Can I Actually Replace My Fireplace? 

It’s a common scenario—I’m chatting with a friend, neighbor, stranger, or a homeowner visiting our showroom (and we’re about to become friends) when they say, “Wait a second, I can actually replace my fireplace? I thought that was structural?” It’s understandable for people to make this assumption, given the thousands of years humanity spent building fireplaces out of brick and mortar. How can you blame them?

But the truth is, most fireplaces can be replaced similarly to any other home appliance.

And that’s when we at Rettinger Fireplace get fired up, and we go on a mission, which is “to excite and educate new friends about the potential of a cozier gathering space.” So I’ll follow up with, “Not only can you replace your fireplace, but you can make it a real focal point, beyond the builder-grade or dated look you’ve been settling for.” And then, tongue-in-cheek, I’ll hit them with, “And did you ever realize that the word REPLACE is in the word FIREPLACE?” [Mind blown]

Most Fireplaces Are Appliances

For homes built after 1980, there’s a strong chance the fireplace is simply an appliance in a wood-framed enclosure—and if your home is over 20 years old, it’s likely that your fireplace is growing tired, and it’s time to be replaced. After all, the home has likely seen some updates in the past few years. Would you ever consider completing a kitchen remodel and then putting the 20-year-old dishwasher back in? I doubt it—so why complete updates to the room, or even the surrounding mantel/brick on the fireplace, without considering getting the latest and greatest fireplace installed before you entomb the old fireplace for good? It’s amazing how many folks come into our showroom looking to have us update their mantel/design and, after speaking with our staff and seeing the potential of a cozier, updated fireplace, eagerly choose to capitalize on the opportunity to replace their fireplace during the design update. It gives us joy to guide new friends to this realization.

Fireplaces Have Come A LONG Way Since 1995

Gas fireplaces have come a long way—from efficiency and improving room air quality to clean lines with authentic flames/embers, and even full-feature remotes with thermostats/timers, variable temperature/flame, quiet circulating fans, and illuminating light kits. Homeowners are truly impressed by how authentic and advanced the new fireplace models are. Even electric fireplaces have made huge strides in recent years, allowing you to enjoy the fireplace ambiance all year round, independent of the space heater function. Factory-built wood-burning fireplaces have a lifespan, too—and any metal appliance, even with stainless components, will eventually rust out and fail, which can pose safety concerns.

Rettinger Is Your Concierge

With knowledgeable Fireplace Specialists, in-house design-build Custom Shop craftsmen, Certified Installation Crews, and the coordination of a fine-tuned Customer Experience Team, Rettinger is your Concierge provider for fireplace replacements, remodels, and add-ons. We will manage every stage of the process, from conception to completion, alongside permits/inspections. Rettinger is a single-contractor solution because you’re busy and probably aren’t a GC (and if you are, we would love to sub for you).

How To Get Started? Begin With The End In Mind

The first habit from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is “Begin with the end in mind,” and the Rettinger Team lives by this virtue. So we recommend dreaming big by browsing our online catalogues and even something you find on Instagram or in a magazine, taking some photos of your existing fireplace, and then sharing these with our team. You can text them to 856-783-5501 or bring them to our showroom. Don’t worry about “Will this work in my space?”—remember, DREAM BIG and let our staff provide a step-by-step Concierge Plan to get the fireplace of your dreams!