How to Add a Wood Burning Fireplace

You're thinking of adding a wood burning fireplace to your home. There are three main types of wood burning fireplaces: clean-burning, traditional and EPA-certified. Traditional and clean-burning fireplaces can be created with masonry or factory built, while EPA-certified fireplaces are factory built and are very much like wood stoves.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the fireplace that's best for you. If you're going to be using your new wood burning fireplace as a primary heat source for your home, consider an EPA-certified or clean-burning fireplace because they are more efficient in producing heat and they reduce smoke emissions. The traditional fireplace has cosmetic appeal, but is only good as a heat source in the room where it sits.

2. Consider your budget. Fireplaces and construction costs can add up, so know the maximum price that you're willing to spend.

3. Contact reputable contractors. Unless you have experience in the construction field, specifically in additions involving fireplaces and chimney installation, it's best to use a certified professional. Ask for recommendations from friends and family members that have a wood burning fireplace. You can also contact your local Chamber of Commerce for names of contractors.

4. Be realistic. To add a wood burning fireplace, it needs to be built according to building code standards, which may or may not be what you had in mind according to your home's layout. Wood burning fireplaces need to have an exhaust and exit point for smoke, so you're going to need to have a chimney or flue-like device attached to the fireplace.

5. Hire a contractor to add your wood burning fireplace. Be sure to ask about maintenance costs and the time it will take for the addition to be done to your home.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to firewood that you can burn in your new fireplace, you can also purchase fire starting sticks and heat logs to burn.