Adding value to your home with a concrete fire place surround.

YOUR FIREPLACE CAN BE A MONEY MAKER!

How can a fireplace add value to your home?

According to the National Centre for Real Estate Research, a fireplace increases the value of a home by 12%. But does this apply to every home? We think yes! Whether you live in a small condo, or a 10,000 square foot mansion, there is a fireplace insert and surround to suite your needs. From electric, to wall mounted units, to traditional masonry fireplaces, there are a variety of different insert options to explore. Local building codes will determine what you are able to use and most building codes can be found online or at your local fireplace shop. Considering the addition of a fireplace to your property may be beneficial when the time comes to re-sell, as 77% of homebuyers would like to have a fireplace in their home, (according to the National Association of Home Builders Consumer Preferences survey).

Elton Huard proudly stands by a fresh installation of Solus Concrete Panels

Having a fireplace in your home is not only noticed by buyers, but is also recognized as a “hot button” by realtors for potential buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors  Profile of Buyers Home Feature Preferences, it was determined that a fireplace is one of the most desired features in a home. In addition to the desire of the fireplace, 46% of home buyers said they would pay extra for a house that incorporated at least one fireplace. Whether you are considering selling your home through a third party or not, the demand for a feature fireplace is prevalent across the market.

Where is the best place for a fireplace in the home?

When adding a fireplace or beginning a renovation, you should give some thought into which room the feature fireplace will go. It is recommended that the fireplace is installed in the most used room in the house, (besides the kitchen and bathroom). This leaves usually the living room or great room. Once properly framed by a surround or wall of tile, it will provide the WOW factor that only a properly finished fireplace can add.

What is a realistic budget for a new fireplace?

Before beginning your project it is important to put together a budget of what you have to work with. Costs for materials and labour to add a new fireplace can run from several hundred dollars, to $20,000 or more. Among the popular options, a factory built gas or propane fireplace insert can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000.

You can also update the design of your existing fireplace by keeping the current insert in place, and adding a new fireplace surround, wall tiling or hearth. These renovations can cost anywhere from several hundred, to several thousand depending on the scope of labour and materials. If you are considering re-facing your fireplace you can reference the Solus Measure Up Guide online to determined which mantle and tiles would fit best in your space.

Measure Up Guide

When determining costs for your fireplace, there are also other factors to consider such as ongoing fuel expenses. Across North America natural gas is generally the least expensive as measured in therms (a measure of heating value), followed by heating oil, propane and electricity. A guide to compare how much heat each fuel source costs to run can be found here:

Fuel Cost Comparison Calculator

Another fuel source which is ideally the most cost effective, is having a wood-burning fireplace if you have a cheap source of wood readily available to you. When including a wood burning fireplace in your home make sure you pay particular attention to the non-combustible clearance requirements, as codes are unique to each municipality and vary from 16” to 20.5.” Overall wood and natural gas are by far the most popular fireplace fuels, and combine for 83% of the market, (according to the National Association of Homebuilders Research Centre).

Finally – what options should you consider to finish off your fireplace?

After investing into the fireplace insert and labour there are a few ways to finish your fireplace off. Think of your fireplace like a piece of art. Unframed or unadorned it doesn’t look like much, however when properly framed it takes on substance, style and brings the piece of art to life!

We recommend non-combustible mantels, surrounds, tiles and hearths made from Solus Decor’s ultra high performance concrete. Our concrete is available in ten inspired colours and we have a variety of styles to accommodate any design. Whether your space in contemporary, traditional, or somewhere in between, view our gallery online or give us a call and one of our associates would be happy to work with you on finding the best fit for your home.

Fireplace Surrounds Gallery