What You Need to Know about Gas Fireplace Conversions

A fireplace in the home adds a touch of class to whatever room it graces, and, of course, can be a great option for keeping warm during the winter. However, many people would like to update their older fireplace, just like they do for other features of their home. Fortunately, a gas fireplace conversion is an easy and relatively affordable option that has become quite popular in recent years.

The Problem with Older Fireplaces

If you’re on the fence about the idea or you haven’t even considered it, there are a couple reasons why most people would rather do without their old fireplace. One is simply that it’s inconvenient. In the age of smartphones and Wi-Fi, no one wants to be troubled by manually loading up a hearth with wood and getting a fire started. This process not only takes longer than most would like, but also can also cause quite the mess.

Many people aren’t too fond of their chimney either. The old-fashioned kind can demand regular cleaning, especially if you have a pest problem. Squirrels, birds and even bats love a good chimney. That access to the outdoors can also cause unnecessary heat loss in your home.

After a gas fireplace conversion, these issues disappear. Starting a fire is as easy as turning on a light and many models these days even come with a remote. There’s absolutely no mess involved either way. Your chimney has no access to the home, so you’re not losing heat and you actually don’t even need the traditional kind that so many pests like to call home.

Options for a Gas Fireplace Conversion

One of the underappreciated benefits of a gas fireplace conversion is that it can give your room a whole new look. If you’re trying to modernize things, obviously you’re not going to get very far if your room features a fireplace from decades ago, for example. By switching out the fireplace, you can make it match any style you want for the room.

Your options for a gas fireplace include:

•       A gas fireplace kit
•       A vent-free gas fireplace
•       A gas fireplace insert

None of these involve any changes to the structure of your home or room. However, in terms of their energy use, the way they’ll affect the inside of your home and their general aesthetic, there are some things worth considering. So let’s look at each of these models a little closer.

A Gas Fireplace Kit

For a long time, this was the most popular option for gas fireplaces. Essentially, it looks just like a traditional version, including a collection of logs and sometimes even a grate. While it looks cool, this model needs a damper that’s kept partially open at all times. Otherwise, someone could activate the fireplace and flood their home with carbon monoxide. However, having a damper open at all times means your home is losing the air you’re paying for—whether heated or cooled. The only other option would be to install airtight glass doors, but those could easily cost in excess of $1,000 all by themselves. 

A Vent Free Gas Fireplace 

One way to solve this problem is to install a vent free gas fireplace. There’s no exhaust going up your chimney, so you keep all the heat in your room. Unfortunately, this means you can really only run the fireplace for three to four hours. All the combustion ends up inside and this includes the moisture released. So this model also isn’t a good idea for homes where people have asthma, allergies, or heart problems. As you can only run it for a few hours at a time, this isn’t the best model for heating a room either.

A Gas Fireplace Insert

This final option is going to be your most expensive. You’re looking at spending about three times as much for this model. Open fires also aren’t an option with this version, but that also means no loss of air. Plus, you can run this fireplace for hours at a time without fear of moisture issues.

So if you’re still considering a gas fireplace conversion, those are your options. They’ll run between $1,000 and $3,000, for the most part, but if you love the look of a fireplace and the heat it provides, you’ll probably find it worth it. A gas fireplace conversion can also be handled in a day, meaning you won’t have to wait long for the finished product either.

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Easy Ideas for Refinishing Your Brick Fireplace

If you think all a fireplace does is provide heat, you’ve never seen one with style (or one that lacked it). Your fireplace can do more than bring heat to your room, it can make or break its overall aesthetic. So if yours isn’t holding up its side of the bargain, it may be time to consider fireplace refinishing. Before you undertake the project or pay someone else to do it; however, here are some simple ideas specifically for brick fireplaces.

Refinishing a Brick Fireplace

Fireplace refinishing doesn’t need to be a particularly expensive project. This is true even if you have a material like brick surrounding the fireplace. If you thought you’d have to have it replaced or removed so another material could take its place, you may be surprised to find out that one of the most popular forms of fireplace refinishing is simply painting over the brick.

With this option, you have three main choices. You can:

•      Simply Paint Over It
•     Create a Weathered Look
•      Dry Brush It

All three of these are relatively simple and affordable to pull off. Let’s look at each in a bit more depth.

Painting over Brick

Applying paint to brick doesn’t need to be difficult, so long as you start with a masonry primer first. This coating is necessary to help the brick prepare for the paint to come. So no matter which of the above techniques you decide on, make sure it involves primer first.

In terms of the paint, don’t be afraid to ask for help from the staff at your hardware store. If you know what kind of brick you have or can show them a picture, they should be able to help you choose from all your options.

However, for the most part, a latex paint is going to be your best bet. Despite the fact that brick is a very porous material, it won’t crack from latex paint being applied to it. With a lot of other types of paint, you’ll be putting your brick at risk even with the primer there to help.

Depending on the size of the area, a brush is fine for applying the primer. However, a roller is equally acceptable if you have more room to cover. As soon as that initial coat dries, your fireplace refinishing plans can continue with the actual paint.

Two coats are necessary no matter what.  However, it’s not a bad idea to add a couple more if you use your fireplace frequently. As the heat will wear on it eventually, more coats bolster its durability. Light coats are always better too. 

Create a Weathered Look

If you want to give your fireplace a more unique look, consider artificially weathering the brick around it. Instead of the solid color provided by the above option, a weathered look will make it appear as though your fireplace is older than it is. Depending on the theme of your room, this could be a welcomed effect from your fireplace refinishing project.

Start by mixing one part water with two parts latex paint. Using a roller, apply an especially thin coat of this mixture to your brick. Before it’s able to dry, use a sponge or a rag to immediately wipe some of it off. Now allow it to dry before applying another thin coat. Always use a new roller, rag, and/or sponge each time for the right look.

Dry Brush It

Another method of fireplace refinishing that will add a unique look is called dry brushing. With this tactic, the finished result will make it look like your fireplace has had several coats of paint applied to it over the years. Aside from giving it an older look, dry brushing also helps to add dimension to the bricks so they stick out more.

Dry brushing requires three different shades of latex paint. You apply each shade to the fireplace randomly, making sure that edges of each shade overlap one another. This way it appears as though aging has stripped some portions more than others, exposing different shades underneath. Obviously, you don’t want to get too crazy with your color choices or your fireplace will end up looking like a kaleidoscope.

When it comes to your brick fireplace, don’t think you’re stuck with the look you have. Thanks to the above techniques for fireplace refinishing, you can make it look amazing with very little money and time.

Design Your Ideal Outdoor Kitchen

With summer here, you probably can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. There are several ways to do this, of course, but none compare to an outdoor kitchen. It makes your home ideal for neighborhood parties, having family over, or just enjoying a nice meal with your loved ones. Plus, if you ever sell, nothing is going to wow a buyer like showing them your outdoor kitchen. As your starting fresh with its design, you have plenty of options to consider. Here are some important tips to keep in mind.

Include Everything You Need

Many people with outdoor kitchens also use their indoor version to prepare meals. This makes plenty of sense, but you should ensure that your outdoor space also includes enough that you don’t need to run back and forth constantly. A lot of homeowners install a refrigerator in their outdoor kitchen. That might be too much for the budget right now. But you should still include surfaces for preparing food. A sink is also a good idea, otherwise you’ll be without a water supply and even an outdoor kitchen needs one of those. Depending on the types of meals you usually prepare, having appliances or at least outlets for them is generally a good idea too.

 

Don’t Forget the Light

If you have patio lights that will hit your patio kitchen, that may be enough. But take time to consider where your new kitchen is going to go and whether more light is needed. You don’t want to be preparing cutlets by flashlight, after all.

Add a Roof

Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean your new kitchen doesn’t need some kind of roof or canopy. This way, if it rains, the party doesn’t have to be over. Enjoy the cool weather from the comfort of your patio kitchen and keep on cooking. A roof also makes it easier to:

• Add lights 
• Hang a chandelier
• Install speakers

Go Beyond an Oven

With an outdoor kitchen, you have way more options for cooking than you do indoors. Adding an oven makes plenty of sense; if nothing else, it works for food preparation. However, there’s no reason to stop there. A grill is the obvious choice and definitely has its place. But why not add a smoker to go along with it? One especially fun option is a wood burning pizza oven. These days, you don’t even need the wood. Go with propane and you can still make delicious pizzas from the comfort of your own backyard. Choose stone for the exterior and no one will know your classic pizza oven is running on a modern design.

Keep Cooking Social

Most backyards include a grill and one of its many benefits is that the cook still has a clear view of everyone and is able to interact and partake in the party. When you design a kitchen outside, however, it’s easy to put the cooking space somewhere off in the corner. That’s hardly any way to thank the chef for all their hard work. Instead, make sure they are able to maintain contact with where the rest of the people in your backyard.

Consider Your Architectural Options

Conventional wisdom is that your outdoor kitchen should blend in with the rest of the home. If you have a house with a brick exterior, your patio kitchen may look a bit odd if it has a Mediterranean feel to it.

However, if you separate your kitchen far enough from the rest of the home, giving it a different aesthetic may increase the appeal. Going from your traditional house to a tiki bar-themed kitchen, for example, is a fun idea if you can pull it off. At the end of the day, it’s your kitchen; allow it to reflect your style.

Include a Dining Space

This may seem like odd advice, but don’t forget that your kitchen should include a dining space and preferably one that’s nearby. Spend an equal amount of time designing it as well. No matter how great your kitchen looks, if people don’t like the dining room, your investment is going to suffer.

Nothing is better in the summer months than having an outdoor kitchen at your disposal. It makes everything from simple dinners to block parties that much more fun. Just remember to keep the above in mind so your design is everything you imagined. 

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