Natwerk Designs

How much would a custom GAS FIREPLACE cost? <idea pics includes>?

something similar to this. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.montigo.com/scource/img_1138-med.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.montigo.com/img_1138.html&h=543&w=800&sz=404&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=MKHu62e5QO74HM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgas%2Bfireplace%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN Also what do you think the return value on this would be?? I own a 2Bed/1Bath home, and plan to live here for about three more years. I dont think i'll be putting in a pool because the return on it is so little. If it pay 30 to have it put in, i may only get 10 back. So im thinking of starting small......light remodling in the bathroom, maybe gutting the kitchen......and as for the living room, I wanted to install french doors for a nice backyard entrance as well as a gas stove.........these are big plans!! I hope to have all this done within a year...we'll see. But as for the gas fireplace, I am LOVING the idea. I saw something like this on HGTV...... Also: I am a newbie!!

Public Comments

1. The kind of thing that you are talking about, you can get a quotation from the manufacturer for the fireplace. Then, the cost to you is the manufacturer's fireplace cost + renovation (chimney, roof, wall) + installation of the fireplace cost. Look at the picture, and taking the other above associated costs into consideration, I would guess the cost should be around $9,000. The return on investment is not going to be too high - when you try to sell the house 3 years later. French door and so forth will be another $2,000.
2. A year, eh? May I the first to warn you that once you start remodeling, you start running into, oh, bundles o' problems you never anticipated (sorry, couldn't resist ;-)) How much a custom fireplace is going to cost is going to depend on many factors. If you are specifically talking about this unit, I would suggest you call some of the dealers to see what the materials are (hard to tell what the hearth is made of) and what they charge for their units....then call a local carpenter and see how much they would charge to build one (it actually doesn't look that difficult, and small enough to be able to get a remnant granite, marble, travertine (slab or tiles) to replicate the look. Your biggest expense is going to be the venting if you have to start from scratch (piping, cutting hole through roof, etc., etc., etc). Off the top of my head, based on the design you pictured, and assuming you are starting from scratch, I'd estimate you are looking at about $2500 to $3000 including the gas line installation. (You can also look into a non-vented gas fire set up...these do not require any venting, ergo, no pipes through the roof, etc.) The return on investment? If you live in a hot area where there isn't much call for a fireplace, the return will be less. If you live in an area that gets cold, the return will be greater. In my neck of the woods (Connecticut) you could expect an 80 to 110% return, so that's not bad (and in 3 years, the return could be more). Good move on the pool! Again, depending on your location, a pool can actually reduce the value of a property over the value without a pool -- lots of people just don't want to deal with pools, and unless you are in Vegas or Arizona (et al), it is likely a pool will actually detract fromt he value of your newly renovated home. Better you should install central air conditioning (guaranteed 100 to 125% return if you live in a warmer climate, and 80 to 100% in cooler climate.) Your biggest returns on investment are going to be your bathroom and kitchen, with anywhere from 80 to 125% return depending upon the condition/style of your current bathroom/kitchen, fixtures, and appliances, and your location. Bear in mind you have a 1 bath/2 bedroom home, which, unless you live in Beverly Hills (or some other pricey area), is going to keep it at the low end of price ranges, so don't go overboard with your expenditures, as you simply will NOT get them back. Stay with nice -- but mid-range -- materials and appliances. French Doors -- yes! If you have a full basement, renovations to add a family/game/extra bedroom there will give you a 100 - 200% on your investment -- it increases square footage and living space, and that's dollars in your pocket. A lav/half/3/4 bath in the basement will also give you a 100% or more return. You said you saw something like the fireplace on HGTV, and I would suggest that you make HGTV and HGTV.com your very, very best friends (wealth of ideas and a forum where you can also ask this question and get tons of answers). I would also suggest you start watching the "flip-it" shows on TLC (and other channels) as they are very interesting, informative, and another great source of ideas....and they give you a good idea what you are going to be getting yourself into! (those bundles o' problems.....) I would also urge you to take some of the instructional classes that Home Depot and Lowe's have (usually free) so you can improve your DIY skills, or learn a new one...even if you don't put in any sweat equity yourself, the more you know about something, the better your decisions and understanding, and the less you are going to be blindsided or hoodwinked by a contractor. Best wishes. I am a perpetual renovator, and probably won't stop until the day I die... there is something awfully gratifying about it (especially the part where you take the sledge hammer to a wall or some crappy old cabinets!)