Considering adding a fireplace? If you are building a new home, you have a few choices. If you are remodeling, you likely are deciding between which type of gas fireplace. Here are the pros and cons of each:

Wood Burning Fireplaces -- The Pros:

·           Give that authentic "fireplace" feel to a home

·           Add the smell and crackle of wood to a home's ambience

·           Are built by hand

·           Can be made in a variety of brick colors and patterns

Wood Burning Fireplaces -- The Cons:

·           Cost two or three times the price of those built in a factory

·           Not easy to add when remodeling an existing house

·           Create more mess to clean than gas fireplaces

·           Raises safety concerns for those with small children

·           Requires extra storage and expense for the wood

Gas Fireplaces -- The Pros:

·           Can be retrofitted to go in any location

·           Are less expensive than a full masonry fireplace

·           Are sold in many designs and colors of materials

·           No ashes or soot to clean

Gas Fireplaces -- The Cons:

·           Do not give that authentic "fireplace" feel to a home

·           The logs and flames can seem artificial