Hi Estropelic,
Below you will find the results of my research regarding fireplaces.
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Does having a fireplace increase the value of a home?
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Hearth Products Add Value to a Home:
?Homeowners in general feel that hearth products add value to their
home. According to the survey results, the reported average estimated
value of a home without a hearth product totaled $147,600, while the
average estimated value of a home with a fireplace totaled $260,600.
The reported average estimated value of a home with a stove totaled
$212,800.?
?Fireplaces Provide Greater Perceived Value: 76 percent of homeowners
who installed a fireplace after they moved into their home believe
that the value of their home went up after installation, while 44
percent of stove owners felt the same way.?
Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association: Industry Backgrounder
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthConsumerSurvey.pdf
?On average, adding a fireplace to a home can contribute as much as
10.8 percent to the price of the home.?
Source: Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthIndustryBackgrounder.pdf
According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders,
there are twelve factors that significantly impact the price of a
standard house, in addition to age, location (urban, suburban or
non-metropolitan), and region of the country. One of them is a
fireplace.
- square footage
- number of complete bathrooms - toilet, sink and tub or shower
- number of bedrooms
- number of rooms other than bathrooms and bedrooms
- presence of a garage
- a basement
- central air conditioning
- a fireplace
- a body of water within 300 feet of the house
- roads nearby that are in need of repair
- abandoned buildings in the neighborhood
- trash, litter or junk in the neighborhood
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Impact on to Home Prices
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Adding a fireplace - 10.8%
Dollar Bank
http://www.dollarbank.com/dollarbankpersonal/INFO/affect.html
?Adding a fireplace to your home may increase the resale value by
160%. A swimming pool costing $20,000 will only add 33%, $6,700 to the
value of your home. most homeowners consider pools as safety problems
and maintenance burdens.?
American Publishing
http://www.am-pub.com/tools/value.html
?Adding a fireplace can return 138% on investment at resale.?
Kingsman
http://www.kingsmanind.com/index.cfm?pageID=107
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Is the use of fireplaces in home increasing?
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?With energy costs increasing, many homeowners are turning (and
returning) to fireplaces, wood stoves and even oil furnaces for heat.?
Georgia Chimney Sweep Guild
http://gachimneys.org/homeowners.htm
Gas fireplaces mean hot sales in today's remodeling marketplace.
"Consumers place the desire for a fireplace very high," says Robert
Dischner, director of marketing for Hearth Products. "It's one of the
top three rated amenities in the United States, even in warm
climates." According to Dischner, the money spent to add a fireplace
to a home remodeling project is almost immediately recoverable in that
home's sale price. With technology improving to allow for more
realistic-looking flames and better heating capabilities, demand for
gas products doesn't look like it will slow down anytime soon, either.
"In general, the fireplace market right now is about 50 percent wood
burning and gas burning,"
(..)
?Gas fireplaces are more convenient for busy, two-income baby-boomers
who don't want to deal with the time and hassle of buying and storing
cords of wood, not to mention the work required to light and clean up
after the fire itself.?
Housing Zone
http://www.housingzone.com/topics/pr/design/pr99ea026.asp
"Today's fireplaces appeal to a broad spectrum of the community as the
manufacturers have opened up a whole new market. The fireplace in all
its guises has never been more popular."
ERT Weekly, June 20, 2002, by Richard Way
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0KZC/2002_June_20/88579182/p1/article.jhtml
?In 2,000, the estimated number of homes in the U.S. with a fireplace
was 54,842,400.?
?According to the federal government, approximately 32,400,000 of
these homes (59%) have a useable fireplace.?
HPBA estimated with data from NAHB, U.S. Bureau of the Census and the
1999 American Housing Survey
Source: Hearth Industry Backgrounder
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthIndustryBackgrounder.pdf
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Is the number of fireplace installations increasing?
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?In 2000, 60 percent of new homes were built with at least one
fireplace compared to 36 percent in 1971.?
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), from the U.S. Bureau of the Census
?The number of single-family homes built with natural gas grew
substantially between 1982 and 2000. In 1982, 40 percent of homes were
built with natural gas compared to 70 percent in 2000.?
NAHB, from the U.S. Bureau of the Census
Hearth Industry Backgrounder
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthIndustryBackgrounder.pdf
?New Home Construction is Important: 50 percent of consumers who are
planning to build a home in the next year or two, or are either
renting or currently own a home without a fireplace, say that they
will definitely or likely have a hearth appliance in their new home.
An additional one-third of these individuals (33 percent of
respondents) would seriously like to add a hearth appliance to their
home and would like to find a way to do so.?
Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association: Survey
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthConsumerSurvey.pdf
?More homes are adding fireplaces, more fireplaces are burning natural
gas and more hvac contractors are making profits in the hearth
products market.?
(..)
?According to the Gas Research Institute, the fireplace market has
been growing at a modest 5% pace each year, but sales of natural gas
hearth products have been growing at 20% to 35% annually over the past
seven years. Currently, one-third of all U.S. homes have at least one
fireplace, while two-thirds of all new homes do. More than a quarter
of all new fireplaces burn gas?
Find Articles: Contractor Magazine
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3042/n3_v45/20395651/p1/article.jhtml
?The current state of the fireplace industry, is increasingly moving
toward gas and electric products, which offer more convenience and
flexibility.?
?Gas fireplaces now dominate the new-home market. Gas not only offers
a cleaner-burning, less messy alternative to wood fires, it produces
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0107/p13s01-lihc.html
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What are the benefits of owning a fireplace to the end user?
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?Heat is the Greatest Reason for Selecting a Hearth Product: 34
percent of the respondents indicated that heating efficiency of the
fireplace or stove is the primary reason for selecting a hearth
appliance.?
(..)
Atmosphere versus Heat in Fireplaces:
?18 percent of homeowners with a fireplace primarily use their
fireplace for atmosphere. An additional 46 percent of homeowners with
a fireplace primarily use their fireplace for atmosphere, although
heat is a nice added benefit. Only 10 percent of homeowners primarily
use their fireplace for heat. An additional 25 percent primarily use
their fireplace for heat, although atmosphere is a nice added
benefit.?
Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association: Survey
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthConsumerSurvey.pdf
Benefits of a Gas Fireplace
- ?If the power goes out, you?ll still have heat.
- Gas fireplace inserts are a good source of ?space? heat?save money
on heating costs by only heating the area of your home that you?re
spending time in.
- Very energy efficient because with a flick of a switch, you can get
instant warmth (and ambience) for as little as 17 cents an hour.?
Washington Energy Services
http://www.washingtonenergy.com/products_fireplaces.html
From the Wood Heat Organization:
?Heating a house with wood, partly or totally, is environmentally
appropriate (conditionally) and economically beneficial. That doing it
is physically healthful, and that experiencing it is comforting to the
body and soothing to the spirit.?
http://www.woodheat.org/
?A study by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association indicates that 58
percent of North Americans look to fireplaces as a source of ambience,
instead of warmth.?
?Wood fireplaces have a couple of key advantages over their electric
cousins, though. They work even during a power outage, and they're
perfect for roasting marshmallows, which isn't an option with a
DVD-generated flame.?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0107/p13s01-lihc.html
Benefits of a gas fireplace
?Natural gas fireplaces bring beauty, convenience and comfort into a
home. They can also be an energy-efficient source of added home heat.?
More benefits:
- ?Most gas fireplaces will operate without electrical power during a power outage
- All the ambiance of a wood-burning fireplace without all the soot and smoke
- No wood to chop and no ashes to clean up
- No sparks or creosote build-up in chimney to cause fires
- produces fewer particle pollutants and better for the environment
than open, wood-burning fireplaces
- Economical secondary source of heat?
TERASEN
http://www.terasen.com/Gas/NaturalGasSafety/ApplianceSafety/Fireplaces.htm
?The new generation of gas fireplaces can be used as room dividers,
positioned in corners or even stand alone. Gas fireplaces are easier
to install for remodeling or adding to existing construction.?
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3042/n3_v45/20395651/p1/article.jhtml
?In fact, market studies by the Gas Research Institute indicate that
the atmosphere a fireplace provides is the most important factor in a
purchase decision, before heating ability and even price.?
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3042/n3_v45/20395651/p2/article.jhtml?term=
?A statistic from the HPBA study that indicates that 58 percent of
North Americans look to a dancing flame as a source of ambiance,
instead of heat.?
Source: Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/fireplaceInnovations.pdf
Additional information:
Hearth Industry Statistics-2002
http://www.hpba.org/2002stats/HearthStatistics.shtml
?Over the past decade, the hearth industry has manufactured and
shipped more than 14 million fireplaces, freestanding stoves,
fireplace inserts and fireboxes. The HPBA notes that the hearth
products industry represents more than five billion in annual economic
value.?
http://www.hpba.org/newsroom/HearthShipments2003.pdf
Search criteria:
Fireplace industry
Fireplace statistics
Fireplace benefits
Fireplace usage
Fireplace installations
I hope this information is useful for you.
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
13 Feb 2004 12:06 PST
Dear Estropelic,
My search returned the following results regarding trends in electric fireplaces.
Hot stuff By David Lasker
?Electric fireplaces are the fastest-growing category in the fireplace
market, according to HPBA statistics. They add sophistication and
style to apartments and condominium units lacking a vent suitable for
a wood or gas fireplace.?
Building Canada News Magazine
http://www.building.ca/lkjj02hs.htm
Electric fireplaces are the fireplace industry's growth leader.
?Electric fireplaces are geared mostly to people who live in homes
without traditional fireplaces, with portability and ease of
installation and use their top selling points. You can put it in an
apartment or a condo. You can build a mantel around it.?
?The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association refer to electric
fireplaces as "plug-and-play appliances," installed in minutes,
similar to a stereo or TV.?
Electric Fireplaces Get Hot: September 4, 2003
http://www.craftsman.tv/fireplaces.htm
Homeowners Warm Up
To Fake Fireplaces
By SARAH COLLINS
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
From The Wall Street Journal Online
?Faux fireplaces have somehow turned into a cool home accessory.
Thanks to high-tech enhancements like artificial embers (they glow
like the real thing), digital soundtracks (yes, you'll hear a
recording of a blaze) and even flame-free "holographic" fires, these
fake hearths are finally getting some respect. Of the 1.3 million
fireplaces sold last year, almost 60% were fueled by gas, and sales
were up 15% in the first half of this year. And while electric
fireplaces and heating stoves still only account for a small part of
the business, they're the fastest growing segment, up 22% this year
from the first half of 2001.?
http://www.realestatejournal.com/housegarden/indoorliving/20021029-collins.html
?Recent advancements in technology have sparked a new generation of
electric fireplaces that provide warmth, ambience and amazingly
realistic flame-like displays.?
Electric fireplace:
- are easy to install
- can be used in unlikely places?like in a tiny apartment, or in a
business office, hospitals, cruise ships, apartment houses and
historic buildings.
?According to the National Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association
(HPBA), shipments of factory-built electric fireplaces increased by 14
percent in the first quarter of 2003 compared to the previous year,
making this category one of the hearth industry?s growth leaders. In
fact, Hearth & Home magazine recently reported that 60 percent of U.S.
retailers now carry electric fireplaces.?
"The growth in the electric hearth industry is driven by two factors,"
says Don Johnson, HPBA?s Director of Market Research. "Advancements in
technology include the use of holograms and DVD players to provide
consumers with the sounds and smell of a real fire. And electric
fireplaces are a huge appeal to consumers who grew up with fireplaces
in their homes but now live in homes built without fireplaces or in
high rises that cannot accommodate them."
Lennox
http://www.lennoxhearthproducts.com/News/Reflections_Press_Release.htm
Trends in Fireplaces
According to Jeff Ciarlo, store manager at Four Seasons Fireplace &
Patio, ?a most popular trend, electric fireplaces, are perfect for
people who want a fireplace but do not have access to a close gas line
or where a 'traditional' fireplace is hard to install.
John Jablonski, sales associate at Angersteins says that electric
fireplaces ? are wonderful for small areas, and great for a playroom,
the kitchen or even a master bedroom."
?Users plug these electric fireplaces into a normal outlet. They
require little installation and the cabinets assemble easily.
Probably, the biggest advantage of these electric fireplaces is that
you can move them from room to room."
?They give off heat -- about 5,000 BTUs. And some of the newer models
have a 3-D type flame that spirals and makes a crackling sound.?
"They use light bulbs and mirrors to produce flame patterns and the
end result is that they look more realistic,"
Delaware Women Online: December 2003
http://www.delawarewoman.com/200312/hothothotf.html
?The current state of the fireplace industry is increasingly moving
toward gas and electric products, which offer more convenience and
flexibility.?
?Many can be installed in any room of the house - some with no need of
a vent, much less a chimney. Operation is twist-a-dial or push-button
simple, eliminating the need to adjust the flue or wait for the fire
to go out before you leave the house or head for bed. And depending on
your model, you can unplug your fireplace and take it with you
whenever you move.?
?Brian Herzfeld, a Hearth & Home spokesman, says that even industry
insiders may not easily distinguish between electric and gas fires,
especially if the glass fireplace doors are closed and mesh fireplace
screening drawn. From a distance of eight feet, the two look much the
same.?
csmonitor.com: 2004
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0107/p13s01-lihc.html
Electric Fireplaces Become Category Growth Leader
?With more than 44 percent growth from the third quarter of 2001 to
2002, the electric hearth is now the fireplace category growth
leader.?
?Electric fireplaces are especially popular with two specific
audiences: people living in condos and apartments and those who make
their homes in climates with the potential for warmer temperatures.?
Building Online: Nov 2002
http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=1915&subcategory=231
??Electric fireplaces really can be put anywhere in a house. They are
excellent choices for rentals or apartments where it is impractical or
impossible to provide gas service or to install a vent for a wood or
gas unit.?
?Electric fireplaces deliver the warmth and ambience of a wood or gas
fireplace without the dangers and hassles of smoke and fumes. Electric
fireplaces are easy to install, affordable, 100% efficient and add
comfort and class to any room.?
Cass County Electric Cooperative http://www.kwh.com/comfort/fireplaces.html
?What makes electric fireplaces ideal is that you can use them
year-round for the ambiance of a fire. The electronic controls and
tiny motors used to create the realistic flames and sounds consume
less than 200 watts.?
Illinois Country Living: November 2001 http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/ic011118.html
?Fireplaces are just one of the hot items for businesses specializing
in renovations.?
?..Homeowners are buying the decorative pieces as "mood enhancers" and
lighting additions. Electric fireplaces, which run about $400, can be
found at many stores specializing in home remodeling and renovation.?
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2002/08/19/focus2.html
FIREPLACE TRENDS: Cool heat
Fireplaces are alluring to home buyers because they are a strong
visual focal point. "And a lot of people like a `chill-chaser' in a
room," says John Crouch, director of marketing for the Hearth, Patio &
Barbecue Association.
"The trend nationally is for more fireplaces" per house. (..) In Las
Vegas, many new homes have two fireplaces. But in other regions --
particularly in the Snow Belt -- homes with three or more fireplaces
are common.?
Electric fireplaces also have advanced in technology and aesthetics.
?The units are cheaper to buy than gas models -- a typical unit is
$2,000 -- but more expensive to operate.?
?The units are smaller and can work in situations where a gas model
cannot, such as in a tight space or in a condo or townhome, on a wall
that is shared with another household.?
?The flames in electric fireplaces are more realistic than ever, too.
(..) It's hologram technology. There's a mirror in the back."
Las Vegas Review-Journal
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-16-Mon-2002/living/20250882.html
More Information about Electric Fireplaces
Scroll down to the center of the page to read a recent newspaper article and a FAQ.
http://www.motorolatalkabout.com/el.html
I hope you find this additional research about electric fireplaces helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7
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