Asked by: Fred Mijancos
home and garden home appliances

How do I upgrade my fireplace?

22
Learning to DIY: How to Update a Fireplace on a Budget
  1. Add a touch of paint. Gone are the days of design elements such as bold and bright red fireplaces and natural, oak-colored wall paneling and trim.
  2. Turn your brick to stone.
  3. Add a mantel.
  4. Think — and build — outside the box.
  5. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.


Also know, how much does it cost to upgrade a fireplace?

The cost to remodel a fireplace ranges from $390 to just over $2,000, if done by a professional. A small fireplace remodel might involve repairing or enhancing a fireplace façade, while a larger project would include installing a wood stove or replacing the chimney.

Secondly, can you upgrade a gas fireplace? Update a Gas Fireplace Appearance The most basic thing you can do to upgrade and update a gas fireplace is to simply change the appearance of it. If you've got tons of ugly brass fixtures, you can paint them to get rid of the garish look.

Also to know, how do I make my existing fireplace bigger?

Locate the lintel of the fireplace -- a bar made of stone that supports the foundation. Proceed to knock down bricks with a hammer to make the opening of the fireplace bigger, leaving the lintel intact. Do not remove more than a few bricks on each side.

Can I paint my fireplace?

Paint the Brick Once the primer is dry, it's time to paint. Choose indoor, latex, heat resistant paint—either flat, semigloss, or gloss—rated to withstand temperatures generated by the fireplace (generally about 200°F) and a roller designed for textured surfaces.

Related Question Answers

Crescencia Mack

Professional

Does a fireplace increase home value?

A homeowner can often recover over 100 percent of the expenses associated with adding a fireplace upon selling their home. According to the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, adding a fireplace to home can increase the resale value of the home by as much as 6-12 percent.

Henrique Morcillo

Professional

How do you update a fireplace on a budget?

Learning to DIY: How to Update a Fireplace on a Budget
  1. Add a touch of paint. Gone are the days of design elements such as bold and bright red fireplaces and natural, oak-colored wall paneling and trim.
  2. Turn your brick to stone.
  3. Add a mantel.
  4. Think — and build — outside the box.
  5. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.

Mariella Mihaltsov

Professional

Why are gas fireplace inserts so expensive?

Gas inserts are the middle option in terms of price. They are more expensive than gas logs, but less expensive than a fully built-in gas fireplace. That being said, due to its efficiency, gas inserts cost far less to operate than gas logs because they require less gas.

Un Tarrida

Explainer

How do you update an old gas fireplace?

Change the trim color of your gas fireplace
  1. The first and most critical step is to shut off the valve or pilot light to the gas fireplace before using the highly flammable spray paint.
  2. Second, if there is a glass panel on the fireplace, remove it.

Caiqin Wever

Explainer

How do you update a brick fireplace on a budget?

How to update a fireplace on a budget
  1. Scrub It Clean. If you have a wood-burning fireplace or a fireplace that was converted to gas at some point, you may have a lot of buildup on the walls of the fireplace.
  2. Replace the Screen.
  3. Paint the Doors.
  4. Tile or Paint the Fireplace Surround.
  5. Buy a New Mantle.
  6. More budget home improvement.

Nidae Legaza

Pundit

What color should I paint my fireplace?

For a modern color scheme, use a sleek black paint for your fireplace. Brown, tan, sand and gray are other neutral shade options for your hearth that will coordinate with any room design.

Amparo Dougal

Pundit

Is it expensive to remove a fireplace?

If you only need to remove the inconvenient or dangerous parts of the system, you can avoid the massive cost of demolishing the entire system and structure. A partial chimney or fireplace demolition might cost a homeowner $500-$2,000, where a complete removal could run $4,000 - $6,000.

Wiley Wienand

Pundit

How do I get rid of an old fireplace?

Method 1 Removing a Wood-Burning or Electrical Insert
  1. Remove all of the trim from around the fireplace insert.
  2. Remove any nails holding the insert flashing to the wood framing.
  3. Disassemble any pipes, vents, or other pieces of the insert.
  4. Pry the insert out of place with a crowbar.

Chadwick Bardaji

Pundit

Can I fit a wood burner in my fireplace?

If you have a fireplace you may be wondering if you can safely put a wood burner in there. The answer is yes – providing you have a proper chimney. It is basically a chimney built from conventional bricks. There should also be a chimney stack visible on your roof.

Jinmei Mesecke

Teacher

Do I need a lintel in my fireplace?

There should always be a lintel or arch above your fireplace/builder's opening (to support the building material above). You can often find this lintel or arch by shining a torch inside your builder's opening (assuming you have an opening or have started excavating) or removing plaster from the chimney breast or wall.

Tommie Blasi

Teacher

How do you cut down a brick fireplace?

Video of the Day
  1. Run the grinder along the mortar, making multiple passes, until the mortar has been sufficiently cut away from the brick.
  2. Break off the bricks using a hammer and chisel.
  3. Place the chisel on the side edge of the brick on the mortar between the brick and the wall.

Yoanna Apresa

Teacher

How do you remove a brick fireplace hearth?

Remove the bricks at the surface of the hearth by chipping them up with the rotary hammer and chisel-bit. Remove the remaining rows of bricks and mortar that comprise the outer edges of the hearth. Chip out and remove the mortar-bed at the floor to expose the wire lath. Avoid digging into the subfloor.

Shaomei Odiaga

Reviewer

Which is better gas fireplace or wood?

Gas-fueled fireplaces are more environmentally friendly than wood-burning fireplaces. The EPA estimates that gas fireplaces emit 99% fewer particles than wood burners. Also, even the pleasant aroma of burning wood can be environmental and health hazards. Some cities have no-burn regulations at various times.

Gala Eugi-Urdazi

Reviewer

Do gas fireplace inserts save money?

The efficiency of fireplace inserts can be as much as 80%. You can save money on your energy bill if you install a fireplace insert. A more efficient wood-burning heating system means less gas, oil, or electricity is required to heat your home.

Alicja Llombart

Reviewer

What is the best rated gas fireplace insert?

Most Recommended and Best Selling Insert Gas Fireplaces in February, 2020?
  1. Napoleon GVF36-2N Gas Fireplace Insert – Great Features for Gadget-Lovers Review.
  2. Empire CS DV-33IN-33LNG All-Around Gas Fireplace Insert – Review.
  3. Duluth Forge 170034 Gas Fireplace Insert High Heat with a Classic Look – Review.

Eucaris Simona

Reviewer

How long should a gas fireplace insert last?

Type of gas logs: A well maintained vented log set with ceramic logs will last a very long time, in some cases 10 or more years. A well maintained ventless log set with ceramic logs can also last a long time, but, if heavily used, will begin to wear in 3-5 years.

Lyubomira Babkov

Supporter

Do gas fireplaces work without power?

Electrical components within modern day gas furnaces are important for safe operation, though they also hinder use of your unit in the event of a power outage. However, ventless gas fireplaces can operate without the use of electricity during an outage by simply lighting their pilot light.

Natasha Amschel

Supporter

How does a heat circulating fireplace work?

Fireplaces that allow the addition of a blower or fan kit are considered circulating. This simply means the fireplace uses the blower to draw in cool room air through a vented panel. As cool room air is taken in, that air is heated as it circulates around the hot firebox.

Olaya Pascuet

Beginner

How do you turn on a gas fireplace insert?

Turn the knob from the “Off” to the “Pilot” position. Push in the pilot knob, which manually sends gas into the system. Push the igniter button once every second until it lights. Depending on how long it's been since the gas fireplace was last used, ignition may take multiple attempts.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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27th January, 2020

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