There are so many choices to make when it comes to choosing the features and finishes you want to incorporate in your custom home. One key feature that many home buyers consider is a fireplace.
While fireplaces are quite common, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to selecting one – especially if you’re incorporating one into a custom home design.
Considering a fireplace in your custom home? Here, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about fireplaces so you can make the best choice when it comes to selecting a fireplace (or leaving a fireplace out of the floorplan) for your new house.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fireplaces in Custom Home Designs
Wondering if you should incorporate a fireplace into your custom home design? With decades of experience as a home builder in the greater Capital Region of Upstate NY, we’ve learned a thing or two about fireplaces in custom homes.
Read through some of our insight as you’re making your decision on whether or not a fireplace is the right choice for your custom home.
What Are The Benefits of Installing a Fireplace in a Custom Home?
There are a myriad of benefits when it comes to incorporating a fireplace into a new build. Here are just a few of the main reasons why adding a fireplace to your home design can be a good (and advantageous) idea:
- Fireplaces can add a cozy, welcoming ambience to a home
- Fireplaces can be a reliable source of heat, even when the power goes out
- Fireplaces can also serve as an efficient form of heat, reducing your energy bill
- Fireplaces can increase resale value when and if you ultimately decide to sell your home
Which Room Is Best For a Fireplace?
Most people choose to put their fireplaces in the living room or family room, where family members and friends can easily gather to enjoy the ambience and atmosphere that a fire provides. Some homes even include two fireplaces – one in each common area.
Other popular choices for fireplaces sometimes include master bedrooms and kitchens.
Where a fireplace can logistically be placed within your home will depend on the home layout and design that you choose.
What Type of Fireplace Should I Choose?
Once you’ve decided you do in fact want to incorporate a fireplace in your home, there are a number of fireplace options to choose from.
While wood burning fireplaces are perhaps the most traditional option, gas fireplaces have also gained popularity in recent years. They are easy to use and typically offer a bit more efficiency, generating more heat at a lower cost.
Electric fireplaces are another option that many people are taking advantage of these days, though they don’t feel quite as authentic as the other fireplace options.
Some people also choose to go with wood stove inserts as a fireplace option, as these can serve as another efficient way to heat the home.
Each type of fireplace has pros and cons, so it’s important to do your research ahead of time as you’re approaching this decision. Keep in mind that the type of fireplace you choose will likely be influenced by a number of factors, including what you’re looking to get out of having a fireplace (heat vs. ambience), where the fireplace will be located within the floorplan of your home, and whether or not your home’s design can include a chimney.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Fireplaces?
For most people, the pros of fireplaces outweigh the cons. However there are a few aspects that could be seen as disadvantages that you may want to consider.
Some fireplaces do require regular maintenance, especially wood burning fireplaces that have chimneys. You’ll have to budget and plan for having your chimney cleaned annually if you choose to go with a wood burning fireplace or woodstove insert.
Fireplace hearths can also be drafty. Again, this will depend a bit on the type of fireplace that you choose, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
A gas fireplace may require a new gas line to be put in, which can be costly up front. And although they do add ambience to a room, electric fireplaces can be costly to operate on a regular basis.
Once you’ve narrowed down the fireplace options you’re considering, do a bit of research into the potential disadvantages so you know what to expect before you move forward with adding one to your home design.
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a Fireplace into a Custom Home Design?
This is a question that needs to be answered on an individualized basis. Because there are many factors that will influence how much it costs to incorporate a fireplace into the floorplan of a home you are custom designing, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
From the type of fireplace you select to the location of the fireplace within the floorplan you’re working with and the finishes you choose to incorporate within the fireplace and chimney, there are many aspects to consider when it comes to determining the price of a fireplace within a custom home.
Your best bet for determining an accurate budget for fireplace installation is to work with your custom home builder to explore your options and understand that costs that will be associated with the options you’re considering.
Interested in Building a Custom Home with a Fireplace?
At Heritage Custom Builders, we have lots of experience building custom homes that incorporate beautiful fireplaces. Check out our gallery for a look at some of the beautiful home interiors we’ve crafted that feature fireplaces.
Whether you’re dreaming of a home with a fireplace or you’ve decided that a fireplace isn’t for you, we can help you take your home vision from concept to reality.
Give us a call at (518) 348-0931 or contact us online to learn more about building a custom home in the Clifton Park, Ballston Spa or Saratoga area with us!