Options Analysis

Fireplaces
Walking into a home with a fireplace seems to instantly put everyone at ease. Although wood-burning fireplaces are quaint and attractive, gas versions are significantly cleaner and easier to maintain. They have also come a long way as far as aesthetics and function. “Gas fireplaces are looking more real all the time,” Appert says.

A gas adaptation is basically an insert with a glass front, but it’s the exterior that sets the tone. “It’s what you put around it that makes the look you want,” says Walgamuth, who tells his clients to go big with gas fireplaces so they look more realistic and less of an afterthought. Choose from granite, tile, stone, wood, and pre-cast concrete, which is catching on with homeowners who want a more ornate style. When it comes to installation, do your homework—venting and other functional details differ according to type. “[Research] codes if considering wood versus gas,” Appert says. “Many municipalities have varying codes when it comes to fireplaces.”

Bottom Line
While the decision-making process can be daunting, it’s worth the extra time, care, and money to make the right choices for your lifestyle. Many professionals will eschew more budget-conscious choices—Formica, for instance—in favor of more expensive yet hardier options—granite, for example, which can cost eight to ten times more.

“Cutting corners is not an option for us when it comes to evaluating time,” Appert says. “If you cut corners, there is a high probability you are sacrificing quality. There are ways to achieve your desired result without cutting corners.”

An expert team can be your ticket to those options, and with a good crew behind you, the choices can become not quite so endless.

“Get someone to help you,” Frosch says. “You can’t do it on your own.”