Wood burning fireplaces are usually less efficient and are messier but if you have wood, like the smell and sounds of a real fire they are great. Gas ones can be switched on and off and not lose heat up the flue.

I have yet to use this fireplace but I really hope to have a client use it in the future as it seems to be easy to use, reasonably efficient and safe to use for a wood burning one. Rumfords really put out some nice heat and this one allows for the ability to close a screen or glass or leave it open depending on your wish. But it can be closed off at night and not worried about.

Gas FP's dont always require chimneys and they are usually less costly up front. The dont usually require any extra foundation and are easily installed. Wood burning or masonry units may require addtional structure or a foundation. Here is a link to the wood burner I refer to. I have no idea on its cost but I am sure its more than some. But it has some great features. Watch the videos. Good luck on your decision

http://www.renaissancefireplaces.com/en/renaissance-rumford-1000

We are putting in two wood burning fireplaces (one in den and one on screened porch) and a gas fireplace (in the basement). The wood fireplaces will have gas starters and will be equipped for gas logs should we decide to switch them down the line.

We are using Isokern fireplaces. They look like true masonry fireplaces but are somewhat more efficient supposedly and often cost less because they are prefabricated and assembled onsite. You also eliminate the problems that occur with a poorly built masonry fireplace. There are other versions of this (firebrick or something like that). I think the Isokerns are around 8k - can't remember if that is installed or not (although I don't think there is a high labor cost with this unlike with a true masonry fireplace.

I'd look into getting a woodburning insert. Gives you the best of both worlds- fire to look at and usable heat. My parents put a Buck one in in the house I grew up in in the early 80's and it's still going strong. They typically have internal automatic fans to blow air over the firebox and into the room. Burns very efficiently. There are some now that have connections to supply outside air for combustion, which means you won't be pulling makeup air through the cracks in your house to keep the fire going.

It's on my long-term list to get one for my own fireplace. Mostly ours sits idle because it sends more air up the chimney than it puts out heat into the room.

Here is a link that might be useful: Buck wood stoves

thanks bigkahuna, we have had both and are choosing wood burning , thanks for the suggestion, DH is looking into it.

athensmom thanks for your share as well, do you have photos of your current fp's?

thull- can you put an insert in a new build?

I am not a fan of the inserts often because of the aesthetic reasons but I am a sticker. Most folks probably won't notice the difference. An Isokern looks like a true masonry fireplace. You absolutely cannot tell the difference - even used in the most expensive houses. We are just now breaking ground so no pics to post . . . but it will give you the true masonry look for sure.

crazyone- I haven't done much looking into it lately. So the research is up to you. I believe that they do zero-clearance versions that could be built in without a full masonry fireplace. The alternative is to do kind of both- build the masonry fireplace and have the insert put in it. The advantage there is that you could pull out the insert down the road and still have a fireplace. I'd find a local dealer and take a look and talk to them.

athensmomof3- a 'true masonry' fireplace is great, except that most of the heat and the warm air from the house go up the chimney. Fine if money is no option for your heating costs down the road (and admittedly there are many THSers for whom that's the case). The advantage of the wood stove, especially with outside combustion air, is that it gives you lots of heat without the downside of cooling the rest of the house via infiltration. FWIW, I wouldn't buy one with brass trim, but that's as far as I'm concerned aesthetically.