Efficient Fireplace Design Options for Log Homes

Heat Things Up

With an open fire, most of the heat goes up the chimney. Well-designed fireplaces and stoves have air spaces around the combustion chamber to pick up heat and transport it to the room through convection. Some units also have ducts that direct the heat into other rooms. Otherwise, a large ceiling fan can drive rising warm air into other rooms.

Efficiency Counts

Most factory-built fireplaces and stoves come with an efficiency rating. As a general rule for open-burning fireplaces, the larger the firebox, the lower the efficiency. Gas fireplaces can be very efficient, but select a unit that lets you control the flame from flicker to full-burn.

Money to Burn

The expense of a fireplace often comes down to the enclosures and stonework. Backing two units against each other can reduce the cost of both. Sometimes two rooms can even share one fireplace. Several zero-clearance fireplaces are open on two sides, creating a divider between two areas.

Room with a View

I've seen many scenic views compromised by placing an imposing fireplace right in the middle of the vista. Consider locating your hearth to the side of the view. During the day, you can focus on the scene outside. At night, you can face the fire.

Let's Face It

While the fire is likely the reason you want a hearth in the first place, the surrounding materials have much greater architectural impact. Stone is a great option for log homes and there are hundreds of varieties, colors and textures to consider. Even with a freestanding stove, attractive stonework will protect surfaces and radiate heat.

New Heights

For gas fireplaces, keep the hearth flush with the floor. For wood-burning fireplaces, I recommend raising the firebox to offer a better view. And make sure your hearth extends far enough to contain errant ashes and wood splinters.

Smart Storage

Work convenient wood storage into your plan from the beginning. For wood-burning fireplaces, I prefer to recess a storage area into the stonework next to the firebox. Line it with a durable material such as slate or concrete. Or build two areas one for large firewood and one for kindling and paper.

Inner Workings

Some of the most striking hearths use niches and built-ins to add both vertical and horizontal interest to their enclosures. For example, you can create shelves or recesses for displays of art, memorabilia or books. You might even line recesses with an accent material such as a different type of stone.