Will A Fireplace Add Value To My House?

If you’re planning to build or do some remodeling, you may be wondering if a fireplace or stove is going to be a worthwhile addition to your home. Should it be wood, gas, electric or maybe pellets? If we ever decide to sell the house, will a fireplace be a positive selling point or a liability? Will it add any value to my home?

GOOD NEWS!

The National Association of Realtors states that the addition of a quality fireplace in a home can increase the price of the house up to $12,000.00! This number varies geographically of course, but the opinion of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers is similar. Their findings indicate that a fireplace can increase the resale value of the home by as much as 6 – 10%. Good news, indeed!

Return on investment (ROI) should be a consideration when planning to remodel or build. If you’re planning a project, a fireplace should definitely be in the cards.

FIREPLACES ARE DESIRABLE!

We all know that a fireplace creates the ambiance and feel of a cozy, warm and safe place. A fireplace is one of the amenities in a home that is practical and functional. Today’s energy saving appliances are enjoyed by everyone! In fact, the National Association of Home Builders says that nearly 75% of homebuyers state a fireplace is one of the most desirable features they’re looking for. And the National Association of Realtors says that nearly half of home buyers are willing to pay more if the house has at least one fireplace!

WHERE TO LOCATE?

With these thoughts in mind, where is a good location for a fireplace? Number one on the list is the family or living room. Makes sense. The area where the family spends the most time together and the center of the home is the family or living room.

But do not overlook other places in your home. How about a fireplace in the bedroom, bathroom, dining room or even at the end of a hallway or on the wall behind an open stairway? Today, different sizes and shapes of fireplaces can be installed wherever you’d like!

Will A Fireplace Add Value To My House - Electric Fireplace Ambiance

Electric Fireplace Ambiance

WHAT KIND OF FIREPLACE IS BEST?

There is not a correct answer to that question. A gas or wood-burning fireplace will provide significantly more heat than an electric model. If heat is very important to you, go with gas or wood.

However, there are several scenarios where aesthetics and ambiance are more important than heat. For example, an electric fireplace mounted on a wall in the master bedroom. Many people sleep better when their bedroom is a bit cooler than the rest of the house. You can enjoy the flames and light show from an electric fireplace, with or without turning the heat on.

How about an electric fireplace in your formal dining room? With eight or ten or twelve people around a table, you probably don’t need much heat. But picture a five or six feet electric linear fireplace in a wall providing an unforgettable atmosphere while you’re entertaining. Just click on the remote! Electric fireplaces are popular for a reason. They can literally be installed anywhere!

When planning, keep in mind that a gas fireplace will need to be vented horizontally out a sidewall or vertically through the roof. Wood burning equipment will always require a chimney to go up through the roof.

Will A Fireplace Add Value To My House - Electric Fireplace Napoleon

Electric Fireplace Napoleon

INSTANT VALUE & ESTIMATED COSTS

Any type of fireplace will add more appeal and instant value to your house. Generally speaking, electric units will be your least costly option. Gas models next, followed by wood burning fireplaces. Both equipment and installation costs with gas and wood fireplaces are more than an electric model.

Ball park equipment costs: Electric fireplaces in the $1500 – $3500.00 range. Gas in the $3000 – $7000.00 range. Wood, $4000 – $8000.00, and pellet equipment from $4000 – $7000.00. The cost of installation and finishing (brick, stone, tile, slate, mantels, etc.) can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000.00, depending on several details.

WHAT ABOUT FIREPLACE DEMOLITION?

If I have an older home with an older wood burning fireplace… can it be removed? This is an excellent question and one that comes up fairly frequently. And the answer is a definitive: it depends!

It depends on the type and condition of the fireplace. For example, a house built in 1980 with a zero clearance (ZC) fireplace should be looked at differently than a house from the 30’s, 40’s or 50’s, built with a masonry fireplace. It would be a good idea to physically remove an older ZC fireplace. New equipment can usually be installed within the same footprint. The odds are in your favor that another wood burning fireplace will fit into the same space. The odds are very high that a gas model would fit into the framework of an old wood burning, ZC unit.

A masonry fireplace is a different story. The support of a masonry fireplace starts in the basement, with a large concrete footing. This carries the weight of the brick, block and stone work above it. Demolition of a masonry fireplace is considered major surgery and is usually not recommended. An insert will probably be your best bet. There are many different sizes of inserts on the market today. Odds are again in your favor that your WE LOVE FIRE dealer will have several inserts that would be able to slide into an older masonry fireplace. Inserts put new life into old, inefficient fireplaces. Furthermore, your insert options would include all four fuels: wood, gas, electricity and pellets.

Will A Fireplace Add Value To My House- Wood Insert Ambiance

Wood Insert Ambiance

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you are planning improvements to your home, bathroom and kitchen projects are often in the discussion. And rightly so! But according to Remodeling Magazine, major renovations in the kitchen and bathroom normally yield an ROI around 60%. That is not to imply that these projects are not worthwhile or important. Just the opposite. They are the two most critical rooms that a potential homebuyer is attracted to. And, the two rooms in the house that get used the most.

If a new home or remodeling project is in your future, consider:

. . .  the amount of dollars you’re going to be investing.

. . .  the enjoyment you and your family will receive from the improvements.

. . .  the time you are going to continue to live in the house.

So why add a fireplace, or two or three to your home? Because a fireplace:

. . .  adds additional heat to those areas in your home where you spend the majority of your waking hours.

. . .  will add more value to your home and down the road, will make it more appealing to a potential buyer.

. . .  is the focal point of the room and a reflection of your lifestyle.

. . .  creates a warm and cozy, comfortable and inviting ambiance in your home.

. . .  is the place where your most treasured family pictures, mementos and seasonal decorations are displayed.

It’s easy to see how installing a fireplace adds value to your home in lots of different ways. Your WE LOVE FIRE expert has several options and choices for you to investigate! We’ll look forward to seeing you!

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service ()

Auburn, AL

Top Hat Chimney Sweeps
1280 Financial Ct.
Auburn, AL 36830

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Elk Grove, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
9097 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Sacramento, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
5455 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

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Durango, CO

Durango Outdoor Living
140 Rock Point Drive
Durango, CO 81301

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Durango, CO

Four Corner Stoves & Spas
3001 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301

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Grand Junction, CO

Stove Depot and Chimney Works
330 North Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81501

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New London, CT

Family Hearth and Patio LLC
571 Broad Street
New London, CT 06320

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Ridgefield, CT

Yankee Doodle, Inc.
71 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877

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Dover, DE

Byler's Stove Shoppe Inc.
1368b Rose Valley School Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

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Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Bettendorf, IA

Fireplaces Plus, Inc.
1745 State Street
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Post Falls, ID

Quality Stoves & Home Furnishings
569 N Syringa St
Post Falls, ID 83854

Rockford, IL

Advanced Chimney Systems, Inc.
3486 Lonergan Drive
Rockford, IL 61109

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Wauconda, IL

Grass Roots Energy, Inc.
28751 N Route 12
Wauconda, IL 60084

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Evansville, IN

Firemaster, Inc.
5300 E Morgan Avenue
Evansville, IN 47715

Jeffersonville, IN

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales
915 Nachand Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

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Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Fireplace Center
10470 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212

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Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

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Littleton, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
60 White Street
Littleton, MA 01460

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Seekonk, MA

The Fireplace Showcase
775 Fall River Ave
Seekonk, MA 02771

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Sudbury, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
348 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776

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Duluth, MN

Duluth Stove & Fireplace
2431 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

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Minneapolis, MN

Woodland Stoves & Fireplaces
2901 Franklin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Oakdale, MN

Energy Savers of Minnesota
6298 Highway 36 Blvd N
Oakdale, MN 55128

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Rochester, MN

Brekke Fireplace Shoppe
1904 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

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Walker, MN

Wilkening Fireplace Company
9608 State 371 NW
Walker, MN 56484

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Fargo, ND

Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc.
701 28th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

Omaha, NE

Fireplace By Design
13913 R Plaza
Omaha, NE 68137

Epping, NH

The Stove Shoppe
285, Calef Highway Rte. 125
Epping, NH 03042

Windham, NH

The Stove Shoppe
25 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087

Hamilton, NJ

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home
1731 Nottingham Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619

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Voorhees, NJ

Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.
476 Centennial Blvd
Voorhees, NJ 08043

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St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

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Media, PA

Chimney Cricket
101 State Road
Media, PA 19063

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Rapid City, SD

Hebron Brick Company
1543 Deadwood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57709

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Sioux Falls, SD

Hebron Brick Company
2211 W. 50th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525

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Vermillion, SD

Kalin's Indoor Comfort Inc.
710 Cottage Avenue
Vermillion, SD 57069

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Manassas, VA

Winston's Chimney Service
11301 Industrial Road
Manassas, VA 20109

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Barre, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10
Barre, VT 05641-2317

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Bennington, VT

Friends of The Sun
126 Hicks Avenue
Bennington, VT 05201

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Manchester, VT

Friends of The Sun
159 Depot Street
Manchester, VT 05255

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Shelburne, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
3113 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482

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White River Jnct, VT

Home Comfort of New England
1255 VA Cut Off Road
White River Jnct, VT 05001

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Burlington, WI

Burlington Fireplace & Heating LLC
857 Milwaukee Ave.
Burlington, WI 53105

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Madison, WI

Top Hat
5117 Verona Rd
Madison, WI 53711

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Morgantown, WV

Rustic By Design
709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15
Morgantown, WV 26505

Laramie, WY

High Country Stoves & Fireplaces
860 N. 3rd Street
Laramie, WY 82072


For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

2 Responses

  1. Does an Electric Fireplace Add Value to a Home? – Snugglyflame
    […] Sources: We Love Fire […]
  2. Tony Kocheff
    Love the article, completely agree, and will be sharing this! Another great fireplace shop in Columbus, Ohio is Specialty Gas House. They do great work on installation and service. They also do a lot for the community.
    • Dominique Page
      Thanks Tony for your nice comment on the article!

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