I get it. Buying a fireplace can be overwhelming and confusing. Are you looking for a direct vent insert, a vent-free log set, a zero-clearance prefab? What media would you like? Are you interested in IPI or a millivolt system?
If none of those questions made any sense to you, you’re not alone. These common questions assume (often incorrectly) an understanding of technical jargon. Unfortunately, they’re often the first questions you get asked by a fireplace dealer, leaving you feeling utterly confused and overwhelmed. You just want to buy a fireplace that looks good and fits your budget. How hard is that?
Thankfully, it’s actually very easy and doesn’t require any understanding of fireplace jargon. There are only four questions, in plain language, that can point any decent salesperson to a list of 2 or 3 optimal choices for you to consider.
1. Do you want the new fireplace installed in a wall, in an existing brick and mortar fireplace, or sitting out on the floor?
The answer to this question will tell us what category of fireplace we need to be looking at. (Insert, prefab, stove, etc.)
2. Do you want the fireplace to provide the main heat for the room?
The answer to this question will tell us the performance and efficiency range that we want to be looking at. Not all fireplaces provide a room with the same amount of heat and some even have options to redirect that heat elsewhere if it’s not desired in the room with the fireplace. The answer to this question could change what we want to focus on.
3. What aesthetic style do you prefer?
Fireplaces will typically fall into one of three categories: traditional, modern, or a hybrid of the two. For traditional fireplaces, think square outline, wood and bricks, iron and steel, hot coals, and so on. For modern fireplaces, think long minimalist or restrained lines, reflective glass, and a sparser looking burner with stones, broken glass, or other similar items. And then there are all sorts of combinations of the two, mixing modern and traditional design elements together.
4. Finally, what is your ideal budget for the total project?
It’s easy to underestimate here. Keep in mind that the fireplace itself is only one cost. You also need to account for venting (in most cases), and labor to install. Both of these things can vary quite a bit depending on the exact circumstances of your specific project. Which leads me to one final suggestion – whenever possible, set up a site visit with the dealer.
These four questions will get any decent salesperson to a shortlist of possibilities for you to consider.
That said, these are not the only questions that will need to be answered.
Fortunately, most of the other questions can be answered by the dealer themselves with a simple site visit. A site visit is where all of the technical details should get hashed out by a qualified estimator, where the consumer and dealer expectations are aligned, and where a final quote for the project can be determined.
Investing in a safe, good-looking source of heat or ambience for your home doesn’t have to be, and shouldn’t be an exhausting complicated experience.
Check out our article on site visits for more in-depth information explaining how and why they’re done!