Masonry Magazine November 2008 Page. 34
FIREPLACES & CHIMNEYS
Outdoors, the popularity of outside living spaces is fueling a demand for outdoor fireplaces. "The big trend is using the patio as sort of an extra room in the home, so we're seeing people using fireplaces in an outdoor setting," Jure says.
More efficient fireplaces
CHIMNEY CAPS and heat circulators make fireplaces more energy efficient. White-caps in Monroe, N.C., a manufacturer and distributor, offers more than 2,600 chimney cap options, including stainless steel and copper. "They are very quick and easy to install," says Gary Chambers, sales and technical director for Whitecaps. "It should take less than an hour to put on the cap. Just put four panels together, sink the tapcons, and put the cap on."
The caps cover the entire chimney opening, not just the flue. "With a chimney cap, you're going to get a better life out of your chimney. It's going to keep rain and critters out. Your investment is going to pay for itself," Chambers says, noting that masonry contractors should install the caps when building the chimneys. "It seems to be a logical extension of what they're already doing."
K&W Manufacturing offers steel heat circulators that pull in cool air from the room and send fireplace-heated air back out, Jure says. "Heat circulators capture more of the heating energy that would normally go up the chimney," Jure says.
Whitecaps chimney cap
The company also makes steel throat dampers that close off the chimney when it's not in use, keeping heat from escaping and saving homeowners money.
Helping masons profit
WHAT MASONRY CONTRACTORS really want to know is whether they can make money in the fireplace business. The simple answer is, "Yes."
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