Older fireplaces, found in many homes in Kelowna, were not very efficient or aesthetically appealing. Often, they had little or no mantle and just tile around the fireplace opening.
New fireplace units are built with sealed combustion chambers so they don’t require air from inside the building. They also replicate a real wood fire in a much better way. Typically, these fireplaces will easily heat a living or family room space depending upon its size.
As you can see in the picture, this particular fireplace was updated with a dry stacked stone product that carried on to the ceiling. The mantle was built to match the kitchen cabinets in the adjacent space.
When installing a mantle, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s specs for clearances to combustible materials.
New gas fireplaces generally do not require a hearth. In existing homes (as in the ‘before’ picture) there was a tile hearth. To avoid costly hardwood floor repairs it was more cost effective to install a tile that complemented the stone on the fireplace, as was the case here.
Each gas fireplace has specific requirements for venting and as such the existing chimney system in an old fireplace would have to be updated as well. With any gas appliance a permit is required and you should always work with a qualified gas fitter to ensure safety.