.

The Boston Stone Fireplace in History
The stone fireplace in Boston history is as integral to Boston's self proclaimed title "the Cradle of Liberty" as anything else. There's been many a stone fireplace in Boston that, if you believe in legends, served as a gathering place where our nation's founders and revolutionaries set the direction of the nation while drinking Boston brews in the flickering light of a late-night fire. In fact, it's still a common Bostonian pastime, drinking around a stone fireplace in Boston, that is. Visit James's Gate, the Fireplace, or the bar at the Omni Parker House if you feel like talking politics and knocking back a few cold ones a la Paul Revere and Company. The point is, if you're looking for a fireplace that fits Boston to a T, then a stone fireplace is exactly what you've been searching for.

Choosing the Right Fireplace for Your Boston Stone Fireplace
Of course, there's a lot more to choosing the perfect fireplace for your modern Boston home than back in 1776. In those days, you had a stone fireplace or you went cold and hungry. Now you've got more choices than our founding fathers could have ever imagined. For the modern Bostonian homeowner, wood burning fireplaces are still the most attractive option. Unfortunately, they also emit more pollutants than other fireplaces, which is always a concern in a major urban area. If you're more ecologically minded, you might consider a vented gas fireplace instead. Engineered for efficiency, vented gas fireplaces burn natural gas while creating minimal exhaust, and they're easy and inexpensive to install compared to building a true wood burning fireplace. Vent-less gas fireplaces are another option, though they're best suited to the occasional fire, since they vent large amounts of water vapor as well as several potentially dangerous exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide) back into the home. Electric fireplaces create the ambience of a fire without an actual flame, if you're looking for an easy to install, safe addition to rooms that wouldn't otherwise be suitable for the real deal.

Choosing the Right Material for Your Boston Stone Fireplace
Once you've decided on the type of stone fireplace you want to install in B-Town, the next step is deciding which material is right for your home or budget. If you live in a historic Boston home, of which there are many, and you can afford the high costs, a natural stone fireplace is the way to go. Not only does natural stone retain the historic feel of many Boston homes, but it also absorbs and emits heat better than just about any other mantel material out there. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, but still want real stone, natural stone veneers can provide you with the look of genuine stone at a fraction of the cost since the stone is cut thin to reduce the cost of materials, labor, and installation. Finally, simulated stone veneers are an excellent choice for new home builds and remodels. These imitation stone veneers are made from polyurethane or concrete that is set into natural stone molds and colored to resemble stones of all shapes and sizes. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone who can distinguish them from natural stone, making a simulated stone fireplace an excellent option for those Bostonians who want the look of real stone, but have to keep a close eye on the penny jar at the same time.

If you think a Boston stone fireplace is the right finishing touch for your Boston home, talk to a contractor experienced in stone masonry or the application of simulated stone veneers about what it will take to build a Boston stone fireplace that will be the envy of your guests and neighbors for years to come.