Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, as today is Christmas Day! Tis the day for children to wake up earlier than any other day in hopes of catching a glimpse of Santa staging gifts, eating his cookies, or washing it all down with a glass of milk. Ah, the days of being a kid again and enjoying the benefits of a simpler time of being with family, eating food, warming your bones by the fireplace, and waiting impatiently to tear open this year’s Christmas gifts.
The year is 2023, and the number of traditional fireplaces installed in a new construction home today is lower than ever. This does not mean we aren’t installing fireplaces because we certainly are. The market shifted in the 1950s and 1960s towards a pre-fabricated fireplace, which was quickly constructed and economical. The original pre-fab units were made of metal and would come with a “modern” design. The considerable upside was the speed at which one of the units could be installed in a home.
- Installation Efficiency – A pre-fab fireplace can be installed in a few hours and be ready for the rough-in inspection. This is a significant plus for builders as consumers seek efficient, cost-effective, and speedy products. Contractors can install a pre-fab unit with some training from the fireplace provider. When we consider the difficulty of hiring skilled labor, a pre-fab makes it easy for anyone to pick up the craft.
- Quality – The best feature of a pre-fab fireplace is the consistency of each unit built and shipped to the field. When units are made in a controlled environment with quality oversight, you can be sure that each unit is produced and sent to exact specifications. This decreases the need for heavily experienced trades in the field as each unit will be within the same standards, which means that the installer won’t have to know tricks and secrets to “force” the unit to work while installing it.
- Fuel Options – If there is one constant in a home building, utility availability will be different everywhere. The pre-fabricated fireplace providers realized this and ensured their units could be used with any fuel or power source. You can have propane, natural gas, wood, electricity, etc. The manufacturers provide fireplace options to put a fireplace into every home built.
- Design Options – The design options are endless with modern-day pre-fab fireplaces and can match nearly any design intent. When we built our home, we chose the 8000CLX-G, which we are beyond happy with. The unit features 45,000 btu/hr output, which is more than enough to hit the family room and kitchen. The installed logs make this unit appear like a traditional fireplace, and some might need to realize it is gas and not wood. It also comes with a built-in fan that will come on to move the heat throughout the room instead of allowing it to elevate to the ceiling. For more information on this unit, you can see the cut sheet here: file:///C:/Users/mcmah/Downloads/6000-8000%20Series%20-%20Brochure.pdf.
- Lower Maintenance – If you have ever owned a traditional, wood-burning fireplace, you know a lot of maintenance comes with it. You need to do an annual inspection, remove the creosote buildup from the chimney, check for cracks and damages, dispose of the ashes, procure wood, etc. In our modern day living, most consumers don’t want the hassle of maintenance and a pre-fab unit is just the ticket for easier living.
You should have an annual inspection performed and https://fireside.com/ is a reputable dealer that can handle inspection and service needs. For the most part, this is all you will need to do to ensure your unit remains in good working condition for years to come.
Here is the one draw back with a pre-fabricated unit that I had to dig into to know the facts behind it. How the heck does Santa get down the chimney to place presents if you have a pre-fab with a flue? I needed a reputable source to know the answer to the question and reached out to a regional sales manager with Fireside Hearth & Home, Jeffrey Hall. Jeff says that, “Through Christmas magic, every Fireside fireplace opens wide to welcome Santa and Holiday cheer.”
