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The Chateau Vista glass door Chateau Direct Vent Gas Fireplace can be used indoors and out. Photo courtesy of Vermont Castings
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By Marcia Jedd
Thanks to burning demand by consumers for gas-fueled fireplaces, gas unit sales continue to far outpace traditional woodburning fireplaces, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.
That's thanks, in part, to advances in technology and design of gas-fueled fireplaces. "Homeowners are embracing different sizes and shapes of fireplaces and hearth products as more of these products go into other rooms of the home such as the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen to either serve as a zone heat source or to provide ambiance," says Vince Bossany, spokesperson with Hearth & Home Technologies in Lakeville, Minn.
Manufacturers' response has included thermostatically controlled fireplaces and design innovations that range from a masonry-look gas fireplaces to those of the space age. In the extreme, consider the rotating, suspended fireplace or a diamond-shaped fireplace. Tight on space? There are even portrait-sized gas fireplaces to tuck into a corner cabinet in a dining room.
Mostly, though, fireplace styles are returning to old-world looks. The tall, narrow Rumford fireplace, introduced way back in the 1790s, brought greater heat efficiencies compared with the then-popular large rectangular fireplaces. The Rumford look has made a strong comeback in both woodburning and gas fireplaces.
Clean-face new kid on the block
The new clean-face gas fireplaces join the old with the new. About two years ago, a number of manufacturers introduced clean-face fireplaces noted by a lack of upper or lower grills, says Bob Bennett, sales manager with Automatic Garage Door & Fireplace, a division of Summit Home Centers in Champlin, Minn. "Natural wood fireplaces aren't popular in the custom upscale market because of the newer clean-face line of gas fireplaces similar to the old Rumford fireplaces."
The Chateau series by Vermont Castings' Majestic Fireplaces and Heatilator's Icon 60 and Icon 100 models by Hearth & Home Technologies are good examples of the clean-face units. Both series are sealed with glass and also feature top direct-vents which allow installation along interior or exterior walls, below grade or in corners. Bob says: "They appear as if there's a small picture frame around the glass. The majority of our customers finish off the surround in nice stones to really give you the perception of a large wood-burning fireplace."
Bob says contractors and builders have taken note of the new styles, especially the clean-face models. "It really gives you the perception it's a large wood-burning fireplace."
Real woodburning fireplaces
Contractors can still easily market woodburning fireplaces, especially in the upscale market where outdoor applications of masonry fireplaces are popular, says Paul Zuch, CR, CGB, president of Capital Improvements design/build in Allen, Texas. To keep costs down while appealing to consumers' desire to enjoy the aroma of real hickory logs, Paul recommends pre-engineered block assembly fireplaces by manufacturers like Isokern and Rumford. "They're used here for ambiance but the tall and narrow design of these fireplaces with their shallow fireboxes makes them ideal for throwing heat back in the room."
Final details
Finishing elements, from mantels to surrounds, are more elaborate, and that translates to bigger projects for the contractor. Fireplace treatments are mirroring furniture and hardware designs to match home décor, notes Bossany of Hearth & Home. "Pewter and bronze are popular metal fireplace fronts. In surrounds, we're seeing much more use of natural stone, gypsum and luxury woods like maple and walnut."
Rick DeBeradinis, partner with Olson-DeBeradinis Development, a custom home builder in Greenwich, Conn., describes a fireplace in a dining area or a kitchen in a contemporary home. The fireplace features custom stainless-steel vents, surrounded by beige sandstone and a long, sleek hearth stone. "Frosted glass doors hide the plasma TV above it," DeBeradinis says.
Marcia Jedd is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer who frequently covers design and remodeling topics.
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