Fireplace Mounting Options

The Best Fireplace Mounting Options

Do you already have a type of fireplace in mind for your home or business? The next step is to choose the fireplace mounting options available for your chosen one.

Choosing a fireplace might seem easy but to be honest, there are various types and fireplace mounting options to choose from which can be confusing to some while the others tend not to look too deep into them. But do not worry, we will make it as painless as possible for you!

Freestanding Fireplaces

A freestanding fireplace is a great replacement for a traditional open-hearth fireplace. This usually comes with a mantel and is designed to look like the traditional built-in ones but some are more compact and don't need a lot of space to be installed. If you are looking for a more modern look in your fireplace or if your decor is more on the modern or contemporary side, you can choose the freestanding fireplaces for your space.

Depending on the type of fireplace you choose, you might need to be attached to the ceiling or wall of ventilation or sometimes completely freestanding, like electric freestanding fireplaces. Electric freestanding fireplaces don't need any ventilation and therefore, easy to move around.

Size and style-wise, you have a wide selection of freestanding fireplaces. From traditional to modern to contemporary or small to large, there's absolutely a freestanding fireplace for you! 

Built-In Fireplace Inserts

A fireplace insert is installed or placed in an existing traditional built-in fireplace. Basically, you will just replace your high-maintenance traditional open-hearth wood-burning fireplace with a more efficient one, like gas, gel, ethanol, or electric fireplace.

Built-in fireplace inserts are great if you already have an existing traditional fireplace but want a more energy-efficient and low-maintenance fireplace without having to renovate your home.

Tabletop Fireplaces

Tabletop fireplaces are small, lightweight, and portable fireplaces that you can easily move around. Some outdoor tabletop fireplaces generate a little heat but some indoor ones are just for decor. Tabletop fireplaces are great to add ambiance when you are planning a date in your home, indoor and/or outdoors.

Traditional Open-Hearth Fireplaces

The traditional open-hearth fireplace is the most common mounting option associated with wood-burning fireplaces. It is built into the wall with a chimney or flue for ventilation. They are usually made with brick or stone and will need a lot of reconstruction in your home therefore, they will also cause a lot of money. A lot of people pass through the traditional open-hearth fireplace unless the house they bought already has one.

Two-Sided Fireplaces

Two-sided fireplaces are really amazing because you get to enjoy a fireplace in two rooms at the same time. This type of mounting option is a great way to maximize the usage of one fireplace. Double-sided fireplaces are commonly installed as a divider for living rooms and kitchens or in some cases, in bedrooms dividing the sleeping space to a sitting area.

Wall-Mounted Fireplaces

This mounting option is gaining popularity these days because of its installation flexibility and it is great in both big and small-sized apartments and homes as well as outdoor entertainment spaces. Some wall-mounted fireplaces are self-contained and can easily be moved from one place to another.

They do not also need any ventilation. While some will need a ventilation system like chimneys. It will depend on what type of fireplace you are going to get.

There's a wide variety of wall-mounted fireplaces in various styles and designs. You can also choose the one with or without a mantel, depends on your taste. So, you can surely find the right one that will fit your decor and style.

The most popular design, as of today, is a long wall-mounted fireplace called ribbon fireplace.

Choosing the Best Fireplace for your Home

Before you click that buy button, you need to consider these 5 things when buying a fireplace for your home, space, or business.

Heat Requirements

The #1 thing you have to consider before purchasing a fireplace is how much heat do you need. Larger homes or spaces tend to need more heat and some types of fireplaces might not be ideal for these situations. On the other hand, small spaces do not need a lot of heat, and too big fireplaces and certain types might not be ideal.

A wood-burning fireplace tends to give off more heat compared to other types. While electric, ethanol, gas, and gel fireplaces tend to be more efficient but give off less heat compared to the traditional ones.

When choosing the right fireplace for your space, you have to identify if your fireplace will be the main source of heat for your space or just for decor. 

Installation

Whether you already have an existing fireplace in your home or not, fireplace installation can be simple and only needs a few hours or can take weeks and will need a full-blown construction.

For a traditional wood-burning fireplace, if you do not have an existing fireplace, installation for this type will take a lot of time, money, and a professional because it will need reconstruction.

But if you have an existing one and just needs updating and remodeling, it will be faster. While for electric fireplaces, the installation will be less intrusive and will only take a few hours.

For gas fireplaces, this might take more than a few hours depending if you already have an existing gas line or not. If you have an existing gas line, this will be faster and cheaper, but if not, the installation of a gas line alone will be very expensive.

Location and Room

Which room of your home or business will you install the fireplace? Where in that room will your fireplace be?

These are the questions you need the answer to when you are choosing a fireplace. The location of your fireplace will help you choose which type of fireplace you might need. For example, wood-burning fireplaces are ideally installed near exterior walls while other types work great in interior walls. But for freestanding fireplaces, you can move them around.

Living rooms are the most common place where fireplaces are installed. Small electric and gas fireplaces might also be great options for other rooms in your home, like bedrooms, dining rooms, offices, or outdoor living areas.

Fire Safety

Every time you are dealing with, even with fireplaces, you need to be extra careful. There is no harm in hiring a professional when installing your fireplaces. The last thing you will surely want is to put yourself, your family, friends, and pets in danger.

It is also always safe to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

For households with children and/or pets, electric fireplaces are the safest option. But ethanol, gas, and gel fireplaces are also safe options. On the other hand, wood-burning fireplaces are dangerous for pets and children.

They are very accessible and open. But if you want the traditional open-hearth wood-burning fireplace, you need to install a screen or gate to protect your kids and pets.

Wood-burning fireplaces are more complicated. Regular cleaning is necessary. And not just normal cleaning, you will need to hire a professional to keep your fireplace clean and annual checkup for your chimney.

For gas fireplaces, you need to ensure that your gas line is properly installed and connected by professionals. You can also have an oxygen-depletion sensor or a safety pilot which automatically turns off when too much carbon monoxide is building up.

Budget

Knowing your budget, first and foremost, is the thing you need to identify before you go looking around for fireplaces. 

For smaller fireplaces, you will probably spend a few hundred bucks but you also have to consider the installation process of each. While for larger options, you can end up spending more than a few thousand bucks or more depending on if you need to renovate or remodel your place.

Remember, you have to consider the installation (if there are any), cleaning, and inspection costs.