Before & After

Here are a series of photos that could give you some ideas of what can be done to change an existing fireplace.

A complete renovation with one, easy-to-install step... Every Stoll ReFace™ is unique; engineered to completely cover your wood or gas manufactured fireplace by custom-sizing the frame and the louvers to fit perfectly. You can design your own unique ReFace from our selection of styles, colors, finishes and options. The result will be a complete make-over that suits your taste and fits your fireplace perfectly.

The BEFORE picture is a BIS Security hi-efficiency fireplace that was installed with a full brick face in 1987. The owner wanted to update the look and increase the size and burn time of the fireplace. The Quadrafire 7100 fireplace was a good candidate for this remodel. The 7100 fireplace would fit the same framing depth as the old fireplace and in addition a heat zone kit was added to the new fireplace to blow heat into the basement. In addition a return air system for the fireplace blower was used. This allows the fireplace blower to draw air from the back portion of the home which in turn helps draw the heat from the fireplace thru out the home.

BEFORE	Fig. 1	Fig. 2	Fig. 3	AFTER

Fig. 1 shows the Quadrafire 7100 fireplace as it is being installed. All of the brick down to the subfloor has been removed as well as the old fireplace and existing flue pipe. The new fireplace has been installed along with the additional outside air venting, blower return air pipe and heat zone kit.

Fig. 2 & 3 show details of the heat zone kit that comes off the top of the unit and goes down under the hearth into the basement. The heat zone kit consists of a heat register, in this case in the ceiling of the basement, with a variable speed blower in it. It will raise the temperature of the basement 4-6 degrees after several hours of running.

The AFTER photo is the completed installation. The fireplace now has a new Centurion stone front and a new custom made quarter sawn oak mantle. Note that there are now no heat registers above the mantle as in the before photo. This allows more versatility in decorating the mantle area.

Below is a wider view of the installation Note to the left of the fireplace is a Harman XXV pellet stove. Also notice that the fireplace and the pellet stove have been repainted Golden Fire Brown rather than the customary standard black. This bronze like color compliments the color of the stone and warm earth tone colors in the room.

The home owner reports that the fireplace is currently heating this entire 1500 sq ft home even in the coldest of winter without using the whole house furnace. It accepts logs from 23” to 27” long and will hold a fire up to 12 hours on a single load of wood. There is no need for a fire grate, the logs burn directly on the firebrick floor. Another option not shown for this fireplace is a detachable fire screen for open viewing.

7100 Quadrafire fireplace installation in an existing alcove

BEFORE	Fig. 1	Fig. 2	Fig. 3

Here is a view before the project was started. When the home was originally built, a fireplace had been planned for but not installed. Instead there was just an alcove created along with a passageway called a chimney chase to run the flue pipe thru.

Fig. 1 is a photo of the unit installed before the wall is closed up. Notice that a platform to raise the unit has been built and the flue pipe is connected. Electrical wiring has been run for the blower at this stage.

Fig. 2 - At this stage the fireplace has been covered over with drywall and the metal mesh called lath has been screwed to the wall and hearth in preparation for the stone to mortared onto. Notice the board to mount the mantel has been attached to the wall and an electrical wire is in place to put an electrical outlet above the mantel. I suggest an outlet be installed above any mantel to be used for holidays lighting and decorations.

Fig. 3 - Stoning is now in process. The stones are mortared on the back side and applied to the wall. After this stage, mortar is put between the joints, allowed to set and then raked and smoothed to create the mortar joint.

Above is the completed project. This fireplace has the “Mission Hill” face front with the nickel accented doors. Note the mortar joints are not completely cured, in several days they completely lighten in color and dry out.

Zero Clearance Fireplace Reface Doors
A complete fireplace renovation in one, easy-to-install step.

BEFORE Pictured here is a direct vent gas fireplace in our showroom. We have taken a simple inexpensive gas fireplace like you may have in your own home and upgraded the appearance reface door that is simple to install with a magnetic mounting system.	AFTER The reface door show here has a arch window pane design and the finish is Bronzed Iron. These doors can be custom made in any size and finish to match your existing fireplace. Every reface door is unique: specially made for each fireplace by custom-sizing the frame and louvers to fit perfectly. The rare earth magnets allow the frame to attach firmly and easily. Transform your “black box” into a showpiece!

Buck 18 Fireplace Insert in a 42” prefab fireplace

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig 3.
BEFORE	AFTER
(Fig. 1) Typical 42” prefab fireplace with factory glass doors. This fireplace commonly found in the St. Louis Missouri area is a good candidate for a Buck 18 fireplace insert from Hechler’s Hearth & Home.	(Fig. 2 & 3) This shows a Buck 18 fireplace insert put into the same fireplace. The glass doors were removed, insert put into the opening and connected to a stainless steel flex liner run up the existing flue all the way to the top. New trim panels were made for the top and bottom of the fireplace.
BEFORE AFTER Typical 36”prefab builder grade fireplace   Fireplace updated with a high efficiency Buck Model 18 Fireplace Insert with nickel plated door. Now this fireplace can heat up to 1200 sq ft of living space.   Stoll Heat Champion installed in a full masonry fireplace BEFORE AFTER Full masonry fireplace Stoll Heat Champion installed. This “hybrid” combines a custom glass door and a heat exchanger with a blower creating a fireplace of beauty and efficiency. This unit requires no modification to the fireplace and not liner for the chimney!
BEFORE Here is a typical 1970’s-1980’s inefficient prefab fireplace with and antique brass door. The customer considered removing the glass door and putting a modern fireplace insert into the existing opening.	AFTER After weighing the options, the decision was made to totally remove the entire fireplace, flue pipe, brick and mantel and replace it with a new modern design in the same opening. Shown here is the completed project, with a new Lennox Montecito high efficiency fireplace, a new Pearl Classique Mantel and new tile.
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig 3.
BEFORE	AFTER
(Fig. 1) Old style antique brass fireplace door on full masonry fireplace	(Fig. 2 ) New Stoll Heat Champion Door with built in blower and heat exchanger (Fig. 3) New Stoll Heat Champion with door open showing cooking grate and swing arm cooking pot
Gas Contemporary Vent Free Fireplace
BEFORE	AFTER
Sun room with a hot tub	Hot tub removed, floor lowered and seating created around a new Empire Vent Free Loft series gas fireplace
BEFORE Superior BC36 prefab wood burning fireplace with brick surround	AFTER Kozy Heat Chaska direct vent gas insert put into existing wood burning prefab fireplace opening. This gas conversion allows greater heating efficiency, the addition of a blower and convenience of a thermostatic remote control. Direct Vent technology is a sealed system that does not allow the heat from the home to escape up the flue.
Completed Projects
Quadrafire 7100 fireplace installed and shown with a Pearl Auburn mantel.	This is a Quadrafire Castile pellet burning fireplace insert that has been installed into a 42” Superior prefab fireplace. To accomplish this, the existing fireplace floor had to be cut out and removed to make the opening taller to allow the unit to slip inside. This is a permanent modification and the fireplace cannot be reconverted back to wood burning. A 4” stainless steel flue liner was attached to the pellet insert and then run to the top of the existing wood burning flue. Note this insert has been repainted Goldenfire Brown from its original black color. This softens the look and matches the earth tone colors in the room.

Vermont Castings Defiant 2 in 1 Wood Burning Stove in Majolica Brown Enamel and optional warming shelves	View of chimney going out the wall and up the outside of the home.