No matter how humble, a fireplace adds character and ambiance to a room and often becomes its focal point, especially when a warm fire is glowing on a cold night. Realtors tell us the addition of a wood-burning fireplace in a house will increase its value, so the investment will pay back if you want to add one. If your room is small, a large masonry unit won't work, but a prefabricated metal, zero-clearance fireplace takes a minimum amount of space and can be safely placed near wood framing.

A contractor will charge $1,859 to install a prefabricated, zero-clearance fireplace and chimney. While a handy homeowner can buy the unit for $1,000 and may have the skills to install it, we think adding a fireplace is definitely a job best left to a professional to guarantee that the unit is properly installed and meets local code requirements. For safety's sake, there's no room for error. Someone skilled in carpentry could do the finish work and install a new mantel, but leave the installation of the fireplace and chimney to a pro who can suggest where to locate the unit and knows how to comply with code requirements.

Another type of fireplace to consider that's less difficult to install is a vent-free gas or electric unit. Neither requires a chimney, so the installation is less complicated.

PROJECT NOTES

Cost: PRO: $1,859 | Time: 16.1 hours

Cost: DIY: $1,000 | Time: 37.5 hours