It’s hard to beat the warmth and glow of flames dancing around in a fireplace on a chilly winter evening. It’s a setting that’s been appreciated for hundreds of years. With today’s new gas-burning fireplace insert products, homeowners can add a fireplace or convert their wood-burning masonry fireplace to gas. Also hot now (pun intended) is switching out gas logs for fire glass or planning for fire glass in a new home.

According to Emilee LeBlanc at Below the Mantle in Sulphur, homeowners sometimes make the switch from wood- to gas-burning fireplaces for convenience. There’s no need to chop or buy wood and there’s less mess. “Homeowners will need to have their plumber add a gas line. If they’re converting from wood, they’ll also need to take careful measurements of their firebox,” she said. Some people consider gas fire as warmer.

These new gas burning fireplaces can be operated by remote control, switch or lighted with a match according to LeBlanc. Vented and non-vented options are available. The vent free has a slight smell, similar to the smell of burning an old-fashioned cast iron heater,” she said.

Adding sparkling bits of tumbled and polished tempered glass instead of gas logs is becoming increasingly popular, creating even more ambience. Flames seem to dance over the reflective glass. This fire glass is referred to as diamond nuggets, fireplace gems and sunglass according to LeBlanc. “Fire glass can be used in vented or non-vented fireplaces fitted with burner pans. “There’s even an electric fireplace that the fire glass can be used in,” Emilee said.

These crystals come in 50 different colors and are shaped like beads, pebbles, rocks and nuggets. Fire glass can add a real contemporary element to the home. Manufacturers also offer spheres and stones.

According to LeBlanc, the cost of gas logs and fire glass ranges from $700 to $1,400.

Fire glass adds a contemporary element to the room. An easy, affordable way to update the fireplace surround to give it the same fresh feel is to apply a coat of paint and several Do-it-yourself websites labeled this project as easy enough for a beginniner.

Begin the project by cleaning the masonry or woodwork. A wire brush can be helpful for cleaning brick and mortar. For do-it-yourselfers interested in a more natural cleaning approach, a mixture that’s half vinegar and half water is an option.

Brick inside the firebox requires a special heat-resistant paint. Apply two coats. For the fireplace surround, use a stain-blocking oil-based primer. Prepare to add more than a couple of coats or consider chalk paint as an option which allows the brick to show through.

Whites, almost whites with shades of cool or warm tones and light greys with a black interior can help add a modern element to a room and make a great backdrop for the new fire glass options.Replacing gas logs with fire glass is becoming more popular. In this photo