A prefab fireplace is a one that has been manufactured and assembled in a factory before being transported and installed at a job site. Most prefab fireplaces work with manufactured gas burning logs. These logs resemble a natural log, but they are ceramic and equipped with gas lines running through them.

Typically a woodstove will not fit within the original opening for a zero-clearance fireplace and still meet safe fire clearance distances unless it is quite small and unless adequate heat shielding can be installed. And it certainly won’t fit into a fireplace insert that were left in place.

You can only fit a wood burner in your fireplace if it has a class 1 chimney. If you had an open solid fuel fire previously, this should be the case anyway! If you are replacing a gas fire, check to make sure it isn’t a class 2 or pre-cast flue, as these won’t be suitable for a stove.

In general, the cost of prefabricated fireplaces range from $1,000 on the low end up and up to $4,000 on the high end, although there are a few prefabricated units out there that cost more….Fireplace Cost.

20 to 30 years

While prefab fireplaces are extensively tested at the factory for safety, they must be installed correctly to be safe in your home. Be sure that replacement parts are made for your specific fireplace, as some prefab fireplaces burn wood while others burn gas or both wood and gas.

It is also a good idea to have a prefabricated fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned by a certified chimney sweep once a year. When burning a fire in a prefabricated fireplace, it is important to keep a careful eye on it and make sure that it does not get too hot.

Homeowners that fail to replace a factory-built fireplace when it reaches the end of life risk the potential for injury and fire from worn out parts and components. During a factory-built fireplace replacement, the entire unit is completely removed from the surround and a brand new unit is inserted in its place.

17 Fireplace Remodel Ideas

1. Add Glass Fireplace Doors. A cozy fire on a cold night is a delight.
2. Get Your Firebrick in Shape.
3. Install a Mantel.
4. Opt for a Salvaged Mantel.
5. Add a Gas Fireplace.
6. Put in a Fireplace Insert.
7. Tile a Hearth.
8. Choose the Right Tiles.

1. Inspect the facing around the fireplace to determine your course of action in removing the surrounding structure.
2. Pry three-board facing from the wall with a pry bar.
3. Pulverize existing tile with a hammer.
4. Bore through mortar and brick around the perimeter of the prefab fireplace with the reciprocating saw.

Take the wood stove and metal pipe to a metal recycling firm. If you are unable to haul the stove away yourself, contact one of the many people who advertise on the Internet free-listing services who will come and pick it up for you without charge. They earn their money from the scrap metal value of the appliance.

Start by shutting off the gas to your home at the main valve so there’s no chance of a leak. Take a crowbar and remove the trim around the insert. When you can access the gas line, remove it as well. Then, carefully wiggle the insert out of the fireplace and remove it.