Anne Markstein may design contemporary fireplaces for her clients, but as for herself, she likes the "real McCoy" - wood, wood, wood.
"I insisted on a wood-burning fireplace," the interior designer said. "If a fireplace doesn't burn wood, it's like sitting in front of a stove watching it cook. Wood is more fun."
Markstein, who's upgrading and designing several fireplaces for clients, as well as at her own home in northern Baltimore County, says love of a fireplace taps into man's primitive roots.
"It goes back to the cave days," she said. "I've never met someone who wants to give up a fireplace when renovating their house. The fireplace never leaves - and many people add them."
While Markstein has plenty of wood-loving company, others are just as zealous about firing up with natural gas, compressed-wood pellets or electricity. The $3 billion hearth industry is hot, with more high-tech varieties than ever.
"It's O'Hare airport here," said Ralph Baumgardner, owner of Baumgardner's of Westminster, who said the fireplace industry brings in 70 percent of its income between August and January.
Better technology and a wider variety of products have made it tougher for homeowners to choose a fireplace. How much to pay? What about energy conservation as well as the cost of fuel, safety and design?
According to the National Association of Home Builders, 78 percent of all new homes built in 1950 did not have a fireplace. Last year, that number dropped to 39 percent.
But understanding various products is the first step in determining what to build or purchase. A consumer can choose from the following:
Masonry fireplace: These are aesthetically pleasing, but often are not energy efficient. The flue of a masonry fireplace allows warm indoor air to escape up the chimney. Conventional masonry fireplaces can lose 80 percent to 100 percent of their heat, plus 10 percent of the heat already in the room.
Wood stoves: These firebox appliances sit on the floor, usually away from the wall, although some of the newer models may now be placed as close as 8 inches from the wall.
Fireplace inserts: They are different from a traditional brick or masonry fireplace. An insert is basically a wood stove designed to fit into a conventional fireplace. Inserts are usually made from plate steel or cast iron and have glass doors so you can see the flames.
