Fireplaces

Do you remember not long ago, that people would laugh at anyone with an electric - fake fireplace?
"Ugh! So tacky," they'd sniff and roll their eyes.
My honey and I went looking for a wood burning fireplace for the Sweetwater barn house so we'd know what size footer to have poured. We walked out of our local fireplace store in shock.
The insert - similar, but not nearly as nice or large as the one pictured - was $5,000.00. Uh-huh. Five grand for just the insert (the little black part).
No mantle.
No outside cover work over the pipe, as in rock, stucco or wood.
No inside work such as drywall or marble.
No hearth.
No kidding!
The EPA has cracked down on emissions, so guess what? Now electric, fake fireplaces are popping up everywhere again. Those laughable electric logs?
Yes, new and a sometimes improved.
Anyway, today we ended up buying a nice wood-burning pre-fab fireplace. We've been pleased with the ones we've had in the past.
The FP, chimney kit and very nice nickel plated, thick glass doors came in under $422.00. The squirrel cage blower that moves the heat into the home is on order. It's a little over $100. That's about 1/10 the cost.
All made right here in the U.S.A. too. Yay!
At this price, we may end up with a fireplace in the bedroom too. Double yay!