If your newly acquired home doesn't come with a fireplace, the good news is that it's possible to add the feature and warm your home. When you decide to invest in a wood fireplace installation, it improves the beauty and functionality of your home. A professionally designed and installed wood fireplace boosts your quality of life during the cold, wintry months.
Like many other home improvement projects, you must evaluate factors like costs, fireplace size, and heat efficiency. It pays to consult a fireplace installation technician to help you choose a fireplace design that suits your budget and style needs. Installing a wood fireplace lowers your utility bills, and you don't have to worry about the cost of wiring or gas lines.
Here are some factors that affect the cost of wood fireplace installation.
Existing Fireplace Features
If you're installing a wood fireplace, you must assess whether your home has existing features that are compatible with a wood fireplace. You must check whether the existing chimney is structurally viable, for example.
All you need is to engage a technician to verify the condition of the liner and whether additional work is required. Also, you must check whether it's possible to mount an insert and the kind of labor needed to remove an old fireplace if it's not structurally sound. All these factors combined will determine the cost of installing a new fireplace.
Accessibility and Labor
Access is one factor that could drive up the cost. If the fireplace installation contractor has an easy time accessing your home and getting materials to the specified area, the installation costs stay down.
However, if you need to have the fireplace installed in a room that presents access issues, the labor required might drive up the costs. If you want a brick fireplace, the masonry work requires a highly experienced stonemason. This increases the costs, especially if you prioritize aesthetics.
Installation Factors
If you go for a wood fireplace insert, you must consider the initial cost and the additional installation expenses. A fireplace installer will factor in the insert assembly and the cost of setting up proper ventilation. If you need a custom piece fitted into your uniquely shaped fireplace, the customization fees will increase the costs.
If you need additional features to improve energy efficiency, your fireplace installation contractor can guide you. Even though adding a hearth pad or an insulated chimney drives up the costs, it will save you a lot on your energy bills in the future.
