Options for Upgrading Your Fireplace

Virtually all properties nowadays have a fireplace. The cozy fire glow on a cold night will turn any indoor atmosphere from a cold and drab-looking one into a warm and inviting one. Wood, gas and electric fireplaces are some of your options nowadays.

These are designed to last for a long time provided you stick to regular professional maintenance routines and the prompt repair of a few issues. There are, nonetheless, times when your fireplace might start looking drab, and a fireplace repair does little for its look in your Utah property.

In these instances, you can opt to upgrade the fireplace to get a fresh look at half the cost of installing a new one. The following are some of the techniques which a fireplace installation expert might recommend for the upgrading of your fireplace.

Get the firebricks in shape

Following years of hot blazes in your fireplace, its mortar might fall out, crack or crumble. The gaping mortar joints as a result of any of these processes are not just unattractive but will also leave the bricks prone to extensive damage.

If this is the cause of your worn-out fireplace look, the expert will take out the compromised bricks and replace them with new ones. These are then trimmed and finished to match the existing bricks thus giving your fireplace a new look.

Invest in a new mantel

Most people only associate mantels with the hanging of socks over the festive season, but it also protects your chimney and boosts its appearance. If your mantel has a boring profile, this dampens the entire look of your fireplace.

You can replace the mantel inexpensively without affecting your chimney since it is just a front. There are now various fireplace mantel designs and profiles you can choose for a transformed fireplace look.

Tile your hearth

While mantels will come and go, your hearth is one of the permanent fixtures in your fireplace. It is an ornate buffer between the shag rug and the fire. You can boost its appearance and thus the overall look of your fireplace by tiling it.

There are several tile options you have for your hearth ranging from the earthly terra cotta to white marble provided they can withstand heat. Some people opt for designer tiles but though attractive most will crack under the heat of your fireplace.

Upgrade the surround

The surround you choose for your fireplace will also have a significant effect on the look it exudes. Tiles are currently all the rage more so art tiles which allow you to showcase your creativity.

A stone-veneer surround will, however, suffice for those looking for a traditional fireplace appearance. This has the look of natural stone but is cheaper and has fewer maintenance needs compared to the latter.

If your fireplace does not exude the same cozy appearance or uplift the look of your room as it did when it was new, the upgrades mentioned above are your ideal alternatives for its restoration.

You might assume that they are a DIY venture since the fireplace is already in place. The help of an expert is, however, essential to guarantee the upgrades work with your existing fireplace.