The Fireplace Secret: Why Summer Is the Best Time to Buy a New Fireplace
Legal LawThe days are getting longer. The sun is shining brightly. The world feels good about itself. So why should you think about buying that new fireplace?
Well, actually, spring or summer is the best time to buy a new fireplace or fireplace surround. The reason is that fireplaces can actually be a bit more complicated than they seem. Let me explain.
In the old days it used to be that you had very little choice when it came to fireplaces. Before the big DIY stores, if you wanted an original design that wasn’t just brick or a glorified fireplace, you often had to travel great distances to find very specialized (and expensive) specialty shops that could design a great fireplace for you. .
The good news is that those days are long gone and while the expensive ‘design it yourself’ route will always be open to anyone who fancies themselves a budding fireplace designer. There really is no need. Instead, you can go to a plethora of locations, and you’ll be able to find a bewildering array of options.
Herein lies the first of our ‘problems’, and a good starting point as to why summer is really a great time to go shopping for a new fireplace.
All that choice is confusing and time consuming!
You could literally spend months camping out at your local DIY store (okay, maybe not months. But you get my point ;)) and still not exhaust the variety of options they have.
So you really need to spend a lot more time on your purchase from that point of view than it may seem at first glance. You need to start by honing in on the style of fireplace you’re ideally looking for, as well as deciding whether you want an electric, gas, or natural fire. Since deciding on each of these can make a fundamental difference in the options available to you when choosing your fireplace.
The second reason why it is better to start shopping for that fireplace earlier is because installing it can take longer than expected. You see, the job is really only half done when you choose exactly what type of fireplace you want. Then comes the technical part of assembling it and installing it in your home.
Now if you are really ‘handy’ you can do it yourself. But fires are dangerous, and things like gas leaks can kill you very quickly if you mess up. So you really need to get a trained professional to do it. Okay, good so far. The only problem is that these guys (sorry to the ladies, but most of these people are men!) are in high demand. Therefore, getting one that fits the fire can take several weeks or a month.
Now, that’s no problem in the summer. Because it is hot. But try to be without fire in winter for a month. AND THEN see how well he feels by the time the fire rig arrives.
Not much, I would hasten to guess!
So in conclusion, handle it now. Take a leisurely pace. Pick the style and type of fire you want, and go from there while it’s still warm enough to make it an enjoyable chore.