Installing Gas Fireplaces

Installing gas fireplaces is an excellent way to get the heat and ambiance of a traditional fireplace without the no need to remodel or adapt your home with expensive masonry, and it is eco-friendly.

Once you have decided to install a gas fireplace the next thing to do is to talk to the local building inspector and see what permits and inspections are required. Never skip this step as it can cost you a lot of money in fines later on.

You will also need the help of a licensed electrician and plumber for the various wiring and required gas lines. Many gas stoves need an electric outlet nearby so circulation fans can run. The plumber will need to run lines from the existing lines to the site of the new fireplace. By talking to these people ahead of time, you can better estimate of the whole cost of your project. When you figure in all of the estimates, you may find that it is more cost effective to have a contractor do the installation.

Shop around at the local home improvement stores as well as online to find a fireplace to enhance your home. You can choose styles from contemporary to colonial.

It is a good idea to make a mock up of the gas fireplace you plan to install. The mock up can be as simple as a sketch on several pieces of newsprint or as detailed as a poster board model. The important thing is to use the mock up to give you an idea of how the fireplace will fit in the room and where it should be located. This way you can plan for the visual effect as well as be sure that the heat from the fireplace will not be blocked by walls or other architectural details. You will also be able to plan for electric and gas hookups.

Once you have your fireplace, plan on about three days of work, depending on the design.

1. Read the manual that comes with your fireplace. Be sure you understand the instructions and have the tools needed to do the job properly.
2. Follow the directions that came with the mantle kit. Put it together and set it aside. If you plan to build your own mantle there are step-by-step instructions at The Family Handyman.
3. Now, find the center point where the hearth will be located. Use a pencil to mark the spot. Using a level, carefully transfer the mark to the floor.
4. Set the mantle in place. Mark where you need to cut the baseboards. Move the mantle back out of the way and cut the baseboards. Check your center mark again to make sure it is still center. If not, remark the center.
5. Place the firebox on the supports, centering it. Decide where the vent hole will be. Set the vent in the position it will ultimately be in.
6. Move the fireplace. Mark the wall where the vent will go. Use a ten inch square cardboard template to mark the position.
7. Cut through the interior wall and fame the opening with wood. Using each corner as your mark, drill four holes through the external wall on the outside of the square.
8. Fit the fire stop in the opening you have cut. Attach it with four screws. Seal it by caulking around it on both the interior and exterior walls.
9. Attach the vent elbow by twisting and locking it into place.
10. Connect the termination cap and set the fireplace in position.
11. Now, you will finish connecting the external vent.
12. Using the drilled holes as a guide cut through the siding on your home. Fit the vent cap to the vent pipe.
13. Mark the sheathing and cut it.
14. Attach the vent cap to the hole with screws.
15. Carefully seal the cap by caulking around the edges.

At this point the plumber and electrician will need to be called again to finish the electrical and piping work. When that is done the building inspector will most likely want to take a look before you go on.

The second part of the installation is putting the hearth and mantle in position. This is not as difficult as installing gas fireplaces but it does require a lot of attention to detail. When you put together a mantle from a kit always follow the manufacturer's directions exactly.

1. Support the mantle by attaching a header to the back wall. Be sure to connect it to the studs.
2. Put the hearth extensions together and place the tile on the firebox. It must fit exactly to the front rim.
3. Position the mantle. Attach it to the header with wood screws. Attach other screws as suggested in the directions.
4. Grout the seams between the fireplace and the mantle.
5. Install the accessories including the logs, lava rocks, and screen.

A fireplace adds warmth and comfort to any room. Gas fireplaces make that ambiance available to almost anyone.

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