Washington DC Stone Fireplaces

There are many additions you can make to your property that can make it a more pleasurable place to live in, but few of those have the appeal of a stone fireplace. Washington DC?s cold winter nights make this sort of addition even more desirable than it might be for homeowners in warmer climates, and DC residents will probably get more use out of their investment, too! If you are in the market for a fireplace, there will be many options to choose from, which can make finding the right one for your home a little more difficult than you might think. Knowing a little about what?s on the market before you shop can make a big difference in finding the perfect fireplace for you.

Installing a Wood Burning Stone Fireplace in Washington DC
By far the most traditional choice, Washington DC stone fireplaces that use wood for fuel will give your home a classic elegance that no other fixture can mimic. Though purchasing wood might be a pain, and lighting the fire and cleaning up the ashes can get a bit messy, there?s simply no competition for a genuine wood fire to make a house more homey. If you plan on using your wood burning fireplace several times a week throughout the winter, creosote build-up might become an issue; to avoid chimney fires, make sure that you have your chimney cleaned regularly!

DC Gas and Electric Fireplaces
If you want the comfort of a fire without all the fuss of burning wood, Washington DC stone fireplaces are also available in both gas and electric models. Gas fireplaces are easier to use, easier on the environment, and often more cost-effective than wood models, and this convenience has made them a very popular choice among homeowners. Vented gas fireplaces use a chimney or vent to send the fumes given off by burning gas to the outdoors. Vent-less models require no chimney and release their minimal exhaust into the home; if used occasionally and for short periods of time, these fumes are as harmless as those from a gas stove, but if you plan on having a fire going for most of the winter, vented models are probably the way to go.

Stone fireplaces that run on electricity can also be found in some DC homes. They produce no exhaust and are very easy and convenient to operate, but many find that the lack of an actual fire is not for them. Additionally, when they are used frequently, the increase in energy consumption will definitely make itself known in your electric bill.

Washington DC Stone Fireplace Materials and Appearances
Once you?ve decided what you want your fireplace to run on, the next step is to figure out how you want it to look. Brick and mortared stone fireplaces in Washington DC can be appropriate in just about any setting, but if you insist on real masonry, they can get expensive pretty quickly. Cut stone fireplaces (often made of marble or granite) are the height of elegance, though they too can be pricey. To achieve the look and feel of mortared stone at a lower price, you might consider using natural stone veneers; to reduce costs even more, you can opt for simulated stone veneers. If your budget is still a bit too tight for any of these options, you might consider installing a pre-fabricated fireplace or stove. Though they might not have the same appeal as a cut stone or mortared stone fireplace, Washington DC homeowners will find that these units are not just quick and easy install, but far more affordable, to boot!

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