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Fireplaces: Natural Vs Gas

post #1 of 37
10/25/09 at 12:49am
Thread Starter 
What do you prefer?

I like natural. It's more attractive, and much like a brush/DE shave, I appreciate and enjoy the extra time and effort that goes into it. Many cold mornings as a child I was willing to out into the yard wearing my robe just to gather kindling. Gas is obviously more convenient, but it's something I associate with McMansions. The wood never looks real either. It's very ugly when it's not lit.
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post #2 of 37
10/25/09 at 12:54am
We currently have wood burning. I love the crackle and pop, the scent of juniper, etc. But it's a pain in the ass. You have to tend the fire, add logs, poke it, etc. You have to buy and store the cord wood. You have clean out the ashes and get your chimney done every few years. I much prefer the actual fire of natural, but it has drawbacks.

Gas can be done well. Forget fake logs, go with decorative glass or silica sands. They're no muss, no fuss. Our home plans (which might never get built) calls for a double sided gas fire place in the master suite (faces the soaking tub and the sleeping quarters). It will have a timer and remote control, so perfect for going to sleep with it on just have it turn itself off.
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post #3 of 37
10/25/09 at 1:25am
Agree with Piobare. Just got home and its after midnight. Click on the remote and I have a fire. Really don't want to go outside and get everything to start a real fire.
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post #4 of 37
10/26/09 at 7:49am
What about the ones with gas that you use to start real logs? Our old house had that and it saved the effort of having to start natural, but you got the nice look, sound, etc of natural.

K
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post #5 of 37
10/26/09 at 9:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VKK3450 View Post
What about the ones with gas that you use to start real logs? Our old house had that and it saved the effort of having to start natural, but you got the nice look, sound, etc of natural.

K

We have one of these outside off of our back deck, and it's a godsend. Even I can start and keep a fire going.

Inside the house its natural gas all the way. Of course, I'd prefer to have the sound of a natural fire, but give me the convenience, lack of ash smell, and low maintenance of natural gas.
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post #6 of 37
10/26/09 at 5:58pm
Natural only... paying for wood!?
Go grab a dead log from the woods and split it yourself!
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post #7 of 37
10/26/09 at 6:25pm
I prefer natural but, even with the modern, enclosed, gas units I'm not a fan of what i does to the utility bill.
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post #8 of 37
10/26/09 at 6:35pm
Gas= One step up from the infamous "Fireplace Video"
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post #9 of 37
10/26/09 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VKK3450 View Post
What about the ones with gas that you use to start real logs? Our old house had that and it saved the effort of having to start natural, but you got the nice look, sound, etc of natural.

K

We have one of these too. Its great. You have both options. Also, if the wood is a little wet or has snow on it, you can still get it light in about 5 minutes.
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post #10 of 37
10/26/09 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yachtie View Post
Gas= One step up from the infamous "Fireplace Video"




Real fireplaces are 100x better. It's a much more satisfying experience. They can give off a lot more heat and I actually enjoy the smell, in moderation.

That said, one of my favorite fireplaces ever was gas. Imagine a huge monolithic wall of onyx, hollow on the inside, with a long line of fire from one side to the other, that you can approach on two sides. It's at the Hotel St-Paul in Montreal and i absolutely love that thing.
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post #11 of 37
10/26/09 at 8:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Real fireplaces are 100x better. It's a much more satisfying experience. They can give off a lot more heat and I actually enjoy the smell, in moderation.

A traditional wood fireplace, with an open hearth, is a heat-sucking monster: more heat is sucked out of the room/house and up the flue than is provided by the combustion.

When one starts to close off the front, to maximize the net heat output, one loses the smell of the fire and the romantic sounds. You might as well just put in a good gas unit.

(From a guy who heated a 2000 square foot house with wood for five years.)
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post #12 of 37
10/26/09 at 9:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post
A traditional wood fireplace, with an open hearth, is a heat-sucking monster: more heat is sucked out of the room/house and up the flue than is provided by the combustion.

When one starts to close off the front, to maximize the net heat output, one loses the smell of the fire and the romantic sounds. You might as well just put in a good gas unit.

(From a guy who heated a 2000 square foot house with wood for five years.)

Our house was 3000 square feet, biatch. I still say wood is 100x better.
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post #13 of 37
10/26/09 at 9:50pm
Having dealt with both, I have to say I prefer gas. With gas, I can enjoy a fire every day, instantly. With a classic fireplace, the pain in the ass associated with building the fire and maintaining it generally prevents me from doing anything at all.

If someone else is starting, building, and maintaining your fire, then go with classic.
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post #14 of 37
10/26/09 at 9:53pm
Central heating for warmth. Open wood fire for occasional ambiance.
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post #15 of 37
10/26/09 at 10:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustinW View Post
Central heating for warmth. Open wood fire for occasional ambiance.

+1

and wood fires have sentimental value for me.. as a young'un curled up in one corner of the couch, a book, the dog beside me, and an open wood fire in front of me.. one of the happiest memories The scent takes me back allmost instantly..
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