6 Reasons Why You Should Consult an Expert When Planning Your Fireplace Remodel

You’ve done your research and decided to forge ahead with remodeling your fireplace. Or maybe you simply have a vision and a few screenshots of fireplaces you’ve seen and saved on Pinterest. Whether you’re a design-savvy DIYer or overwhelmed by all the options, your next step should be to contact a licensed hearth dealer for a consultation.

Here are six reasons why it’s important to talk to an expert.

1. Safety

While projects like installing your own electric fireplace are weekend warrior jobs, a fireplace remodel is not the time to go it alone. Hearth products are “very safe if you do it correctly,” says Nicole Haley, sales and marketing manager at Haley Comfort Systems in Rochester, Minnesota. But as with any time you’re working with flames, venting, gas and electricity, “it’s very important to have someone who is highly qualified.

Tim Rethlake, vice president of trade marketing and sales training for Hearth & Home Technologies (Heat & Glo’s parent company) suggests thinking about a gas fireplace just like you would a furnace or any other gas appliance. “There’s certain times that you want to do business with a professional expert—and putting a fire in your house on purpose is one of those times.”

2. Nitty gritty details

Tasks like calculating the right heat output for your space is not always as straightforward as square footage and BTUs. An expert will ask the right questions to ensure you’re getting exactly what you want.

Rethlake brings up a factor that homeowners may miss: Do you entertain often? Beyond climate and preferences, the number of guests piling into your great room for game night, or into the family room for football, will affect the heat needed for the space. A pro will go over fireplace size and heat management solutions to ensure “you’re not roasting the eight or 10 people that are visiting.”

3. Reassurance (and reality checks)

Even if you know exactly what you want, a fireplace remodel—like any home project—can challenge the biggest perfectionist’s idealism. An expert helps open possibilities and manage expectations, translating Pinterest-board dreams into reality-based solutions that work for your home and family.

When Dennis and M.J. Bussian of Wabasha, Minnesota, decided to replace their nonfunctioning gas fireplace, built into what M.J. calls “an eyesore” (an asymmetrical wall with a dated, light-wood mantel and separate built-in entertainment center), they had an idea of what they wanted and even sketched out concepts. But it wasn’t until they met with Bob Speedling, a project manager with Haley Comfort Systems —first in the showroom, then again for in-home consultation—that the project took shape.

Meeting with the Bussians “allowed Bob to understand what our house looked like, what limitations there might be and to help us come up with the final design for what we were looking for,” Dennis Bussian explains. “We had ideas, we had sketches that we’d drawn up, but it wasn’t until we were finally able to sit down and understand some of the other aspects that needed to be considered that we were able to finally come to a final design.”

The remodel involved installing a new Heat & Glo 6KX gas fireplace a modern stone surround, a sleek dark wood mantel and symmetrical display cabinets on either side, as well as floating the TV above the hearth. “It came out looking exactly the way I envisioned it to look and how it was designed,” Dennis Bussian says.

If you are decisive, having an expert to validate choices can be helpful. Finding something that catches your eye online is a great first step, explains Haley, but what good is an amazing-looking remodel if it won’t work in your climate, is not up to your city’s code, can’t be vented properly in your home or is completely out of your budget? “A lot of stuff that you might see on some of the inspiration sites doesn’t necessarily pan out in the application of it all,” Haley explains, “but it's a really good starting point for people to find ideas and say, ‘Well, we can't do exactly that, but this is how we can help achieve that look in a safe manner.’”

4. One-stop shopping

A hearth remodel isn’t just about picking a new fireplace. There’s also installation, venting, surrounds, mantels, heat management solutions, wiring, permits and inspections to consider. “The beauty of working with a dealer is that they do all of that,” Rethlake says. “And if there’s an issue after the fact, you’ve got one point of contact.”

“We're essentially a general contractor for you when you're dealing with a fireplace,” Haley says. “There is a lot that goes into managing a fireplace job; even just getting the subcontractors to coordinate together can be a huge challenge. You don't have to make the phone calls. You don't have to deal with the city and the permitting and that sort of thing.”

Dennis Bussian agrees: “Working with Haley [Comfort Systems] was an end-to-end experience, from narrowing down all the different choices that could be a little overwhelming to ultimately the finished product.”

5. Body of knowledge

Hearth experts know their stuff. In addition to working with the products every day, Heat & Glo’s-certified sales staff, installers and service techs go through online continuing education courses. Installers and service professionals also attend a multi-day training at a Heat & Glo manufacturing facility.

In addition to working with more than 2,500 independent dealers across the United States (95 percent of which do their own installation), Heat & Glo’s parent company also learns by doing, operating 26 Fireside Hearth & Home retail locations in the Midwest and on the East Coast. “We take a lot of what we learn in our own stores working with consumers, then repackage that as best practices that we put out to our dealers,” Rethlake says.

Those who work in the showroom are held to similarly high standards, Haley adds. “Before they even ship a new product for us to use, we have to be well versed in it and know what we're talking about,” she says. “If something changes with a product, we get notified.”

6. Comfort

Most importantly, a hearth expert will make you feel comfortable with the entire process, from initial meetings and measurements to the finished product. There are many ways to consult with a dealer and walk through your options—especially now that virtual meetings are becoming more common and retailers get more adept at practicing increased hygiene and safety protocols. In addition to in-person showroom visits, oftentimes consultations can be done over the phone or video chat, or even by sending a representative to your home for the initial meeting. “Our dealers have done a good job of pivoting to allay any concerns or fears that consumers have about coming in,” says Rethlake.

“The beauty of working with Haley [Comfort Systems] is that you got that full package. For us, that meant everything,” says M.J. Bussian. “The comfort when we first met with Bob and the plans were designed—that was transferred through the whole process. Our comfort was always assured.”

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