Archive for October, 2009

Fireplace Surrounds Make Winter Bearable

Make winter bearable with new fireplace surrounds

It’s easy to ignore an outdated fireplace during the warmer months of the year. But as winter approaches, your fireplace again becomes the centerpiece of your home. Do you have outdated fireplace surrounds? If so, you might want to think about an update.

Installing a new fireplace surround is a quick and relatively affordable way to add some style and charm to your home. It will also make those cold January evenings more bearable. No one, after all, wants to cuddle up in front of a fireplace that looks like it hasn’t received a facelift since the ‘70s.

Many homeowners, though, do just this. They may think installing new fireplace surrounds is too much work, or that the surrounds themselves are too expensive. Fortunately, neither is true.

Installing a new fireplace surround isn’t the simplest construction job. But it is one that any homeowner with basic do-it-yourself skills can handle. And even if you don’t fall into that category, fireplace surrounds are definitely easy jobs for professional contractors; paying a pro to install your new fireplace surround shouldn’t drain too much out of your bank account.

And the results will certainly be worth it. You’ll be amazed at how completely a new fireplace surround can change the look of room.

Many homeowners today are choosing to go with a stone fireplace surround for its look of classic beauty. Other homeowners are deciding upon an elegant marble fireplace surround. Both of these surrounds instantly provide beauty and class to a room.

Take a look at your own fireplace surrounds. Are they in need of a serious upgrade? Some hints: If your fireplace surround is pink, it’s time to upgrade. If your fireplace surround is so old that you can’t ever seem to get it clean, think about investing in a nice new marble or stone fireplace surround. And if you cringe every time you walk past your fireplace, definitely think about moving up to a more modern, stylish fireplace surround.

Popularity: 6% [?]

New Fireplace Mantels Add Resale Value

Home buyers always seek one amenity when buying a new home: They want elegant fireplaces. One way for home sellers, then, to boost the resale value of their homes is install attractive new fireplace mantels throughout their residence.

Fireplaces add charm to otherwise barren rooms. But fireplaces only do this when they are capped with attractive mantels. Outdated fireplace mantel designs do more to turn away potential buyers than they do to attract them.

In today’s challenging housing market, homeowners can’t afford to turn the potential positives associated with fireplaces into negatives. Fortunately, they can turn outdated fireplaces into cool, modern appliances by installing new wood mantels.

This isn’t always an easy task. And homeowners who aren’t particularly handy may want to call in professional help to install their new wood mantels. But the cost and hassle of this particular job will be well worth it to homeowners hoping to get as many dollars as possible out of their home sale.

Today’s buyers are looking for fireplaces that either have a very traditional look about them or a thoroughly modern appeal. Anything in between just won’t suffice. So homeowners should take a close look at their fireplace mantels to make sure that they’ll stand up to the scrutiny of potential buyers.

One solution is for homeowners to install fireplace mantel shelves. These are not only attractive, but they also provide a great place for homeowners to display photos and artwork. These shelves help transform a fireplace into the visual center of even the largest of rooms.

New fireplace mantels will leave a positive impression on potential home buyers. It’s important to remember that most buyers look at dozens of homes before making a decision. It can be difficult for them to remember the specifics of any one house. Those homeowners who want their residences to stand out, though, can increase their chances by installing new fireplace mantels.

Popularity: 5% [?]