Let’s assume you live in Florida, anywhere from Tampa to the Florida Keys. It’s unlikely you’ll ever see freezing temperatures. Even during this past winter, one of the coldest recorded in the state, temperatures may have flirted with freezing, but they never really made it to that point near us. Nevertheless, some homebuyers are requesting from their builders or realtors a home, particularly a high-end home, that includes a wood-burning fireplace. Are you sure about that?
Many homeowners want a wood-burning fireplace in theory, but they rarely want the work that goes with owning one. The romance of a wood-burning fireplace loses its glamour when you have to chop the wood or arrange and pay for the purchase of the wood, stack it, clean the soot and ash and also worry about what may be living in your woodpile. In addition, chimneys need to be cleaned – preferably by a professional fireplace expert, which is not so easy to find in Florida. The firebox also has to be inspected from time to time.
If you’re one of the newly minted billionaires sprouting up around the country, you can indulge your romantic leanings and build a fireplace in every room. Property managers can be hired to take care of every aspect of fireplace ownership, leaving the aesthetics to you. If, however, you can’t afford a full-time manager, it may be time to rethink your options; and there are plenty of them.
Electric fireplaces or gas fireplaces are replacing the relic of the wood-burning fireplace. Most of them also come with heat vents that allow for some warm air flow on chilly nights. These fireplaces need to be professionally installed and can become the focal point of a room. You can also purchase small electric inserts for existing fireplaces or new fireplaces that can be operational in minutes by just plugging into a standard outlet. Amazon sells electric logs that when stacked like wood look surprisingly attractive. Then, of course, there is the old standby of real or electric candles. Take it from me, use the electric ones.
Wood-burning fireplace aficionados are starting to run into municipalities that may have prohibited wood-burning fireplaces. The regulations are largely intended to mitigate environmental health risks, but in areas prone to droughts, fireplaces could create a fire hazard as well. These regulations are typically enforced for new construction properties, leaving homes with existing fireplaces grandfathered in.
Also facing new regulations are condos with wood-burning fireplaces. Condo associations have the right, and indeed the obligation, to inspect fireplaces or have owners provide the association with an annual inspection report. The property rights and safety of all residents in an association where walls and roofs are shared need to be protected.
There is one other drawback to wood-burning fireplaces: animals. Even in Florida, during the winter months, outdoor animals want to keep warm or are looking for a place to build a nest (we once had water rats build a nest in our car’s engine while we were away on a trip). An old friend of mine once had the shock of her life when her husband built a fire after being away for a few weeks, only to find out that a family of raccoons were living in the chimney.
Leave the romance of wood-burning fireplaces to the ultra-rich or the ultra-enthusiastic. I remember those days of black soot and hot ash landing where it should not. My electric candles are looking pretty romantic. Just add a little Frank Sinatra and you’re set.
