Wood Fireplaces, Stoves & Inserts
for Des Moines & Central Iowa

TRADITIONAL OPEN FIREPLACES

Traditional masonry open fireplaces were once commonplace, and are often still found in homes built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Factory or builder grade open fireplaces replaced masonry fireplaces in homes built after 1950. Although open fireplaces may invoke nostalgia, they are often no longer in good condition and are not safe to operate. Additionally, when burning a fire in an open fireplace, heat is lost up the chimney rather than gained in the home. That is why we recommend high-efficiency or clean-burning fireplaces instead of traditional open fireplaces. If you have a traditional open fireplace, please do contact a reputable chimney sweep to check and clean your fireplace regularly. Or consider installation of a wood or gas insert.

HIGH-EFFICIENCY FIREPLACES

High-efficiency fireplaces are designed to provide beautiful woodburning ambience that provides heat, rather than depletes it. They are designed with tight-fitting gasketed doors, thermal mass, and convective chambers to increase energy and heat output to 75% or higher. They are both clean-burning and efficient, and most are equipped with fans that help to distribute heat even further. If renovating your home with a new addition, doing extensive remodeling, or building a new home, and you would like to have a woodburning fireplace, these are excellent options to explore. Please be aware that you will need to have your contractor complete framing prior to installation, and finishing after installation, for the fireplace.

CLEAN-BURNING FIREPLACES

Clean-burning fireplaces provide optimal fire-watching enjoyment, with less consideration for heat output. Stylish, many have options such as guillotine doors and large glass viewing area. These fireplaces do not have the heat output like high-efficiency models. If heating your home is not a major consideration, and you want to enjoy a clean-burning wood fire in an elegantly designed unit, consider a clean-burning fireplace.

For questions or more information please email or call us at (515) 255-9231.

Wood stoves come in various styles from around the world including contemporary, Danish modern, soap stone, steel, and cast iron. Various sizes are available to provide heat output appropriate for the size of your home. Fans are an addition that can help circulate heat throughout your living space. We consult with our clients to ensure their wood stove is optimally placed within the home.

For questions or more information please email or call us at (515) 255-9231.

Wood inserts are designed to be installed in existing masonry fireplaces. High-efficiency wood inserts are designed to provide beautiful woodburning ambience that provides heat, rather than deplete it. They are designed with tight-fitting gasketed doors, thermal mass, and convective chambers to increase energy and heat output to 75% or higher. Most are equipped with fans that help to distribute heat even further. They are both clean-burning and efficient.

For questions or more information please email or call us at (515) 255-9231.