When planning the construction of a new home there are many decisions to make but none more important than the fireplace designs. With the exception of a few others, most of the decisions that are made involving the decor of the home can be easily altered after final construction. Not so when it comes to the fireplace. The fireplaces will be prominent focal points in any rooms they occupy and require the utmost, sometimes agonizing, attention to detail.

When considering the fireplace design, you must remember that there are two elements to consider. Those being the heating element and visual element. The first consideration must be the type of fuel you will use in the fireplace. While many, like myself, first think of the warmth from a hot burning wood fire when we envision a fireplace, others are not fond of the lingering odor of smoke in the house even after the last dying embers wane. Thus, gas logs may be a choice for those of you who feel this way to consider.

Also, there are now free standing electric fireplaces available that do an adequate job of simulating a real fire. If you choose an electric fireplace, then your worries are over. You just need to locate the unit within reach of an electrical receptacle and you are ready to go. If a gas log fireplace is your choice, then you want to decide whether to construct a non-vented fireplace or a traditional vented fireplace. Since no chimney is necessary, a non-vented fireplace can be located anywhere within the residence where a gas line can be run. However, once you choose the non-vented fireplace you will not be able to reconsider and start burning wood.

If you elect to burn wood, then you will need to decide what type of fireplace you will construct. Your choices are a prefabricated fireplace utilizing metal duct or the more traditional masonry fireplace. The prefab fireplaces are utilized in many new homes, do a great job, and are less expensive than the other option. However, the masonry fireplace has proven to heat better and last for many, many years. Also, if the chimney will be visual from outside the home, the masonry chimney is a much more attractive feature in my opinion.

Once the heating side of your fireplace design is complete, it is time to move on to the element most people will notice when first entering a room. The visual element of any fireplace will normally set the tone for the rest of the decor in a room. When considering the visual parts of the fireplace, your first decision will involve the material in which the fireplace will faced. Your choices primarily will be to leave the fireplace faced with sheet rock like the rest of the wall space in the room, or you may utilize brick, tile, marble, granite, stone or possibly a myriad of other materials of which I am likely unaware.

The final design features of the fireplace involve the type of hearth and construction of the mantle. Will the hearth be level with the floor or will it be raised. Some feel a raised hearth is a distraction while others utilize is as a place to sit and soak up the warmth of the fire. Finally, the mantle is to a fireplace much like icing is to a cake. It adds that final touch that makes it the treat that we all enjoy. There are many options available when it comes to a mantle and I will not even begin to attempt to cover those here. Do some research on the Internet and tour the new homes under construction in your area for some great mantle ideas.

Lastly, the most important decision when designing a fireplace. Hire a trades person that really knows the ins and outs of fireplace and chimney construction. If your local building department will discuss these type matters, this would be a good place to start. Otherwise, ask a few builders in your area for their recommendation. After all, they deal with this issue on an ongoing basis and will likely know the best. Following these recommendations will result in fireplace designs that will provide the many years of warmth and visual pleasure you desire for many years to come.

Every area has influences that drive the local architecture. The local climate, both literally and economically, are the main driving forces. Tampa home architects must understand and respond to those forces.

With the individual client, economic forces can be boiled down to the client’s budget and design requirements.

Purchasing a home in a residential tract, generally speaking, saves on budget. A contractor doing a residential tract can send his contractors from site to site with very little ‘down time’. Since the subcontractor’s job from site to site is repetitive, he/ she can purchase materials in bulk, further saving on budget. Building completion is usually quicker than in the custom home for many of the same reasons. The ‘Florida style’ is arguably a result of more tract homes. Floor plans are often more ‘basic’ in tract homes. The entry ‘look’ very often is dominated by a raised, sometimes arched entry element and by garage doors. Foam surrounds highlight window areas and, as with some custom designs, stucco is the covering of choice. Stucco is a very versatile, climate appropriate enclosure material for both tract and custom homes in or near Tampa. A larger budget for design and construction usually translates into a custom design/ custom home.

Whether tract or custom, Tampa home architects should attend to climate concerns. Coastal areas are, in general, more subject to wind and storm surge damage than interior areas. Building departments in the higher risk areas require, for example, that windows and doors be ’impact resistant’. Impact resistant (resistant to flying debris) windows and doors are, as expected, quite expensive as compared to the non- impact variety. Hip roofs are considered less of a risk and more structurally stable than gable end roofs in high winds. All areas require (metal) connectors from roof trusses to exterior wall and from exterior wall to the foundation. These metal connectors are relatively cheap and fortify the house to a large degree against wind damage.

Water intrusion and mold damage are locally addressed by correct waterproofing systems and use of mold resistant building materials. Wood frame construction at the lower levels is especially vulnerable to mold issues, hence exclusively wood framed homes are not the norm in Florida. Termites and other pests are generally more attracted to wood frame construction. Exterior wood doors are not as common a vinyl or aluminum doors. Masonry construction is a good choice for exterior framing, and is more common. Refer to my website for discussions on framing with ’SIP’ (structural insulated panels). ‘SIP’ is also mold resistant, termite resistant, and has a very high insulation factor and may be the ’up and coming’ building material of choice in the years to come.

The use of efficient and ‘locally appropriate’ climate controls systems are important for not only comfort, but for the ’war against mold’. To those ends, correctly designed mechanical systems keep moisture down and comfort up in our warm, moist climate. Higher ceilings are energy efficient in that cool air stays low. Fans are fairly common in Tampa architecture. Air movement makes a slightly higher thermostat setting very tolerable. Use of traditional skylights and ’solatube’ skylights can help reduce lighting costs and make the living spaces more pleasant. Passive solar techniques, when possible, can give a great ‘leg up’ on reducing home energy costs.

Commercial buildings have commercial interests, so the trick is to build them in such a way that they cost less without compromising on quality. Steel achieves precisely this. In fact, there are significant savings for businesses that go steel apart from just the construction costs. How?

Well, for starters, steel helps you go green, so you are building an ethical business right from the first brick. You have a direct edge over your competitors and this can in fact be the distinguishing point for your business.

Steel buildings are fireproof, which means lesser costs in insurance premiums and also guaranteed safety of your staff and workers. Businesses that care for their employees are obviously successful, and you can do this using steel.

Steel buildings also involve a much reduced heating and cooling costs during summers and winters and keep the interiors at a moderate temperature. You may not realize this now, but it translates to really huge savings over a period of time by reducing your heating and cooling costs. This shows up each time you pay your electricity and gas bills.

Steel buildings are also easy to maintain which means just to refurbish or clean them up, you don’t need to spend a fortune. In fact, simply water and soap can complete 90% of the cleaning process of your building!

On the quality front, there is no denying that steel gives you the strongest and most elegant structures. You can customize the designs the way you want to make your commercial steel building look elegant, professional and distinguish yourself from the rest of the crowd.