Need fireplace suggestions

[tamaradelaluna]

Hi -- I was on here a little while back with questions, but our budget won't allow for what we wanted to do. Thanks for everyone who weighed in before, and I'm hoping a few of you will weigh in again, now that our circumstances are a bit changed. Here's the deal:

I have a 62 inch wall to put a fireplace in. There is no fireplace there now. We have tried to be as "green" as possible in our addition/remodel, and we'd like to continue that with our addition of a fireplace, within budget. I want to be able to operate the fireplace at least occasionally without glass doors between me and the fire. We'd like for the fireplace to help with heating costs -- at least a little -- during the cold months. We want to do a limestone facade and a raised hearth.

So, my question is this:

What size/brand fireplace would you put in to get the most efficiency for your dollar? What accessories are must-haves?

Thanks in advance!
Tamara (Kansas)

 

[tamaradelaluna]

Oh, I forgot to mention that we have considered a 36" Temco from Menards. Any opinions specific to Temco fireplaces? Thanks, Tamara

 

[humpin iron]

Temco= you get what you pay for

Look into Heat N Glo products

 

[Todd]

It would be cheaper and more efficient to install a wood stove on a nice brick or stone hearth than a fireplace. There are stove out there with optional fire screens to get that fireplace feel.

 

[tamaradelaluna]

Thanks for the suggestions, Pyro & FHS! I would much prefer a fireplace over a woodstove, and I will look into Heat N Glo products online tonight. Thanks, Tamara

 

[begreen]

In general, even with glass doors, fireplaces are not efficient heaters. Often they remove more heat than they add to the house. If the goal is heat with a nice fireview on a budget, it's hard to beat a real stove.