New build advice- two fireplaces?
providencesparrow
8 years ago
My idea on our new build farmhouse is to have a fireplace in living room and kitchen (see plan photo). Any advice on how to best achieve (both cost effective and workability) for this? Should we go with one big see thru? Do two inserts back to back and they "share" the chimney run together? Do side by side inserts? I'm trying to do all the research I can on this because I want it to be done correctly! Thanks in advance for any advice!
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providencesparrow
8 years agoSorry, hope this photo is a little better. Also The house will be two story so chimney will have to run through the upstairs.
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New build fireplace question
Comments (54)An interesting thread but also a frustrating one. Of course it follows that if all people know are traditional wood burning fireplaces and gas fireplaces, that debate will be restricted to these two options, omitting any mention of Finnish, German, Russian style Masonry Heaters. I don't like the way they look in a room (unless it is a basement or "play" room), it literally roasts me in the living room but doesn't heat the rest of the house, and I no longer want the work of dealing with wood. However, I love a real fire -- the sound, the smell, the look, the feel -- and have had to weigh the labor issue against that. . . . .. . I'm really looking for the best of all worlds. :) High efficiency (don't want to burn through the propane); convenience; aesthetically pleasing; comfort. Of course a wood stove is going to create those extremes, you're burning wood inside a metal box, heating up the metal to high temperature, that's going to create a drastic temperature swing. Look at this photo. http://mainewoodheat.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/tigheheaterweb.jpg There is literally tons of mass there to soak up the heat of the fire and this heat is released into the home over a period of time, so no drastic roasting effect. These fireplaces are placed into the center of a room so that their heat can radiate into many rooms unlike fireplaces placed on outside walls so that the heat can be radiated to warm the outdoors. High efficiency, Check. These units burn at such a high temperature that there is little smoke and ash. Far higher efficiency than American style fireplaces and wood stoves. Convenience. Check. Can you bake bread or a pizza with your gas-fired unit? Probably not. Have a nice fire in one of these, more roaring than you see in a traditional unit, and then use the residual heat to make yourself a pizza snack. How more convenient can you get? Aesthetically pleasing. Check. You have a lot more latitude in design than you do with traditional fireplaces. The principal drawback is expense. You're putting tons of rocks into your house. Someone has to build that fireplace for you, it needs its own foundation support. Your house design has to be able to accommodate a central location for the fireplace instead of a peripheral add-on location. Off setting the expense is that with one, or two, firings a day, you can heat your house through the winter. Also, that feeling of laying on a warm beach or sun-warmed rock and letting the heat radiate into you body is quite nice to have in your own home, sitting on a built-in bench and letting the heat radiate deep into your muscles is a fantastic feeling after a work-out or coming in from the slopes....See MoreFloor Plan Design Dilemma for New Build (Need Architect Advice)
Comments (158)In Ontario any homeowner can submit their own drawings, however, they will be reviewed by the planning department to ensure the drawings meet code. However, a professional I,e, draftsman, designer, architectural technologist etc must complete and pass exams and thus obtain a (Building code identification no) BCIN. An architect does not require a BCIN, however, they must be licensed in the province in order to have construction drawings approved. Some further explanations http://www.andythomson.ca/2016/11/15/why-a-bcin-is-not-an-architect/...See MoreNew build floor plans advice
Comments (28)We are debating whether or not to have a second prep sink in the island and if it is really necessary, what do you think it brings? If you put the clean-up zone in the bay, this would be your work path (on the left), compared to the first plan I posted (on the right). You would gather perishable items from the fridge, carry them to the sink to rinse, take them to the island to finish prep--because there is not enough space on either side of the sink to prep comfortably, then turn to drop them at the range. While you are at the sink rinsing the items, no one can help by loading or unloading the DW, until you have moved on to the island. The distances between the sink and fridge, and between the sink and range, are more than the NKBA recommended max of 9', for efficient function. NKBA also recommends a minimum of 36" counter beside a water source. Note: I didn't convert the measurements, so my assumptions are based on scalability (eye-balling the plan). To reiterate: With a separate clean-up zone, helpers can load and unload the DW, and gather dishes to set the table, without crossing your prep triangle, and you have a second water source for help with prep. Prep triangle is more compact, needing fewer steps to prepare a meal. Although you have a lovely window at the clean-up sink, it's more pleasant to prep facing an open living area than a wall. The only disadvantage (other than initial cost), is that dish storage is at the opposite end of the kitchen from the fridge--but I'm of the opinion that dish storage should be convenient for whoever is unloading the DW, and everyone else can retrieve dishes as needed. If you decide against putting a sink in the bay, then one sink on the island would be sufficient (DW and dish storage to the right). NKBA guidelines ETA, a pic which was recently posted on another thread. This reminds me of the window bay, and the post and beams of a cottage in Europe. It might not be your decorating style, but the form is similar....See MoreNew build - outdoor room design advice
Comments (7)How far along are you? Is this a true cape style with the bedrooms upstairs? If it is, is it too late to talk you out of it? Our first house was a large cape with full shed dormer in the back. We grew to hate sleeping in the "attic" and decided we would never own another cape. We lived there for 3 years, sold and bought a real 2-story house....See Moreprovidencesparrow
8 years ago
PROACCENT MASONRY LLC
8 years agoprovidencesparrow
8 years agoprovidencesparrow
8 years ago
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
PROD K and Sons
8 years ago
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