What to Know Before Installing a Fireplace During a Home Renovation

If you’re already opening walls, changing a floor plan, or remodeling your living space, it’s a great time to consider adding or replacing a fireplace. But the fireplace shouldn’t be an afterthought.

The type of fireplace you choose can affect framing, venting, electrical work, gas lines, wall clearances, and even where you mount your TV. Making these decisions early can help your renovation move more smoothly and prevent expensive changes once the walls are finished.

Whether you’re replacing an outdated unit or adding a fireplace to a house that has never had one, here’s what you should know before installation begins.

1. Choose Your Fireplace Before Framing the Wall

One of the most important decisions in a fireplace renovation should be made early: choose the actual fireplace before your contractor finishes framing.

Fireplaces aren’t one-size-fits-all. Different models have specific requirements for framing dimensions, venting, clearances, utilities, and finishing materials.

Choosing your fireplace early gives your contractor the manufacturer’s specifications needed to build the space correctly.

If you’re considering several models, think beyond appearance. Ask yourself:

• How large is the room?
• Do you want the fireplace primarily for heat, ambiance, or both?
• How often will you use it?
• Do you prefer gas, electric, or wood-burning?
• Will a TV be installed above or near it?
• What type of surround or mantel do you want?
• Is there an existing chimney or venting system?

Answering these questions before construction gets too far along can narrow your options considerably.

2. Decide Between Gas, Electric, and Wood-Burning

Your choice of fireplace affects much more than how the finished room looks.

Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces offer convenient operation, realistic flames, and supplemental heat without the work associated with burning and storing firewood.

Installing one may require a gas line, venting, electrical connections, and specific framing. If you’re already renovating, coordinating these requirements while walls are open can be easier than adding them later.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces provide significant design flexibility because they don’t require a chimney or traditional combustion venting.

They’re especially useful for renovations where adding gas lines or extensive venting isn’t practical. Depending on the model, however, you may need a dedicated electrical circuit or other electrical work.

Wood-Burning Fireplaces

For homeowners who want the traditional sights, sounds, and experience of a wood fire, a wood-burning fireplace remains difficult to replicate.

Installation can be more involved because you’ll need to account for the chimney or venting system, hearth, combustible clearances, and other structural considerations.

The best option depends on your home’s construction, renovation plans, heating goals, and how you actually want to use your fireplace.

3. Think Carefully About Fireplace Placement

Where should the fireplace go?

It sounds like a simple design decision, but placement can affect the entire room.

Your fireplace often becomes a natural focal point, so consider how it will interact with:

• Furniture placement
• Windows and doors
• Traffic flow
• Built-in shelving
• Cabinetry
• Television placement
• Outdoor views
• Available wall space

You should also consider how the fireplace looks from adjoining rooms, especially in an open-concept home.

Don’t choose placement based solely on symmetry or appearance. Venting options, gas and electrical access, manufacturer requirements, and your home’s structure can all influence where installation is practical.

4. Match the Fireplace Size to the Room

Bigger isn’t automatically better.

An oversized fireplace can overwhelm a smaller living room, while a small fireplace may look lost on a large feature wall.

Heating needs matter, too. If supplemental heat is important to you, fireplace selection should account for the room’s size and characteristics rather than appearance alone.

Consider:

• Room dimensions
• Ceiling height
• Open versus enclosed floor plans
• Insulation
• Number and size of windows
• Fireplace heat output
• Overall scale of the feature wall

A properly sized fireplace should feel proportional to the room while providing the warmth and ambience you expect.

5. Plan Venting and Utilities Before Closing the Walls

This is one of the biggest reasons to select your fireplace early.

Depending on the fireplace, installation could require gas, electrical, and venting work. Your contractor and fireplace installer need to understand those requirements before drywall and finish materials go up.

A gas fireplace, for example, may require coordination between several trades. An electric fireplace may require electrical service to be installed in a specific location. Wood-burning fireplaces have their own chimney and venting requirements.

Planning these details during the rough construction phase can help prevent finished walls from having to be reopened later.

6. Know the Clearance and Framing Requirements

Every fireplace has specific installation requirements established by its manufacturer.

These can dictate:

• Framing dimensions
• Distance from combustible materials
• Mantel placement
• Hearth requirements
• Venting configuration
• Surround materials
• TV placement

This is why it’s risky to build a fireplace opening based on a picture, general measurement, or fireplace you haven’t actually selected yet.

Choose the model first and build around its specifications.

Proper installation isn’t just about achieving the look you want. Following manufacturer requirements and applicable building codes is essential for safe operation.

7. Decide Whether a TV Will Go Above the Fireplace

If your renovation plans include a TV over the fireplace, make that decision early.

You need to consider both heat and viewing comfort.

A television mounted too high may be uncomfortable to watch, while improper heat management can expose electronics to excessive temperatures.

Depending on the fireplace model and installation, your design may incorporate:

• A mantel
• Heat-management features
• Recessed TV placement
• A separate media wall
• Built-in cabinetry beside the fireplace

Don’t assume every fireplace-and-TV combination works the same way. Follow the requirements of the fireplace and television manufacturers when determining the final layout.

8. Choose Your Surround, Mantel, and Hearth Early

The fireplace itself is only one part of the finished design.

Your surrounding materials determine much of the fireplace’s final appearance. Popular choices include:

• Natural stone
• Stone veneer
• Tile
• Porcelain
• Brick
• Wood accents
• Floating mantels
• Traditional mantels

If you’re creating a modern fireplace makeover, you might prefer clean lines, large-format materials, or a simple floating mantel. More traditional spaces may work better with stone, brick, or a classic mantel profile.

Choosing these finishes early helps your contractor account for material thicknesses, transitions, clearances, and other construction details.

9. Coordinate Your Fireplace Installer and Contractor

During a larger renovation, several professionals may be involved in creating the finished fireplace wall.

That could include your:

• General contractor
• Fireplace installer
• Electrician
• Plumber or gas professional
• Carpenter
• Mason or tile installer

Good communication between these trades matters.

The fireplace’s specifications should guide the construction rather than forcing the fireplace to fit into whatever space is left after framing.

Before work begins, make sure everyone involved knows the exact fireplace model and has access to its installation requirements.

When Should a Fireplace Be Installed During a Renovation?

The exact timeline depends on the fireplace and scope of your project, but planning should begin well before finishing work.

A typical process may look something like this:

1. Select the fireplace. Choose your model based on room size, fuel type, heating needs, and design goals.
2. Review installation requirements. Confirm framing, venting, gas, electrical, clearance, and hearth requirements.
3. Coordinate with your contractor. Make sure everyone involved is working from the correct manufacturer specifications.
4. Complete rough framing and utilities. Prepare the opening and necessary connections.
5. Install the fireplace and venting components. Follow the manufacturer’s installation requirements and applicable codes.
6. Complete the surrounding wall. Install stone, tile, cabinetry, mantels, or other finishes after the fireplace requirements have been addressed.

The important point isn’t simply when the physical fireplace goes into the wall. It’s when you make the decision.

The earlier you select your fireplace, the easier it is to design the renovation around it.

Common Fireplace Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

A little planning can prevent some surprisingly expensive problems.

Watch out for these common mistakes:

Waiting Until the End to Choose a Fireplace

You may discover that the fireplace you want doesn’t fit the opening your contractor already built.

Designing Around Looks Alone

A beautiful fireplace still needs to meet your heating, installation, and everyday-use needs.

Forgetting About Venting

Venting requirements can influence fireplace placement and construction, particularly with gas and wood-burning models.

Ignoring TV Height

Designing an enormous fireplace wall without considering comfortable TV placement can leave you staring upward every time you watch a movie.

Assuming Every Material Can Go Next to the Fireplace

Finishing materials must meet the requirements of the fireplace manufacturer and installation.

Choosing the Wrong Size

Consider both the room’s physical dimensions and your heating expectations before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing a Fireplace During a Renovation

Can you add a fireplace to a house that doesn’t have one?

Yes. Depending on your home’s construction and available utilities, gas, electric, and wood-burning options may be possible. Electric fireplaces can be particularly flexible because they don’t require traditional combustion venting.

Should I choose my fireplace before starting construction?

Ideally, yes. Selecting the specific model early gives your contractor accurate framing, clearance, venting, and utility requirements.

Is it easier to install a fireplace during a renovation?

A renovation can provide an ideal opportunity because walls may already be open, and contractors are already coordinating framing, electrical work, gas lines, and finish materials. The complexity will still depend on the fireplace and your home’s construction.

Do all fireplaces need a chimney?

No. Traditional wood-burning fireplaces generally require an appropriate chimney or venting system, but many gas fireplaces use other approved venting configurations. Electric fireplaces don’t require combustion venting.

Can I put a TV above my new fireplace?

Often, yes, but it depends on the fireplace, installation method, heat management, clearances, and television requirements. Plan the fireplace and TV together rather than treating them as separate projects.

Planning a Renovation? Choose Your Fireplace Before the Walls Go Up

A home renovation gives you an opportunity to rethink how your fireplace looks, performs, and fits into your everyday life. The key is making those decisions while you still have flexibility.

Choose your fireplace early, understand its installation requirements, and ensure your contractor and fireplace professionals work from the same plan. Doing so can make it much easier to achieve the finished fireplace you envisioned without unnecessary changes later in the project.

If you’re remodeling your home on Long Island, visit The Fireplace Factory showroom in Bohemia or Bellmore, NY, before framing your new fireplace wall. You can compare gas, electric, and wood-burning fireplaces in person and speak with our team about sizing, installation requirements, venting, and design options before your renovation gets too far along.

Planning ahead can help you choose a fireplace that doesn’t just fit the opening. It fits your home.