Fireplaces

A stained glass fireplace screen can add a beautiful focal point to your room and hide a dirty or unattractive fireplace. Retail stained glass screens can be expensive and you may not be able to...

To prevent water from leaking around a chimney, it is essential to install flashing. Chimney flashing is installed between shingles and over the chimney's ice and water barrier. You should also...

Welded steel is the most simple of all heating stoves. In general, they are made of simple steel panels that have been welded together, and the firebox is lined with fire bricks. Steel stoves are...

Fireplace inserts can burn natural gas, propane, wood, pellet, coal and even run on electricity. They are popular because, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, they are more...

There is nothing quite like cuddling up by a wood-burning stove in the cold winter. Not only do wood-burning stoves provide added heat to your home, they add charm and comfort as well. The...

Although most home-heating systems operate off of natural gas or electricity, both of these energy sources can become very expensive during winter. For people wanting an inexpensive heating...

With today's fuel costs, outdoor wood furnaces are increasingly popular for their ability to provide relatively low-cost hot water and heating without the indoor mess traditionally associated with...

With energy prices fluctuating or even rising, many individuals look for alternative heating sources to replace or complement their current heating system. Pellet stoves offer many of the benefits...

Although many design innovations have transformed the standard brick structure of fireplaces, a simple brick fireplace can still be in style, especially for those who treasure tradition. Many...

Using a fireplace insert can be a visually attractive way to improve the efficiency of your home. According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, fireplace inserts can boost efficiency...

Wood-burning stoves provide an additional heat source to your home. But they may not always go with your home's décor, or perhaps the wood stove is old and the paint is chipping. Painting a...

Refinishing your brick fireplace will bring new life to not only the fireplace, but the room the fireplace is in as well. You may be thinking about painting the fireplace or covering it with a...

Although working with a gas fireplace may make you nervous, it is relatively easy to ignite the pilot flame and then adjust the level of flame (and heat) from your fireplace. In the coming winter,...

A basic part of metal fabrication, making a metal pipe requires a firm grasp of math and knowing the seam required for the pipes application after installation. Heavier gauged pipe used in...

Like any heating source, pellet stoves have advantages and disadvantages. You may love your pellet stove or be disappointed, depending on your heating needs and personal discriminations. If you...

Direct vent gas fireplaces are more likely to be installed during a home's renovation. Fire inserts, though, are usually installed when a chimney is already present in a house.

Choosing between a wood and gas fireplace can often have a big impact on your family's monthly fuel costs. However, you may want to factor in intangibles such as the added safety risks.

Modern home styling favors clean lines and sleek looks. Many homes built in the 1960s and afterward used brick around their fireplaces, a look that seems dated to many homeowners today. A good...

An important step in choosing a wood stove is to decide between steel or cast-iron options. Factors to evaluate include aesthetics, function, durability and price.

There are many similarities between corn and wood pellet stoves, and indeed some are marketed as being interchangeable as far as fuel types are concerned. Many users may find the primary...

Gas fireplaces are available in several varieties, including ventless and direct-vent models. Unlike ventless fireplaces, direct-vent ones have outlet pipes. This difference gives ventless...

If you use oil or electric for home heating, installing a wood or pellet stove can save you money. (Natural gas is more cost effective than wood or pellets.)

Brick fireplaces that are too big or too much trouble to dismantle and remove can be changed to a tile exterior. The process of changing a brick fireplace to tile involves covering over the...

Older homes that have a fireplace may have a brick facade that was added at a later date. These old fireplaces can be difficult to update and may no longer fit the style of the home. One option...

hOW TO PUT FAKE OR FAUX ROCK OR STONES UP.

Fresh cut wood contains about 40 to 50 percent water. To get a good fire going, the wood's water content needs to be half that amount or lower. Kiln and air drying are two methods of reducing the...

Installing a wood furnace in the home can help lower gas costs and lower your impact on the environment by allowing you to burn renewable sources. There are a few guidelines and specifications for...

A person choosing between a wood and gas fireplace has a wide variety to select from. Both wood and gas fireplaces use vent pipes and blowers to improve efficiency, and both can be safe if...

A growing trend over the past decade or so has been the emergence of backyard fireplaces and fire pits. Humans have always used fire as a source of heat and for cooking, but as we've developed...

A fireplace lends a warm glow and pleasant scent to fall and winter evenings at home. The firewood you choose will depend on your purpose in lighting the fire -- whether aesthetic or practical.

A wood burning stove is a great addition to any home. Not only does it add decoration to the home, it is also an added heat source that can save you money on your energy bill. Sometimes, the color...

A stone fireplace attaches history and style to a home interior. The placement of the fireplace, the materials used and the inspiration for its final stone pattern can feed the ambiance of the...

Whether you burn firewood as a recreational activity in your fireplace or you burn firewood as your source of winter heat, there are rules you should follow when you stack your firewood. Seasoned...

It's hard to resist the charm of a fireplace. A crisp autumn afternoon or a chilly winter evening calls the family to gather near the cheery flames. More and more, homeowners use fireplace inserts...

Unlike traditional fireplaces, gas fireplaces offer more choices. There is more freedom when considering decorative finishes and choosing the location of the fireplace. There is no need for...

Different types of gas fireplaces require different types of venting. Which type you choose---and therefore how you vent it---will depend on your specific circumstances and your reasons for...

Fireplace inserts can improve the heating ability of a fireplace by reducing the amount of air that escapes and allowing the fire to sit inside the house without risking damage to your home. Buck...

Utilizing pumice dipped in lamp oil to start a fire is an economical and reliable way to start a fire. Creating a fire starter of pumice and lamp oil dates back to when fires were the main source...

A fireplace is a cozy addition to any home. It is an attractive centerpiece to a main lounge and can add value to the home as well. Building a fireplace in the home is a large do-it-yourself...

Keeping firewood outside is generally the best place to store it since there is usually more room outside than inside your home. The downside to keeping firewood outdoors is that it is susceptible...

Adding tile around a fireplace can really spruce up the entire room. Many older fireplaces are surrounded by brick, which often gives a dreary and unattractive look. Tile for fireplaces comes in...

When considering home design, fireplace surrounds are a feature that merit special consideration. The welcome glow and relaxing warmth of a fireplace make it a natural place for guests to...

A ceramic tile fireplace can be given an upgrade through the use of marble tiles. While marble tiles will adhere to ceramic when the correct mortar is used, it is important to make sure that the...

Gas fireplace logs are a popular alternative to traditional wood burning fireplaces. They come in vented or ventless forms, and both have their merits. When deciding which is better, it's...

A fireplace mantle, or mantlepiece, is the decorative framework around a fireplace used to complement it architecturally and provide a place to display objects of personal value. Since the mantle...

Remodeling an existing stone fireplace may seem a daunting task---stone is not easily reshaped or removed. But changing the shape of the fireplace, its presence in the room it occupies, and its...

If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove and a big stack of newspapers, you've got a great opportunity to save on your gas bill this winter without the effort or cost of chopping or buying...

During colonial times homeowners relied on their masonry fireplaces to heat the entire home in the midst of a brutal winter. As you might imagine, the fireplaces of the past were large, not only...

Most log-burning stoves only come in a set number of colors. Usually these colors consist of black, brown and possibly red. However, this may not fit your color pallet, in which case painting the...

A fireplace can create a traditional focal point to any home. Installing one adds to the beauty of a room and provides a sense of warmth that many find comforting. By adding a rock fireplace, you...