The basics – fireplace as a feel-good zone and focal point of the living space

A fireplace requires a certain amount of expertise that should not be underestimated. Especially when deciding which fireplace is the right one for your home, you should inform yourself in detail about the different types of fireplaces and how they are used.

General knowledge of fireplaces – flue, emission values & the ecological balance sheet

First of all, you should know that every fireplace needs a flue. Without a flue, also a chimney, a fireplace is not a fireplace. The absolute exception are bioethanol fireplaces, but since these do not cause smoke and therefore do not require a flue, they are strictly speaking not considered a fireplace. The district chimney sweep clarifies what a flue has to look like. He is also responsible for the acceptance of the finished fireplace. If you want to install a chimney in the house you have bought, you must first find out exactly whether a flue was installed during construction. If this is not the case, the whole thing is more difficult than thought and they may have to resort to an outdoor vent.

Tip! Heating system in comparison

Save up to 55% costs (heat energy)? Tip! Not only already, but practically? Save energy with the heating system in your property. Use the next time for renovation or your upcoming new building. Here you will find our guide heating systems: solar, oil, gas, heat pump, pellets in comparison and as extra, state subsidies. Continue reading here:

• Heating system: comparison

Fireplace in modern condominium(Berlin):

Fireplace integration country house(Mallorca)

The next question is whether to choose a fireplace with or without a door. This has not only optical differences but is crucial for the functionality of the fireplace. To use a fireplace without a door only for the purpose of the crackling effect is far from modern and should be avoided not only for the protection of the environment but also for your own health. These fireplaces have not only a shocking fine dust emission but also a very bad ecological balance. Because of this, it will no longer be permitted to own a fireplace without a door from 2024. By then, a fireplace must not only have a door and a filter against fine dust, but also proper emission values. This is prescribed by the regulation BImSchV (Federal Immission Control Ordinance). So if you are thinking about a fireplace now, you don’t need to consider a version without a door. Fortunately, there are still great alternatives to not lose the crackling effect.

Fireplace models – a question of taste & functionality

There are many different fireplace models, but when choosing a fireplace, you should not limit yourself to the visual aspect and also consider the different functions of a fireplace. Which fireplace model best suits your property therefore depends on many different factors and your requirements.

Glass fireplace – cosiness factor and campfire atmosphere

Of course, the rule with fireplaces is ‘the more you see of the fire, the higher the cosiness factor’. Therefore, a glass fireplace is a great alternative to a fireplace without a door, as it has almost the same effect. A glass fireplace looks most cosy with three open sides, as this way the fire can not only be seen from every side, but also the cosy light spreads everywhere. Such a glass fireplace is made of special glass in the form of glass ceramic. This gives the same effect as a campfire. There are such fireplaces even without a visible handle on the glass window, which makes the whole thing even cozier. For this, however, the fireplace must be installed in a recessed position.

Hanging fireplace – individual and danger reducing

A hanging fireplace is also an alternative that should not be underestimated. This model originally comes from Scandinavia and offers a great variety, as it is not bound to one corner in the room. The fireplace can be mounted anywhere in the room on a wall and thus also heat all around. In addition, the risk of burns to children and animals is greatly minimized as the fireplace is not hanging within their reach. Firing, stoking and cleaning is also easier with this model, as you don’t have to bend down to the floor, but can work at eye level – you’ll even be spared the backache.

The Danish fireplace – the classic with personalization

The Danish fireplace is the last model that has already established itself as a classic in just a few years. It is the continuation of the ordinary stove and is now available in many variants. It has been equipped with a larger viewing window, which creates more cosiness. It also has a new modern technology, a combustion chamber that increases the efficiency and self-closing doors. A big advantage of this stove is that it is not permanently installed, so it can even be moved. Danish fireplaces are now available for turning, with an additional heating plate, but also some that can be heated with pellets, gas, brown coal or hard coal. An all-rounder that is suitable for every house and can be individually adapted to the needs.

Fireplaces as heating systems – stoves, tiled stoves and gas fireplaces

Of course, you don’t just want to use your fireplace to warm your soul and your living room. A fireplace can be used in many other ways. This includes, among other things, heating the whole house and not just one room. Of course, this includes special pipes, pipes – and energy supply systems.

Pellet stove as a heating system – energy efficient and environmentally conscious

The first way to use your fireplace as a heating system is the pellet stove, in which you heat not with wood but with pellets. Such a fireplace is particularly suitable for energy-saving houses. It is heated with wood pellets which are made from wood waste such as sawdust. They have a much higher efficiency, because they burn longer than the same amount of wood. To heat the whole house with such a fireplace, it must be connected to the hot water supply. The advantage is quite clear that a fireplace with a heating function not only protects the environment, but also the household budget. Unfortunately, the installation of such a fireplace is very costly, which is why the appearance is often neglected and there is only a small window. The coziness falls by the wayside, but it is always nice and warm everywhere and without a guilty conscience. Complementary to such a heating system is a solar system on the roof, which can heat the water in the summer. For such a system, a hot water tank with a minimum capacity of 1000 liters is needed, but it fits well in the basement.

Gas fireplace as a heating system – modern and uncomplicated

But also with a gas fireplace it is possible to heat the whole house and this even offers some advantages. For one thing, the cozy factor is not lost, because the flame can flicker peacefully behind a glass door and delight her heart. Behind the façade, however, there is a sophisticated system of ventilation heating that can be used throughout the entire house. This fireplace is operated with natural gas as well as with propane gas, which may be installed in a liquid cartridge with up to 11 kilograms. According to the manufacturer, this lasts up to 25 hours and provides heat. Another advantage not to be sneezed at, however, is that the fireplace and the air remain clean. There is no soot, the fireplace rarely needs to be cleaned and there is virtually no fine dust. And despite all this, not even the efficiency suffers, because it is at a respectable 70 percent. An alternative that you should definitely think about.

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The tiled stove as a heating system

Probably the oldest model among the stoves is the tiled stove. However, its history proves its effectiveness, because it can heat up for between 12 and 24 hours and thus provide cosy warmth. Wood, pellets or even coal are burned here. In the meantime, even windows can be found in the tiled stoves, as the feel-good feeling has simply become too important and consumers can no longer do without it. The efficiency can also be seen, because a tiled stove burns its fuel completely. In addition, tiled stoves have the reputation of being particularly comfortable, as the radiant heat is even and the air layers are not confused by it. So the tiled stove should also be considered if you are looking for a fireplace with heating function for the whole house.

Outdoor fireplace

Firewood: Do-it-yourself, chopping & stacking

Firewood & Fireplace Wood Storage – Larger quantities of firewood, are often stored on properties. The garden or a barn are often used for storage. Larger quantities of firewood, once stored on a property, must be stored in a fire protected location. This measure is regularly inspected by a chimney sweep. In this article you will find tips and videos on storing, DIY, stacking and chopping firewood for your fireplace:

• Tip: Firewood + Storage

Build your own fireplace?! Video tutorial: Installation

So you can also build and connect your fireplace yourself.

Heating guide: types, prices & comparison

Heating & Types – The topic of heating is not only interesting for builders, but also for property owners. After all, heaters are not only necessary in a property, they are also required by law. Which types of heating are there, how do they have to be maintained and are there legal subsidies for the construction of certain types of heating or do the costs have to be paid completely by the owner? Especially when building a house or renovating and modernising, the heating system plays a decisive role, because a large part of the later running costs depend on it, for you or for your tenants.

When deciding on a heating system, a number of things need to be considered, as there are major differences. Depending on the property, it must be decided individually which system is best suited to efficiently heat the entire property. The systems differ not only in environmental friendliness, but also in efficiency and price. Solar, oil, gas, heat pump, pellets:

• Heating: Comparison & Costs

Budget calculator: Overview of income and expenditure

Real estate buyers and builders are usually dependent on a real estate loan. The sum can only be paid in cash in very rare cases. Before you can calculate the budget for your real estate financing, it is important that you get an overview of all income and expenses with the budget calculator. You will continue to carry most items despite taking out the property loan. If you have been living for rent up to now, this will fall away when you move into your own home. However, it is a fallacy if you assume that you can simply convert the rent into a monthly installment. The monthly instalment that you pay for the mortgage is more or less the same as the basic rent.

In addition, there are the ancillary costs that you have to pay as the owner of a house. These include the costs for electricity, water and heating. Furthermore, waste charges, property tax and fees for the work of the chimney sweep are due. As a homeowner, you are also responsible for the costs of all repairs. For this reason, it is important that you build up a monthly reserve. All in all, an average-sized family home will add up to several hundred euros a month. You need to include this in your budget if you want to put the financing of your new property on a firm footing.

Use budget calculator effectively

A budget calculator will help you list all the costs that are incurred in the process of household management. In principle, of course, you can do these calculations on paper. In practice, however, it has been found that often items are forgotten or calculated too tightly. In the budget calculator, all possible costs that may arise in connection with household management are clearly listed.

Functions of the calculator

You determine which costs you incur and enter the corresponding amount. Leave the fields that are not relevant for you blank. Make sure that you enter all costs realistically, otherwise the budget calculator will not be of any effective use to you. After all, you want to give an honest forecast and not falsify it with embellished information. Effective use requires a realistic indication of the actual costs incurred. If this is difficult for you because you have not thought about it at all so far, it is advisable to keep a budget book for a month. In this way, you can see what you are really spending. You can then transfer the values to the budget calculator.

Budget item

The individual items that are incurred for the management of a household, differ very individually. They depend on the household income, but also on personal interests. However, basic items can be defined in general terms, as they are incurred in almost every household. The costs in detail:

• Food
• Rent/loan instalments for own property
• Energy costs (gas/heating oil/pellets, water, electricity)
• Service charges (rent or individual payment according to invoice)
• Telephone and Internet
• Insurances
• Clothes
• Cosmetics and drugstore articles
• Books and magazines
• Fuel/public transport
• Medication/doctor’s fees
• Radio and television

Other costs and fees can be very individual. In many households, the following items are added:

• Daycare and school
• Sports Club
• Culture (cinema, theatre, lectures)
• Further education
• Travel
• Vehicle purchase
• Hobby
• Savings rates
• Credit rates

The advantage of a budget book is that you can also include small amounts in your calculation. This gives you a very good overview and you only need to transfer the results into the budget calculator.

Get an overview of income and expenditure

Once you have listed all the costs, compare them with your income in the household calculator. At the end you will get an evaluation. You will find out whether you have an amount left over in the month or whether your budget is negative. You can react to this accordingly.

Budget calculator and construction financing

In the context of construction financing, the budget calculator plays a very important role. It is used in the planning phase to determine what savings opportunities there are in the budget. This becomes necessary when money is to be freed up from the household income to pay loan installments. A budget calculator is very effective if you use it correctly.

Calculator at a glance

Calculator – Exact planning of the construction financing

Calculators are necessary in relation to construction financing in order to accurately determine the cost of purchasing or renovating a property. A calculator is also used to determine the cost of the loan. The credit costs are composed of the interest and the repayment portion for the current loan amount. The interest plays an important role. Since the term of a real estate loan is usually ten years, the interest payment is spread over a long period. If an offer from a bank is only half a percentage point cheaper in their interest, you can already save several hundred euros a year. This is also due to the high loan amounts, which for most construction financing a six-digit amount. Before taking out a loan, an individual consultation is important. Often the construction financing consists of several pillars and not just a single loan. A building savings contract, equity capital and development loans come before taking out the classic bank loan. The reason for this is that these financings are significantly cheaper than the bank loan in terms of their costs. The calculator helps you to divide the financing into different elements and thus determine the costs with certainty.

• Learn more about the calculator.

Interest calculator – Construction financing

The interest rates are a very large item in a construction financing. It is recommended that you compare the various offers and conditions well in advance. In this way, you will find out which construction financing is particularly favorable. Since the interest is a very large part of the monthly loan payment, especially in the first years of real estate financing, it is important that you try to save costs.

• Learn more about the interest calculator.

Budget Calculator – Equity & Income

Before the purchase of a house, a comprehensive renovation or a new building can be planned, it is very important to determine the available budget. Construction financing is planned over a period of many years. Financing between ten and 25 years is possible. It is important that the financing is planned from the beginning on a secure foundation. The basis for the budget that is available to you for the conclusion of a construction financing is your income.

• Learn more about the budget calculator.

Offer comparison calculator – advice & options

The offer comparison calculator is an important tool when it comes to choosing a partner for taking out construction financing. Many builders are dependent on taking out a classic loan at a bank or savings bank, because the funds from the equity, a building savings contract and a subsidized loan are not enough. Although the comparison possibilities of the indication by the Internet are very simple and transparent, many owners trust only in the offer of their house bank.

• Learn more about the quote comparison calculator.