Fireplace trends in 2014 for custom homes

Fireplace trends in custom homes 2014

These are trends in fireplaces that are popular in custom homes, some of these trends started this year making them new trends. There are also trends that started a year or more a go that are considered long term trends.

With the amount of different styles, sizes, shapes, colours, types and exhaust methods in fireplaces I am attempting to educate homeowners and help their decision making a little easier as it can be a daunting choice to make as the fireplace is usually the heart of the home and the one thing that everyone will see and gather around.

Here is a list of the trends that have stayed the same over the last several years;

• Mason hand built Rumford fireplaces are the most often installed in custom homes when you want a wood burning fireplace that does not require doors to contain the smoke.

• Gas insects built into walls are the most popular, free standing wood or gas stoves are almost never installed in new homes anymore.

• Fireplaces overall whether they are wood burning or gas are growing in size.

• Wood mantles are still the most commonly installed mantles above the fireplace.

• Houses with multiple fireplaces in them are almost the norm, especially when they have access to natural gas as the installation and use of the fireplace units is fairly inexpensive.

• The long and low gas fireplace that is closer to a wide screen television look then the more traditional square fireplaces has quickly become the choice of homeowners looking for a different feel then the conventional. It also allows more viewing area for the flame as it is longer than it is tall.

• The master bedroom has become a spot where gas fireplaces are showing up. It allows homeowners to have that romantic fireplace glow and the ability to warm the bedroom up without having to adjust the thermostat on the furnace.

• Remotes for gas fireplaces are standard now with almost all models of gas fireplaces coming with remotes, this allows homeowners the freedom to be anywhere in the room and still be able to control the flame, fan and heat that the unit is producing.

• With the resurgence of wood burning fireplaces natural stone finishes on fireplaces has as well. Most Rumford built fireplaces have a natural stone surround.

• Manufactured stone is predominately made by Eldorado stone whether it is the Eldorado line of stone or there other lines like Dutch Quality. Their ability to make a manufactured stone that looks so much like natural stone is making homeowners choice between the two more difficult and leaving the competition in the dust.

• The rising cost of energy has made wood burning fireplaces a must in custom homes, they give cheap heat that usually costs nothing more than a little bit of sweat equity to create, especially when you live in a rural setting. It’s also great insurance as a backup heat source when the power fails.

Here is a list of the trends that have started this year and are growing in popularity;

• The long low fireplace that is about 1 foot high but 5 or 6 feet long has really started to become popular with homeowners, it is a very modern look that also looks wonderful in more traditional settings.

• Gas fireplaces with interior lighting are a newer option. It allows you to light the fireplace without having to burn gas and heating up the room. Not all fireplaces have this option.

• Stamped or poured and grooved concrete has started to become popular with people looking for something different that will also catch the eye once they enter the room.

• Faux concrete panels that are backed with spray foam insulation and a custom exterior finish on them have started to become very popular. As they are light enough to be lifted by two people and cut with a skill saw they are easy to install and the ultimate in personalization when designing a fireplace surround.

• The overall size and height of stone fireplaces has started to grow again, this is a change from years past as the size has stayed the same or actually gotten smaller because of the heavy cost associated with building them.

• Custom metal fireplace doors that are made to look like pieces of art that are one of a kind, designed for the fireplace are becoming more popular as people look for something to make their homes unique.

With fireplaces you have to remember that they are entirely customizable, you can have any combination that you want and any size or dimension that you require. This makes fireplaces a wonderful and personal thing to have installed in your home. Make sure that you take your time choosing it, your going to have to look at it everyday and so will everyone else.

Rob Abbott
Village Builders Inc.

Heating system trends in your custom home for 2014

Heating system trends 2014

The trends in custom homes and renovations coming in to 2014 are always changing with a lot of the trends that we saw in the 2013 construction year being the same as in previous years. But there were things that became trends in 2013 with more and more home owners opting for them that they become almost the norm in 2014. I am focusing on the heating systems that are being installed in new homes and renovations, not just what’s currently trending but what has become the norm in today’s custom homes.

Since custom homes are a very personal thing so is the selection of your heating system, I create these lists for people so that they have the ability to ask their general contractors about the many options out there when wanting to heat their new home.

Heating Systems

Here is a list of things that have stayed the same over the last couple of years;

• In town where people have access to natural gas high efficiency gas furnaces are still the most installed system.

• Air-to-Air heat pumps are one the most popular choices lately to make your heating system more energy efficient whether you live in town or in the country. This system is becoming so popular because it is basically an add on to your existing furnace without too much interior renovation needed

• New homes that do not have access to natural gas are all by a rule installing geothermal heating, either ground loops (if they have the space) or vertical loops (which are drilled wells).

• Conventional hot water tanks are still the most popular way to heat hot water in town and in the country. This is true especially in properties that have geothermal as the units help give free hot water for parts of the year.

• Flash boilers that run on natural gas are growing in popularity for new homes. There is a rise in people wanting in-floor heat; with in-floor heat you require a flash boiler which also gives you on-demand hot water.

• HRV’s are standard in all homes now built.

• Heating of bathroom tiled floors is done with electric mats that are controlled per room, making for a more enjoyable experience when stepping out of the shower on to warm tiles regardless of what the thermostat on the main home heating unit is set at.

• Smart thermostats are more popular in custom homes than anything else, it is now basically the norm; with the growing smart phone/tablet market people want to be able to control the climate in their home from anywhere in the world, smart thermostats do that with a phone or internet connection.

• Fume hoods in kitchens have become so large that mechanical contractors are being forced to install “make up air” systems in the furnace. This system helps stop the depressurization of the home when all the air is being sucked out by the fume hood by adding more air then normal into the duct system to make up for it.

• Multi stage furnaces are more readily available and the bigger the home the more it’s being demanded. The multi-stage allows for better energy efficiency and that is one of the biggest trends in today’s homeowners when talk about heating systems.

• Fireplaces have been one of the longest running trends in custom homes. Wood burning fireplaces are so common as they add cheap heat to the most lived in part of the home and also are used to set the mood. Gas fireplaces are used the same way as they are used to heat a room or an area of the home without having to engage the heating system to do so.

• Electric space heaters are commonly installed in the kick of bathroom vanities when renovating to allow more heat into a generally cold bathroom. The added bonus of it in the kick is that it is always warming your feet and legs.

Here is a list of the trends that are gaining momentum this year;

• Ductless heat pumps are becoming by far the most popular way to heat or cool area’s of a home that have been renovated or added too. This works well when you do not have an easy way to tie the newer part of the home into the existing heating system.

• There is a new air to air heat pump that is on the market that is taking the industry by storm. It’s called the Zuba and it is made by Mitsubishi, it is the most energy efficient heating unit on the market today. It is so energy efficient that people that live in the country are opting to install a Zuba instead of geothermal because of the initial cost savings on the system.

• There is a growing demand for on demand hot water in the country. With more people making the choice for air to air heat pumps over geothermal there is a demand for more efficient water heating. Propane water heating is very efficient; it is also a wonderful way to heat the basement of your floor with in-floor piping that can run off the same flash boiler system.

• Multiple thermostats are a rapidly growing trend; this allows the home to be better regulated with heating and cooling. You can set the temperature of the different zones of the home to whatever you require. The only deterrent for it becoming the norm is the cost of the extra thermostats and dampers. The dampers are low voltage so that they require very little in the way of power to operate.

• Steam humidifiers are becoming more popular; people are trying to avoid the overly dry air they end with through the heating season. This is especially evident when installing geothermal heating units as they give a dry heat.

• In chalets that are unable to have a ducted central air furnace the trend to install ERV’s to still allow the circulation of air throughout the home, this helps stave off mold and mildew in the home.

These are the main trends in the Heating systems of new and renovated custom homes for 2014.

Rob Abbott
Village Builders Inc.

I want to buy a gas fireplace but can’t vent it out of my roof, should I still buy one?

Q:

I want to buy a gas fireplace but can’t vent it out of my roof, should I still buy one?

A:

With gas fireplaces venting is always a concern and needs to be considered before you buy any type of gas fireplace. There are many different options for venting gas fireplaces that do not require you to go out through the roof.

One of the simplest and easy ways to vent a gas fireplace is called direct vent. This is a venting system that vents the gas emissions from the fireplace through the wall to the outside. This does require you to place your gas fireplace on an outside wall so the piping can go directly through it.

Another option is called a powered vent. This is a system that uses an electric fan to push the gas emissions through the piping and outside. The great thing about this system is that you can run up to 50 ft of piping before having to exhaust the emissions outside of the house. This can allow you to run through floor joist or into the basement or the crawl space as long as you end up outside at the end of the pipe run. The downside to this system is that it is an expensive option and some fireplaces do not have it. This option will limit your options on the style and make of the gas fireplace that you have to choose from.

Those are the two most common venting options when you don’t want to penetrate through the roof.

One of the best things that you can do is find yourself a mechanical contractor that will supply and install it for you. To install a gas fireplace you will need at a minimum a licensed professional gas fitter to install it. They can recommend when you show them the spot that you want to place the fireplace what type of fireplace you will need and what model would work best for that application.

I recommend that you also find someone that is qualified to build the surround for it; each fireplace has a unique set of specifications on how the framing is suppose to be constructed. This is to reduce the risk of a fire.

 A gas fireplace has to legally pass a municipal framing inspection along with a gas inspection before it can be turned on.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.